Extrapontine myelinolysis in infancy: report of a case

Abstract

Osmotic myelinolysis is a rare, acute, demyelinating process that involves the pons (central pontine myelinolysis) and other locations of the central nervous system (extrapontine myelinolysis). Central pontine myelinolysis is described in children, usually associated with rapid correction of hyponatremia. Other conditions, such as hypernatremia and hyperglycemia, have also been reported as being responsible for pontine myelinolysis. Extrapontine myelinolysis in childhood is very rare and presents in a wide variety of locations. We report a patient who developed extrapontine myelinolysis in the cerebellum during treatment of hyponatremic dehydration. This is the first case reported during infancy.