[A case report of central pontine and extrapontine myelinolysis which occurred during pregnancy and was accompanied by choreic movement].

A 25-year-old female in the 17th week of pregnancy was diagnosed by MRI as having central pontine and extrapontine myelinolysis. Serial observations with MR showed gradual disappearance of the lesions in the pons and striatum. Improvement of the symptoms took place shortly before disappearance of the lesions on MRI pictures. The initial symptoms were consciousness disturbance, cranial nerve palsy and tetraparesis. Before the latter disappeared seven months after occurrence of the disease, all other symptoms gradually improved. They were followed by delayed appearance of choreic movements, which was still remaining one year after discharge. It is rare for a pregnant woman to be attacked by central pontine myelinolysis. Moreover, very few symptoms caused by such extrapontine lesions have so far been reported. Also, a review of the relevant literature by the authors found no other case showing choreic movements. This report is of an extremely rare case of central pontine and extrapontine myelinolysis which occurred during pregnancy and is accompanied by choreic movements.