Brainstem encephalitis: etiologies, treatment, and predictors of outcome.

ABSTRACT: Brainstem encephalitis (BE) is an uncommon condition. We sought to characterize clinical presentations, etiologies, response to treatment, and predictors of outcome. We performed a retrospective review of non-HIV infected patients diagnosed with BE at Johns Hopkins Hospital (January 1997-April 2010). We characterized clinical and paraclinical features, and used regression models to assess associations with poor outcome. BE was diagnosed in 81 patients. An etiology was identified in 58 of 81 (71.6%) of cases, most of which were confirmed or probable inflammatory/autoimmune conditions. Of the remaining 23 cases in which a specific diagnosis remained undefined, clinical presentation, CSF, neuroimaging studies, and outcomes were similar to the inflammatory/autoimmune group. Brain biopsy identi

SUBMITTER: Tan IL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4939433 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature