Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Case Reports
. 2005 Dec;252(12):1495-9.
doi: 10.1007/s00415-005-0897-6. Epub 2005 Jul 18.

Meningitis-retention syndrome. An unrecognized clinical condition

Affiliations
Case Reports

Meningitis-retention syndrome. An unrecognized clinical condition

Ryuji Sakakibara et al. J Neurol. 2005 Dec.

Abstract

Background: A combination of acute urinary retention and aseptic meningitis has not been well known. This combination can be referred to as meningitis-retention syndrome (MRS), when accompanied by no other abnormalities.

Objective: To describe the results of a uro-neurological assessment in our patients with MRS.

Methods: In three patients (two men, one woman; age, 34-68 years), we performed urodynamic studies and relevant imaging and neurophysiological tests, in addition to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination.

Results: All three patients developed acute urinary retention along with headache, fever and stiff neck. None had obvious neurological abnormalities, other than a slightly brisk reflex in the lower extremities. One had previously experienced generalized erythematous eruptions, but none had pain, hypalgesia or skin eruptions in the sacral dermatomes suggestive of Elsberg syndrome (infectious sacral polyradiculitis; mostly genital herpes). Brain/spinal/lumbar plexus MRI scans and nerve conduction studies were normal. CSF examination showed mild mononuclear pleocytosis, increased protein content, and normal to mildly decreased glucose content in all patients; increased myelin basic protein suggestive of central nervous system demyelination in one; and increased viral titers in none. Urodynamic study revealed, during the voiding phase, an underactive detrusor in all patients and an unrelaxing sphincter in one. These clinical manifestations were ameliorated within 3 weeks.

Conclusions: We reported three cases of MRS, a peculiar syndrome that could be regarded as a mild variant of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM). Urinary retention might reflect acute shock phase of this disorder. Although MRS has a benign and self-remitting course, management of the acute urinary retention is necessary.

PubMed Disclaimer

Comment in

References

    1. Hinyokika Kiyo. 1999 Jun;45(6):435-7 - PubMed
    1. Neurourol Urodyn. 2002;21(2):167-78 - PubMed
    1. Urology. 1990 May;35(5):428-32 - PubMed
    1. Intern Med. 2002 May;41(5):392-4 - PubMed
    1. Obstet Gynecol. 1986 Sep;68(3 Suppl):37S-39S - PubMed

Publication types

LinkOut - more resources