Viral encephalomyelitis. Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis as a demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. Video: encephalomyelitis and its manifestations

Disseminated encephalomyelitis is a rare neurological disease that occurs as a result of autoimmune disorders. Disseminated encephalomyelitis develops against the background of viral and infectious diseases occurring with high fever. If you contact us in a timely manner medical institution The disease responds well to therapy, without developing complications in the future.

The Yusupov Hospital performs diagnostics of any complexity. If disseminated encephalomyelitis is suspected, the patient will be examined in as soon as possible. The sooner the diagnosis is made, the sooner treatment can be started. effective treatment. The Yusupov Hospital uses modern equipment.

Disseminated encephalomyelitis syndrome

The human immune system is aimed at protecting the body from the harmful effects of foreign objects (viruses, bacteria, etc.). Elements immune system(lymphocytes, leukocytes, macrophages, antibodies) begin to fight pathogenic objects, trying to destroy them. In autoimmune conditions, elements of the immune system begin to attack healthy cells in the body.

Disseminated encephalomyelitis refers to autoimmune diseases, in which there arise pathological processes in the brain. The immune system destroys the myelin sheaths of neurons, thereby disrupting the functioning of brain cells.

The trigger for the development of disseminated encephalomyelitis is a viral or infection with an increase in body temperature above 38C. Quite often, the cause of the development of disseminated encephalomyelitis is infection of the upper respiratory tract. Encephalomyelitis can also be caused by:

herpes virus,
Epstein-Barr virus,
cytomegalovirus,
chicken pox,
measles,
mumps,
rubella,
various bacteria.

Disseminated encephalomyelitis is more common in childhood, since the child’s immune system is still immature. Sometimes disseminated encephalomyelitis occurs after vaccination using a weakened live bacterium, which is also an abnormal response of the immune system.

Disseminated encephalomyelitis: symptoms

The first signs of neurological pathology appear one or several weeks after the first episode of fever. Disseminated encephalomyelitis begins as a common cold with high fever and body aches. Then headaches arise, which are difficult to relieve with medications. After a short period of time, a more pronounced neurological picture develops:

confusion,
numbness in the arms and legs,
convulsions,
epileptic seizures,
speech disorders,
double vision,
swallowing disorder
drowsiness,
hallucinations,
breathing disorder,
coma.

Disseminated encephalomyelitis is characterized by a rapid increase in symptoms, so it is important not to delay a visit to the doctor. The Yusupov Hospital operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and will provide assistance at any time needed.

Disseminated encephalomyelitis with cerebellar ataxia

Disseminated encephalomyelitis affects various areas of the brain. The severity of the clinical picture will depend on the degree of damage to a particular area. Often disseminated encephalomyelitis affects the cerebellum, causing cerebellar ataxia. The pathology is manifested by impaired coordination of movements various groups muscles. Clumsiness in movements and incoordination are accompanied by intermittent speech and impaired coordination of eye movements. Gait is disturbed, involuntary movements of the limbs may occur.

Disseminated encephalomyelitis: diagnosis

The clinical picture of multiple encephalomyelitis is very similar to multiple sclerosis. After laboratory and instrumental diagnostic methods, the diagnosis of “disseminated encephalomyelitis” is established quite accurately. To determine the disease, cerebrospinal fluid is examined using lumbar puncture and an MRI is performed.

Cerebrospinal fluid analysis will show increased protein and lymphocyte levels. An MRI will clearly show areas of damage to the white matter of the brain. White matter is nerve fibers covered by the myelin sheath. In disseminated encephalomyelitis, the membrane is destroyed, forming lesions of various sizes. Visualization of the disease on MRI images helps to reliably establish the diagnosis.

Disseminated encephalomyelitis: treatment

Drug therapy is used to treat disseminated encephalomyelitis. The disease is highly treatable. Timely initiation of therapy is the key Get well soon and minimizing residual effects. The following drugs are used for treatment:

corticosteroids,
plasmapheresis,
antibiotics,
maintenance therapy drugs.

Corticosteroids significantly speed up the recovery process for disseminated encephalomyelitis.

If they do not give the required result, plasmapheresis is immediately prescribed. Antibiotics are used if disseminated encephalomyelitis develops against the background of a bacterial infection. To normalize the patient’s condition, measures are taken to reduce the temperature, drugs that restore metabolic processes in the brain (nootropics) and general health-improving agents (vitamins, amino acids, etc.) are used.

