Dengue-Associated Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome, Vietnam

Abstract

Dengue can cause neurologic complications in addition to the more common manifestations of plasma leakage and coagulopathy. Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome has rarely been described in dengue, although the pathophysiology of endothelial dysfunction likely underlies both. We describe a case of dengue-associated posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome and discuss diagnosis and management.

Keywords: ADEM; PRES; Vietnam; acute demyelinating encephalomyelitis; dengue; encephalopathy; endothelial dysfunction; meningitis/encephalitis; neurologic; posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome; viruses.

Figure

Fluid-attenuated inversion recovery magnetic resonance images of the brain of a 55-year-old woman with dengue-associated posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. A) Bilateral abnormal nonenhancing, confluent high signal in the periventricular and deep cerebral white matter of the high frontal parietal area and cerebellar hemispheres, thalamus, and pons. B) Almost complete resolution of abnormal findings 7 weeks later, after treatment.