Transient Splenial Lesion of the Corpus Callosum in H1N1 Influenza Virus-Associated Encephalitis/Encephalopathy

• Published in: Internal Medicine Vol. 50; no. 8; pp. 915 - 918
• Main Authors: Ito, Shinji, Shima, Sayuri, Ueda, Akihiro, Kawamura, Naoki, Asakura, Kunihiko, Mutoh, Tatsuro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan The Japanese Society of Internal Medicine 01-01-2011
• Subjects: Adult; Corpus callosum; Corpus Callosum - pathology; Creatine Kinase - blood; Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Drowsiness; DWI; Encephalitis; Encephalitis, Viral - diagnosis; Encephalitis, Viral - drug therapy; Encephalitis, Viral - etiology; Encephalitis, Viral - pathology; Encephalopathy; Fever; H1N1; Hospitals; Humans; Infection; Influenza; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype; Influenza virus; Influenza, Human - complications; Influenza, Human - pathology; Magnetic resonance imaging; Male; Memory; methylprednisolone; Methylprednisolone - therapeutic use; MRI; Neuroimaging; Rhabdomyolysis - enzymology; Rhabdomyolysis - etiology
• ISSN: 0918-2918; 1349-7235; 1349-7235
• DOI: 10.2169/internalmedicine.50.4147

A 26-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of high fever, drowsiness, memory disturbance, and disorientation due to H1N1 influenza virus-associated encephalitis/encephalopathy. All of his symptoms rapidly improved following methylprednisolone pulse therapy. The diffusion-weighted image of brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a large transient hyperintense signal lesion on the central splenium of the corpus callosum. This MRI finding in conjunction with a complete clinical recovery has been previously observed in cases of clinically mild seasonal influenza-associated encephalitis/encephalopathy, and can be also a useful clue for the diagnosis of new type of influenza, H1N1 influenza virus infection complicated by encephalitis/encephalopathy.