At the Yusupov Hospital, patients receive a full range of medical services. The best neurologists in Russia work here, doctors of sciences with extensive experience in treatment neurological diseases(including disseminated encephalomyelitis). The patient can receive treatment in a comfortable hospital, where he will receive round-the-clock qualified care. You can make an appointment and get advice from specialists by phone.

What is encephalomyelitis

Encephalomyelitis is an inflammatory process that simultaneously occurs in the brain and spinal cord. In fact, it is a combination of myelitis and encephalitis. As this disease progresses, a person experiences degeneration of myelin, which is a kind of insulating substance for nerve fibers. Thanks to it, the passage of electrical impulses becomes possible. Inflammatory processes also begin in the brain and blood vessels with the formation of necrotic areas.

Causes of pathology

The causes of encephalomyelitis have not yet been thoroughly studied. But during the research, it was noticed that most often the pathology progresses after:

viral infections, especially those that were accompanied by the appearance of skin specific rash (chickenpox, rubella, herpes);
colds;
allergic reaction;
introduction of specific vaccines;
traumatic brain injuries.

Scientists believe that encephalomyelitis may be hereditary in some patients. This is due to the fact that in such people some proteins of the nervous tissue have a similar structure to the proteins of infectious agents. As a result, the immune system mistakenly begins to attack its own myelin cells.

Despite the fact that encephalomyelitis can affect people of all ages, it is most often recorded in childhood. An interesting fact is that in children the disease is much milder than in adults.

Classification of the disease

Currently there is no unified classification of the disease. But experts distinguish several types of encephalomyelitis based on the nature of the inflammatory process, the rate of increase in symptoms, the localization of the lesion and many other factors. To determine what type of disease a patient has, doctors sometimes need to conduct several different examinations.

According to the form and speed of development, they are distinguished the following types encephalomyelitis:

acute, in which symptoms increase over several hours;
subacute, developing over several weeks;
chronic, constantly progressing over a long time.

Based on the localization of inflammatory and necrotic foci, encephalomyelitis is divided into several types:

encephalomyelopolyradiculoneuritis, in which all parts of the central nervous system;
polyencephalomyelitis - characterized by abnormalities in the nuclei cranial nerves and in gray matter spinal cord;
optoencephalomyelitis - combines damage to the central nervous system and optic nerves;
disseminated (scattered) encephalomyelitis - is that small foci of inflammation are scattered in different areas CNS.

Encephalomyelitis is classified as:

primary - develops as an independent disease;
secondary - acts as a complication of another pathology.

Primary encephalomyelitis is usually caused by various neuroinfections. The cause may be viruses such as herpes, enterovirus, cytomegalovirus, etc. Most often, the course of such diseases is acute, the symptoms develop very quickly.

Some types of viral encephalomyelitis can be contagious, and loved ones need to take precautions when communicating with the patient.

Secondary encephalomyelitis develops against the background of other diseases or due to the influence of external factors:

infectious encephalomyelitis:
- viral - caused by influenza, herpes, rabies, etc. viruses;
- bacterial - the source is various pathogenic microorganisms(brucella, chlamydia, mycoplasma, toxoplasma, rickettsia);
post-vaccination - is side effect vaccinations, most often against diphtheria, whooping cough, measles, rubella and chickenpox;
myalgic is a fairly new disease, which is also called post-viral fatigue syndrome.

There are also special autoimmune types of encephalomyelitis, in which the body begins to confuse myelin sheaths with foreign tissues viruses and destroys them. These are the following varieties:

acute, subacute, chronic disseminated encephalomyelitis (differ in the speed of development of demyelination processes in the spinal cord and brain);
rabic post-vaccination - is secondary disease, observed 20 days after rabies vaccinations.

Symptoms of encephalomyelitis

Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis develops very quickly. In the first days, this disease may be confused with ordinary flu or acute respiratory viral infection, as a person’s temperature rises sharply, chills, and muscle pain appear. But later other, more serious signs appear that indicate damage to the central nervous system. The first signs of this are cerebral and meningeal symptoms:

The patient's intracranial pressure increases, and blood microcirculation in the central nervous system is disrupted. Severe headaches and dizziness are felt almost immediately. The person becomes lethargic, sleepy, and may lose appetite. If you change positions, walk or look at the light, hear loud sounds, the pain in the head will intensify.
It is very common to experience persistent nausea. Even after vomiting there is no relief, the patient continues to feel sick.

