Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis (ADEM)

What is Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis?
Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is a neurological disorder characterized by inflammation of the brain and spinal cord caused by damage to the myelin sheath. The myelin sheath is the fatty covering, which acts as an insulator, on nerve fibers in the brain. ADEM may occur in association with a viral or bacterial infection, as a complication of inoculation or vaccination, or without a preceding cause. