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Case Reports
. 2011 May;3(2):141-6.
doi: 10.1159/000329734. Epub 2011 Jun 25.

Acute demyelinating disease after oral therapy with herbal extracts

Alex Kostianovsky  1 , Patricio Maskin, María M Noriega, Cristina Soler, Ignacio Bonelli, Claire S Riley, Kevin C O'Connor, Cristi N López Saubidet, Paulino A Alvarez
Affiliations
Case Reports

Acute demyelinating disease after oral therapy with herbal extracts

Alex Kostianovsky et al. Case Rep Neurol. 2011 May.

Abstract

Central nervous system demyelinating processes such as multiple sclerosis and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis constitute a group of diseases not completely understood in their physiopathology. Environmental and toxic insults are thought to play a role in priming autoimmunity. The aim of the present report is to describe a case of acute demyelinating disease with fatal outcome occurring 15 days after oral exposure to herbal extracts.

Keywords: Demyelinating disease; Immunostimulant; Phytomedicine.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
a MRI showed pseudonodular, subcortical and periventricular bilateral white matter lesions with heterogeneous gadolinium enhancement. b Repeat MRI on hospital day 6, showing progression of the previously described lesions and involvement of the cerebellum. c Hematoxylin-eosin stain showing features compatible with acute demyelination. d Follow-up brain MRI at 8 months showed atrophy and scarring.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Immunohistochemistry. a, b CD3 markers for T cells. c, d CD20 markers for B cells. See text for further details.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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