At some point, convulsions may occur and muscles begin to contract involuntarily different parts bodies. Most often, this symptom appears in young children and adolescents.
The mental state can be either depressed or overexcited. In the latter case, patients may behave aggressively, become very nervous, and perform chaotic and unnecessary actions.
IN severe cases consciousness is depressed. Patients begin to delirium, see hallucinations, fall into a lethargic state, become as if stunned, and have difficulty perceiving what is happening around them. If the condition worsens, coma may occur.
One of the most common meningeal symptoms is rigidity (increased stiffness) of the neck muscles. They become uncontrollable, and the patient cannot bend his head down and reach lower jaw to the chest.
Brain damage is checked by the Brudzinski test. If a patient lying on his back tilts his chin toward his chest, his legs will involuntarily bend at the knees.

Also, with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, various focal symptoms appear, which indicate specific affected structures of the central nervous system:

Pyramid signs appear very strongly in those patients whose neurons in the cerebral cortex are damaged. Due to them, conscious muscle contractions. But during the disease, people experience paralysis of the lower and upper limbs, the ability to squeeze the hand and make small movements decreases. Patients also experience increased tendon reflexes, and when struck with a special hammer on the knee or elbow, the limbs begin to twitch too sharply. In some cases, facial expressions may be impaired and paralysis of the oculomotor nerve may occur.
Cranial nerve damage is usually associated with optic nerve degeneration. Almost 30% of all patients with encephalomyelitis have vision problems. In mild cases, the severity may decrease slightly, and with more serious lesions the person even goes blind. If other nerves are affected, problems with the swallowing reflex may begin, hearing loss appears, and the sense of smell disappears.
Aphasia (partial or complete loss of speech) occurs when the speech centers of the brain are damaged.
Isolated transverse spinal cord lesions are observed in a quarter of all patients with encephalomyelitis. External manifestations sometimes it is not observed and abnormalities are detected by magnetic resonance imaging. However, urinary and fecal incontinence, paralysis of the arms and legs, and decreased sensitivity in different parts of the body may occur.
Damage to the cerebellum manifests itself very characteristic violation coordination. A person may have difficulty walking; it becomes unsteady and unsteady. Also violated fine motor skills. During the examination, the patient cannot eyes closed get your finger into the tip of your nose.
Polyneuropathy of the extremities manifests itself in a slight decrease in the sensitivity of the arms and legs, and the skin may tingle slightly. Muscle strength also decreases and limbs become weaker.

If treatment for acute encephalomyelitis is not started in time, it can develop into chronic form, which is much more difficult to get rid of. It is characterized by alternating exacerbations and remissions. But periods of calm can be very short-term, and soon a deterioration in well-being occurs again. At this time, the symptoms completely repeat the course of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis. It is worth understanding that the patient’s condition will only get worse and worse.

Opticoencephalomyelitis, in addition to the main symptoms, is characterized by various lesions of the optic nerve. Patients begin to complain of decreased visual acuity, sometimes a veil appears before the eyes, which prevents them from clearly seeing the surrounding space. Also a common symptom is the appearance of pain in the orbit, which tends to progress as the disease progresses.

Very interesting and recent open view encephalitis is its myalgic form, which doctors otherwise call post-viral fatigue syndrome. Occurs after various viral diseases or vaccinations. Doctors are not always able to establish the correct diagnosis, since the symptoms are very similar to a common infectious disease:

constant feeling of fatigue;
energy depletion even after a small load;
aching joints;
muscle pain;
depressive states;
frequent mood changes;
indigestion.

Video: chronic fatigue syndrome after infectious diseases

Diagnostics

At the first signs of encephalomyelitis, you should consult a neurologist. He will be able to make a primary diagnosis after examining the patient and taking an anamnesis. If a person has precipitating factors, such as infectious lesions or a recent vaccination, this most likely indicates encephalomyelitis. Additionally, the doctor prescribes the following studies:

magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) - allows you to obtain very accurate layer-by-layer images of any part of the body and see tumors, areas of inflammation or necrotization, hemorrhages and other disorders in the central nervous system;
computed tomography (CT) - helps to examine internal organs, including the brain and spinal cord, using x-rays;
myelography is an x-ray method for examining the spine using special contrast agents that allow you to see various diseases spinal cord.

