A case report of acute Marchiafava-Bignami disease: a rare clinical entity in chronic alcoholism

Mohd Arif Abdul Malik Khiew; Abdul Hanif Khan Yusof Khan; Wei Chao Loh; Liyana Najwa Inche Mat; Peck Kee Chia; Wan Aliaa Wan Sulaiman; Fan Kee Hoo; Hamidon Basri

doi:10.13181/mji.cr.204464

Authors

Mohd Arif Abdul Malik Khiew Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2052-3047
Abdul Hanif Khan Yusof Khan Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia
Wei Chao Loh Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia
Liyana Najwa Inche Mat Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia
Peck Kee Chia Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia
Wan Aliaa Wan Sulaiman Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia
Fan Kee Hoo Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia
Hamidon Basri Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.13181/mji.cr.204464

Keywords:

alcoholics, case reports, corpus callosum, magnetic resonance imaging, Marchiafava-Bignami disease, Wernicke encephalopathy

Abstract

Marchiafava‑Bignami disease (MBD) is a rare neurological disease often associated with a chronic consumption of alcohol and malnutrition, which is characterized by a demyelination and necrosis of the corpus callosum. We present a case of a 21-year-old male with chronic alcoholism who presented with an acute altered sensorium and seizure, which were initially treated as meningoencephalitis. His persistent poor Glasgow coma scale score and ideomotor recovery with encephalitic changes on his electroencephalogram prompted urgent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of his brain, which revealed extensive symmetrical hyperintensities in the corpus callosum. The diagnosis of MBD was made because of the typical MRI findings and after the exclusion of other possible diagnosis. The patient was promptly treated with a parenteral thiamine and showed a good recovery at 3 months follow-up. This case highlights the importance of diagnosing and recognizing MBD in a patient with chronic alcoholism as prompt treatment could prevent irreversible damage, which could carry high morbidity.

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