Unusual progression of osmotic demyelination after liver transplantation on MRI brain

Abstract

Osmotic demyelination syndrome, comprised of central pontine and extrapontine myelinolysis, is an important and potentially fatal complication primarily related to rapid overcorrection of serum sodium leading to devastating neurological symptoms. While traditionally presenting in the pons, we report the case of a 43-year-old female patient who recently underwent a liver transplant and developed extrapontine myelinolysis and subsequently central pontine myelinolysis resulting in irreversible spastic quadriparesis. This rare case highlights the variability of presentation of osmotic demyelination syndrome on imaging.

Keywords

• Osmotic demyelination syndrome
• Central pontine myelinolysis
• Extrapontine myelinolysis
• Liver transplant