The following tests may also be prescribed:

lumbar puncture with sampling of cerebrospinal fluid, in which it will be visible increased content proteins and lymphocytes;
blood test for antibody levels, in which IgA and IgE will be elevated.

Differentiation of pathology

During differential diagnosis, it is very important to distinguish encephalomyelitis from multiple sclerosis. The latter disease is chronic and constantly progressive, as a result the myelin sheath of the nerves is also destroyed. It usually starts with focal symptoms, while encephalomyelitis first manifests itself with general cerebral and intoxication symptoms.

Also differential diagnosis carried out with encephalitis, meningitis, tumor formations in the brain, etc.

Treatment

Encephalomyelitis can only be treated under the supervision of a doctor. This is a very serious disease and you should prescribe medications yourself or folk remedies may be life-threatening. Each patient receives an individual approach and medications are prescribed based on the cause of encephalomyelitis. If a person is in a very in serious condition, then the following procedures will be required:

artificial ventilation of the lungs in case of respiratory dysfunction;
plasmaphoresis to cleanse the blood of antibodies and various immune complexes;
tube feeding for impaired swallowing reflex;
installation of a catheter in bladder in cases of urinary retention;
cleansing enemas for paresis of the intestinal tract.

Drug therapy

At drug treatment The dosage and regimen of medications is selected individually by the attending physician. There is a whole range of drugs that are prescribed for different types encephalomyelitis:

Antiviral drugs - prescribed for an infectious cause of the onset of the disease (leukocyte human interferon).
Antibiotics - needed in case of bacterial infection (Ampiox, Kefzol, Gentamicin). At chronic tonsillitis Bicillin is prescribed.
Margulis-Shubladze vaccine - prescribed for infection with rabies or human acute encephalomyelitis virus. It is carried out in the subacute period for those patients who exhibit small residual effects after the disease.
Steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - necessary due to the autoimmune nature of encephalomyelitis (Prednisolone).
B vitamins are prescribed to support the functioning of the nervous system (Neuromultivit).
Vitamin C is effective for maintaining and strengthening the immune system and increasing the body's resistance to infections.
Diuretics are necessary in the presence of cerebral edema (Furosemide, Diacarb).
Antispasmodics - indicated for various tremors and convulsions (Dibazol).
Muscle relaxants - prescribed to those patients who have increased muscle tone (Mydocalm, Cyclodol).
Nootropic drugs - necessary to restore higher mental functions brain (Encephabol, Piracetam).

Photo gallery: drugs used in the treatment of encephalomyelitis

Folk remedies

Encephalomyelitis is a very serious disease, which can be managed with the help of traditional medicine impossible. During periods of exacerbation, treatment is carried out only in a hospital with potent medications that are aimed at achieving a quick effect.

During the period of remission or rehabilitation, it is permissible to use traditional medicine, but only after consultation with the doctor.

Potato compress with honey

In some situations, it is possible to use warm compresses on the affected areas of the spine if the disease is not in the acute stage. They are not allowed to be placed in the heart and neck area.

You can use a compress of potatoes with honey:

Take a few potatoes, boil them, mash them, mix with two tablespoons of honey and place in cheesecloth.
Place the wrapped tortilla on the pre-greased nourishing cream skin. Cover the patient with a blanket or blanket and leave for one hour.
After the designated time, remove the compress and wipe the skin dry. It is best to carry out this procedure at night, so that after it the person falls asleep and does not get out of bed until the morning.

Infusion of Mordovnik sharogolatum

The use of Echinops infusion is effective for various lesions central nervous system, it promotes recovery motor activity limbs. Skeletal muscles are also toned.

To prepare the medicine you need:

Take three tablespoons of fruit and pour a glass of boiling water.
Leave for ten hours in a thermos.

Take 2 teaspoons of infusion twice a day before meals. The course of treatment is about two months.

Onion juice with honey

This remedy is excellent for restoring the body's strength after encephalomyelitis. Phytoncides contained in onions have antibacterial effect. Honey helps eliminate inflammatory processes, improves metabolism.

