• Fan-Ya Sun, Jia Shen, Le Ding, Bo Zhu, Naibing Gu, Zhiqin Liu, Zhengli Di, and Xiao-Tao Jia.
• Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Xi'an Central Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University College of Medicine, Xi'an, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China.
• Medicine (Baltimore). 2024 Aug 9; 103 (32): e39278e39278.

RationaleMyelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) antibody-related disease is a relatively recent entity in inflammatory demyelinating disease. Its clinical presentation varies in severity and the lack of specific imaging features makes it easy to misdiagnose. We now report the case of a MOG antibody-positive patient who presented with diplopia and dizziness, and whose brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed abnormal signals in the bilateral pontine brachium.Patient ConcernsA previously healthy 52-year-old woman presented with diplopia and dizziness, and was hospitalized 4 days after onset.DiagnosesBrain MRI demonstrated abnormal hyperintense signals in the bilateral pontine brachium on T2-weighted fluid attenuated inversion recovery imaging. MRI enhancement showed abnormal enhancement foci in bilateral pontine brachium and pons. Cerebrospinal fluid examination showed Oligoclonal IgG bands were negative. The IgG index was normal, and serum aquaporin-4 antibody was negative, while serum MOG-Ab was positive (1:100). In conjunction with a positive serum MOG antibody and exclusion of other diseases, diagnosis of MOG antibody-related disease was made.InterventionsIntravenous methylprednisolone followed by oral corticosteroids.OutcomesSymptoms resolved completely. At 4-month follow-up. Follow-up after 4 months showed disappearance of the abnormal signal in the left pontine brachium and diminution of abnormal high signal in the right compared to the previous one, and there was no recurrence 1 year after the onset of the disease.LessonsIf brain MRI indicating bilateral, multiple, and diffuse abnormal signals in the pontine brachium, and a discrepancy between the clinical symptoms and the imaging severity, a diagnosis of demyelinating disease should be considered highly probable. In such cases, anti-MOG antibody testing is essential for further defining the etiology. The clinical phenotype and imaging manifestations of MOG antibody-positive brainstem encephalitis may lack sufficient specificity to be readily identifiable. Timely diagnosis and early glucocorticoid therapy are beneficial in improving prognosis and preventing recurrence.Copyright © 2024 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.

13 keywords...

hide…