Cerebellar encephalitis in adults

Abstract

We examined 11 adult patients with cerebellar encephalitis (CE) during the acute phase of the disease and at least 12 months later. Five patients were aged between 23 and 31 years, 3 patients between 43 and 44 years and 3 patients between 60 and 64 years. Serological tests gave evidence of Epstein-Barr virus infection in 4 of the 5 young patients. Two patients had serological evidence of varicella-zoster virus reactivation, whereas the serological findings were negative in all other cases. All patients in the younger and middle age groups recovered within 3-30 weeks after onset of CE. If at all, they had only minor cerebellar deficits at the follow-up examination. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination performed at the follow-up examination was normal in all of them. In contrast, 2 of 3 patients older than 60 years had persistent cerebellar ataxia following CE. In these patients, MRI revealed infratentorial atrophy. Our data show that the clinical spectrum of CE in adults is wider than assumed so far. In addition to typical cases of CE in young male patients with good recovery, CE may also occur in older patients and give rise to persistent cerebellar ataxia.

Cerebelite aguda causada por vírus Epstein-Barr: relato de caso

“…Em relatos iniciais, anticorpos contra EBV 12 , linfócitos com EBV ou linfócitos atípicos foram encontrados no líquor de pacientes com encefalite aguda por mononucleose sugerindo uma invasão direta do vírus no sistema nervoso central 8 . Contudo, outros estudos não encontraram anticorpos ou partículas virais no líquor, o que pode sugerir um mecanismo imunológico como causa da inflamação cerebelar 13 .…”

Encephalitis in Elderly Population

“…Cerebellar encephalitis is reported both in elderly and non-elderly patients. However, dissimilar from outcome of younger patients, the disease may lead to a persistent and more severe cerebellar ataxia (Klockgether et al, 1993).…”

Acute Cerebellar Ataxia with an MRI Abnormality: A Sequential Imaging Study

“…MRI lesions in the cerebellar white matter suggested that the demyelinating process is related to an autoimmune mechanism [8,9]. Klockgether et al [10] reported a clinical follow-up study of adults with cerebellar encephalitis. Some of the patients, who were older than 60 years at disease onset, had persistent cerebellar ataxia, and MRI revealed infratentorial atrophy [10].…”

“…Klockgether et al [10] reported a clinical follow-up study of adults with cerebellar encephalitis. Some of the patients, who were older than 60 years at disease onset, had persistent cerebellar ataxia, and MRI revealed infratentorial atrophy [10]. In our patient, there was recovery from cerebellar signs 8 months after disease onset, and MRI without shrinkage of the cerebellum or brain stem was observed.…”