You can make any onion juice in a convenient way. You can use a juicer, grater or other device. The resulting liquid must be mixed with the same amount of honey. For one month, you need to take one teaspoon of the resulting product three times a day before meals.

Rehabilitation

Patients do not always fully recover from encephalomyelitis. Many people require various rehabilitation procedures to improve the functioning of all parts of the body. Until complete recovery, you should avoid going to saunas, steam baths and sunbathing.

Restorative massage

Conduct massotherapy Patients who have suffered encephalomyelitis should only be treated by a specially trained person. During the procedure, the skin is treated, subcutaneous tissue, blood vessels and nerve endings. Thanks to improved blood circulation, metabolism is restored, the affected limbs begin to return to health faster. normal condition, strength increases in muscles weakened by the disease. Massage will also be useful for those patients who have increased muscle tone and experience spasms. The attending physician must refer you for the procedure, as there may be contraindications.

Physiotherapy

After encephalomyelitis, there are often cases when patients feel weakness in the limbs and disturbances in gait and motor skills appear. In this situation, physical therapy exercises show good results. An individual complex is selected for each person, which helps to maximize the use of the affected areas, strengthen the muscle corset and improve blood circulation.

If the patient is in a supine position, he can perform gymnastics directly on the bed. Here are some exercises:

Bend your elbows and rest them on the surface of the bed. Rotate the brushes first clockwise, then in the other direction. Then clench your fists and unclench them completely, spreading your fingers in different directions.
Stretch your calves while lying down. Point your feet toward you, and then point your toes out. Then perform rotational movements with your foot.

If the patient is able to walk, then it is necessary to perform exercises that consist of bending the torso forward and backward, from side to side and clockwise. You should also try to touch the floor with your fingers. Don't forget about cervical region spine, it needs to be warmed up by performing head rotations.

Video: exercise therapy complex for the lower extremities

Transcranial magnetic stimulation

This procedure is necessary for those people who, after encephalomyelitis, have various paresis and paralysis of the limbs. By using special device The motor cortex of the brain is stimulated, and the specialist observes which muscles begin to contract in the patient. Based on the results obtained, it is possible to trace the dynamics of improvement in the conductivity of nerve impulses and identify the remaining areas of the affected motor pathways.

Electrical myostimulation

It is better to carry out this procedure in a clinic with a doctor. With the help of weak electrical impulses, the patient’s muscles are affected, due to which they begin to contract. A kind of imitation occurs natural process in organism. Thanks to this method, muscle tissue is restored, metabolism is normalized, and the functioning of the nervous system is improved.

Thermal treatments

If the patient experiences paralysis due to increased tone muscles or when they spasm, the doctor may prescribe warm baths:

Turpentine baths due to essential oils and terpenes have irritant effect on the nervous system and promote the production of heparin, prostaglandins and various mediators. Blood circulation and metabolism improve, and the process of restoration of damaged tissue occurs. For a bath with a volume of two hundred liters, you need to add approximately 50 ml of turpentine solution. The water temperature should be 37 o C. Take baths every other day for ten minutes. The course consists of 10 procedures.
Mustard baths also have an irritating effect on the skin and nerve endings. Patients' immunity is increased and blood circulation is activated. Add 150 g of mustard to the bath; the water temperature should not be higher than body temperature. The duration of the procedure is five minutes. 10 sessions are carried out every other day.
Sage baths, due to evaporation and exposure to essential oils, help accelerate metabolic processes, improving the functioning of the cerebral cortex. Add 50 ml of musk sage concentrate to the bath. The water temperature should be 36–37 o C. Carry out the procedure every other day for fifteen minutes. For myelitis, 10 sessions are indicated.

Video: turpentine baths

Prognosis and possible complications

In almost 70% of cases, encephalomyelitis is completely cured and leaves no consequences. But in some situations, the following residual effects and complications may be observed:

urinary and fecal incontinence;
partial paresis of the limbs;
weakness in arms and legs;
formation of bedsores;
visual and hearing impairment;
impaired coordination of movements;
aphasia;
paralysis;
various mental disorders.

The duration of treatment depends on the timeliness of contacting a doctor and the speed of development of symptoms. The more pronounced pathological signs, the more difficult it is for the patient to recover. In most cases, a person’s life span is not shortened and after recovery he can return to his normal rhythm of life. Lethal outcomes, depending on the type of encephalomyelitis, range from 5 to 20%.

