Transient cardiomyopathy as the presenting feature of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis.

Brainstem lesions are rarely associated with neurogenic pulmonary oedema (NPO) in multiple sclerosis and other disorders. The exact mechanism for this is unknown. We describe a case of a 15-year-old boy who presented with transient cardiomyopathy and severe acute pulmonary oedema. Several days after his initial presentation he developed an ataxic syndrome with limb, truncal and gait ataxia and nystagmus on primary gaze. Investigations confirmed acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM). For the first time, we describe a case of transient cardiomyopathy and NPO as the initial manifestation of ADEM.