Central pontine myelinolysis

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Central nervous system

Osmotic demyelination syndrome

• Confusion, delirium
• Balance problems
• Difficulty swallowing
• Hallucinations
• Reduced alertness, drowsiness or sleepiness, lethargy, poor responses
• Speech changes, poor enunciation
• Tremor
• Weakness in the face, arms, or legs, usually affecting both sides of the body

An examination may show:

• Abnormal reflexes
• Confusion
• Involvement of all four arms and legs (spastic quadriplegia)
• Weakness of the face, arms, and legs (upper motor neuron syndromes)

A head MRI scan may reveal a problem in the brainstem (pons). This is the main diagnostic test.

Other tests may include:

• Blood sodium levels and other blood tests
• Brainstem auditory evoked response (BAER)

Review Date: 08/27/2010
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; Daniel B. Hoch, PhD, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).

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