Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry (생물정신의학)

The Korean Society of Biological Psychiatry (대한생물정신의학회)
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A Case of Marchiafava-Bignami Disease with Symmetrical Lesions of the Putamen in a Patient with Chronic Alcohol Dependence

만성 알코올 의존에서 대칭적인 피각부위 병변이 동반된 Marchiafava-Bignami 병 사례

  • Joo, So Youn (Department of Psychiatry, Chung-Ang University, College of Medicine) ;
  • Choi, Tae Young (Department of Psychiatry, Catholic University of Daegu, School of Medicine)
  • 주소연 (중앙대학교 의과대학 정신과학교실) ;
  • 최태영 (대구카톨릭대학교 의과대학 정신과학교실)
  • Published : 2009.05.31
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Abstract

Marchiafava-Bignami disease(MBD) is a rare complication of chronic alcoholism characterized by symmetrical demyelination of the corpus callosum. We report a case of MBD in a Korean patient having chronic alcohol dependence. The patient exhibited mental depression, weakness of all four limbs and dysarthria. Laboratory data showed mild hyponatremia. Magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) revealed unusual symmetrical resolving lesions of the putamen in addition to the typically observed lesion of the corpus callosum. The neurologic disturbances were gradually improved with the normalization of low plasma sodium levels. Marked improvement of abnormal MRI findings was noted after thiamine supplement, though the patient still exhibited severe cognitive impairment.

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