Currently, there have been cases of transition from multiple encephalomyelitis to multiple sclerosis. Scientists cannot yet accurately identify the reasons for this process. This usually occurs in those patients who acute course the disease became chronic.

If a woman was pregnant and fell ill with infectious encephalomyelitis, this may affect the condition of the fetus. The ability to give birth is determined individually, depending on the patient’s condition. It also takes into account what medications were taken, since many of them have a negative impact on the development of the child. Sometimes an abortion may be indicated.

Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis – rare but serious chronic illness, which in its manifestations resembles multiple sclerosis. Correct treatment helps to effectively keep the symptoms of the disease under control.

At the Yusupov Hospital, treatment of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis is carried out according to modern standards, with the use of glucocorticoids, symptomatic drugs. Patients are treated by highly qualified doctors who have extensive experience in treating this pathology.

In parallel with drug therapy, we use the full range of necessary rehabilitation activities. They help restore impaired functions of the nervous system, return the patient to normal life, and ensure his psycho-emotional well-being.

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Prices for the diagnosis of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis

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Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM, another name is acute disseminated disseminated encephalomyelitis, ADEM) - rare disease, which resembles an exacerbation of multiple sclerosis. These two diseases are similar: the same disorders occur in the nervous tissue, which manifest themselves in approximately the same symptoms.

What happens in the body during ADEM?

Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, like, is a demyelinating disease.

Long shoots nerve cells are like wires that carry electricity. Like every wire in your apartment, they have special “insulation”. It's called the myelin sheath. But the myelin sheath is no ordinary insulation. It is not continuous: it has breaks located at certain, approximately equal, intervals. Thanks to them electrical impulse as if “jumping” along the nerve fiber and reaching the goal much faster.

In acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, the myelin sheath is destroyed. The propagation of nerve impulses is disrupted. This is the cause of neurological symptoms.

Why does acute disseminated encephalomyelitis occur?

Most often the disease is provoked viral infections: parotitis(mumps), chicken pox, measles, rubella. Sometimes the role of a provoking factor is bacterial infections, such as Lyme disease. There are cases where ADEM developed after the administration of vaccines. Sometimes the disease occurs for no apparent reason.

In acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, the immune system begins to attack the myelin sheaths of its own nerve cells. In other words, ADEM is an autoimmune pathology.

What are the signs of ADEM?

ADEM may manifest itself different symptoms, depending on which part of the brain is affected:

Movement disorders - usually weakening in one half of the body (with damage to the cerebral cortex).
Impaired coordination of movements. They become awkward and inaccurate. It is difficult for a person to maintain balance while standing or while walking (with damage to the cerebellum).
Muscle tone disorders, lethargy. Symptoms resembling Parkinson's disease occur (if the nerve centers located in the depths of the cerebral hemispheres - they also suffer from parkinsonism).
Eye movement disorders. It becomes impossible to turn eyeballs in any direction due to damage to the nerve centers that regulate the functioning of the extraocular muscles.

In addition, general symptoms of brain damage occur: epileptic seizures, attention, thinking.

The difference between ADEM and multiple sclerosis is that all symptoms occur once and go away after a while. Multiple sclerosis - chronic pathology, in which exacerbations develop periodically.

What examination is prescribed for ADEM?

The main diagnostic method is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The images show clearly visible lesions in the brain. Usually the doctor does not doubt the diagnosis.

The neurologist may also prescribe spinal tap. The patient is placed on his side and local anesthesia and a needle is inserted between the lumbar vertebrae. A small amount of cerebrospinal fluid is obtained and sent for analysis. They find it increased amount immune cells-lymphocytes.

Treatment of ADEM

The main method of treating acute disseminated encephalomyelitis is the use of adrenal hormones (glucocorticoids). They suppress immune cell activity and inflammation in the brain. In rare cases, if the disease is severe, the doctor prescribes blood purification using plasmapheresis.

In addition, medications are prescribed that help fight the symptoms of ADEM: anticonvulsants, diuretics to eliminate edema, etc.

Rehabilitation treatment after suffering from ADEM includes physiotherapy, massage, physical therapy. It helps to quickly restore the functions of the nervous system and return to normal activities. At the Yusupov Hospital, rehabilitation is given increased attention, here this direction is developed very well.

