Osmotic demyelination syndrome in type 1 diabetes in the absence of dyselectrolytaemia: an overlooked complication?

Central pontine myelinolysis (CPM) is a demyelinating disorder of central nervous system which involves central portion of the pons and sometimes extrapontine areas also. It is commonly reported in settings of hyponatraemia or its rapid correction, but in the last few years it has also been reported in patients with diabetes in the absence of electrolyte disturbances or correction of serum osmolality. Here we report a case of a 20-year-old female patient, with a known history of type 1 diabetes mellitus, who presented with acute onset spastic quadriparesis with dysarthria and mild ataxia which evolved over 2 weeks. Her MRI brain showed well-defined, bilateral symmetric hyperintense lesion involving central pons showing area of diffusion restriction which was consistent with CPM. Patient was treated conservatively and improved over a period of few weeks. To diagnose more number of cases, we should not overlook CPM in patients with diabetes. © BMJ Publishing Group Ltd (unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2017. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.