In most cases, complete recovery occurs and all symptoms disappear. The impaired functions of the nervous system are restored. Rarely with very severe course ADEM patients die.

Sometimes after some time the symptoms of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis recur again. In this case, they speak of a recurrent form of the disease.

Bibliography

ICD-10 ( International classification diseases)
Yusupov Hospital
Gusev E.I., Demina T.L. Multiple sclerosis // Consilium Medicum: 2000. - No. 2.
Jeremy Taylor. Health according to Darwin: Why we get sick and how it is related to evolution = Jeremy Taylor “Body by Darwin: How Evolution Shapes Our Health and Transforms Medicine.” - M.: Alpina Publisher, 2016. - 333 p.
A.N. Boyko, O.O. Favorova // Molecular. biology. 1995. - T.29, No. 4. -P.727-749.

Disseminated encephalomyelitis (DEM) is a frightening diagnosis that has become common today in modern medicine. To begin with, let us clarify that this pathology is characterized by an inflammatory process that predominates in the brain and spinal cord, which is provoked by an aggressive reaction of one’s own immunity to the proteins of one’s nervous system.

The main thing here is not to confuse this pathology with multiple sclerosis, although both diseases have similar symptoms. It is important to clarify that disseminated encephalomyelitis occurs in acute form, and multiple sclerosis is chronic in nature with subsequent relapses and improvements. REM can be the start of the progression of multiple sclerosis, so you should be vigilant about restoring immune functions after suffering from multiple encephalomyelitis.

Possible reasons

However, in order to choose the right scheme productive treatment, the cause of this pathological process should be reliably determined. Often the pathogenic factors are the following root causes: hereditary predisposition, exposure to serious emotional shocks and direct infection with a microbe similar in physiological characteristics the structure of their proteins with certain proteins of the nervous system of the affected organism. What happens in the body, how does this anomaly occur?

The object of damage becomes the insulating layer of the conductive pathways of the nervous system (myelin), where pathogenic antibodies recognize its proteins as foreign and rapidly destroy them, forming extensive abnormal foci in the substance of the spinal cord and brain. As a result of this chaotic process, all brain functions sharply decrease, which is expressed by certain symptoms.

Alarm Signals

Disseminated encephalomyelitis rapidly progresses, the symptoms of which become obvious against the background of the disease or as a result of nervous shock. The patient observes systematic numbness and decline in sensitivity of the limbs, torso, face, as well as a noticeable change in the sensitivity of individual parts of the body. Patients also complain of weakness of muscles and limbs, and they are frightened by the presence of spasticity, tremors, convulsions and impaired hearing, vision, smell and psyche.

Diagnosis of pathology

How to identify disseminated encephalomyelitis? This pathology requires lengthy and high-quality diagnostics, therefore it includes a number of medical examinations and laboratory tests, which in the future will help to correctly restore the real clinical picture and prescribe alternative treatment. So, the specialist prescribes a detailed immunogram, MRI, as well as blood tests to detect antibodies to various infections and rheumatic indicators.

Stages of productive treatment

If disseminated encephalomyelitis is nevertheless diagnosed, treatment should be prescribed immediately.

The first stage is stopping the inflammatory process, and this must be done as early as possible. To do this, the doctor prescribes the intake and administration of intravenous immunoglobulins. At the second stage, it is important to prevent possible recurrences of relapses, therefore the internal infection is intensively eliminated through powerful medications, but the essence of the third stage is to restore the damaged nervous system.

However, there are still precautions that can protect the body from a disease such as disseminated encephalomyelitis. With a timely response to characteristic symptoms, this disease can be completely cured and forgotten about it once and for all.

Our body is an amazing system; the functions of its systems and organs are closely intertwined, and any disruption in their activities can cause serious illnesses. So in certain cases those forces human body, which are designed to protect it from aggressive attacks, show their activity against their own tissues. In this case, doctors talk about autoimmune reactions. Enough serious illness This type is disseminated encephalomyelitis, the symptoms of which will be discussed on this page www.site, as well as treatment, causes, and also possible consequences such a disease for human health.

A disease such as disseminated encephalomyelitis is inflammatory lesion brain as well as spinal cord. This condition is provoked by aggression of the human immune system towards its own nervous system. Doctors call this atypical immune reaction demyelination. Where does disseminated encephalomyelitis come from, what are the reasons for its appearance? Let's talk about this in more detail.

Causes of disseminated encephalomyelitis

It is believed that disseminated encephalomyelitis develops for several reasons, which can be combined with each other. This disease often occurs due to hereditary characteristics of the immune system or due to hereditary characteristics of proteins of the nervous system, which make their structure similar to the structure of proteins of various microbes, viral particles and fungi.

Also, the development of disseminated encephalomyelitis can be provoked by depletion of the immune system and various types of stress, for example, mental stress, surgical interventions, injuries, acute respiratory viral infections, herpes, etc.

In certain cases, this disease starts due to infection of the body by a microbe, the proteins of which are similar in structure to the proteins of the nervous system. Also similar pathological condition can occur against the background of inflammatory processes (microbial or autoimmune), in cases where proteins destroyed by the immune system give rise to an autoimmune crossover with some proteins of the nervous system.

Symptoms of disseminated encephalomyelitis

The main target of immunity in disseminated encephalomyelitis is myelin, which is a protein in nerve fibers. Aggressive factors The immune system sees such proteins as foreign and tries to destroy them. As a result, the patient develops foci of inflammation inside the substance of the brain, as well as the spinal cord (the so-called foci of demyelination).

The affected areas lose the ability to perform their functions. For example, when the parts of the brain responsible for arm movement are damaged, this limb begins to weaken. If pathological processes damage the visual cortex or optic nerve, they cause visual impairment and other disorders.

Destruction of parts of the brain can lead to numbness, as well as a decrease in the sensitivity of different parts of the body; sometimes in patients, on the contrary, the sensitivity of some parts of the body increases. Pathological processes often cause weakness of muscles and limbs, causing paralysis, paresis, hemiparesis, paraparesis, monoparesis. Also, disseminated encephalomyelitis can provoke convulsions, spasticity, imbalance and sense of coordination, dizziness and unsteadiness. Many patients complain of problems with hearing, vision and smell, and they may also experience mental changes. Pelvic dysfunctions are also a frequent manifestation of the disease.

Negative manifestations in most cases make themselves felt suddenly, for example, after past diseases, physical stress (surgical interventions or hypothermia), mental stress and nervous exhaustion. Yes, it's good to know about this. Yes, that's just not much use. The disease is not going anywhere... Therefore, it’s time to talk about how disseminated encephalomyelitis is corrected, what treatment will help to consider.

Treatment of disseminated encephalomyelitis

Therapy for disseminated encephalomyelitis is aimed at eliminating the aggression of the immune system towards the cells of the nervous system, while doctors try to preserve the body’s normal protective reactions as much as possible. The treatment is also designed to restore the activity of the affected parts of the brain. Patients need to constantly monitor the activity of the immune system and adjust it as necessary; in addition, they also need to take measures to diagnose and treat all kinds of infectious lesions.

To stop inflammatory processes, doctors most often use steroid hormones or intravenous immunoglobulins. To prevent relapses, measures are taken to identify the causes of the development of disseminated encephalomyelitis and to correct them, eliminate infections and carry out immunocorrective treatment.

To restore the pathways of the nervous system, it is common to use antioxidants and nootropic drugs. Patients are also indicated for motor rehabilitation to eliminate paralysis and spasticity, and to restore the functions of affected muscles.
Being treated and cured of an illness is wonderful. It’s just worth taking care of your health before you get sick. This also applies to diseases such as the one we are considering. There are no pushing factors - and your health will not weaken... Therefore, those who do not take care of themselves should know that having suffered from a disease such as disseminated encephalomyelitis, the consequences of this can periodically spoil their subsequent life.

Consequences of disseminated encephalomyelitis

As practice shows, when timely diagnosis And adequate treatment it is quite possible to achieve full recovery with disseminated encephalomyelitis. Some patients may have residual symptoms, and lesions of the disease can often be seen on MRI throughout life. Sometimes the disease can recur with a different neurological picture, which is most often classified by doctors as the development of multiple sclerosis. In addition, in some cases, pathological processes can develop again, in the absence of old lesions on MRI, which allows us to conclude about recurrent disseminated encephalomyelitis.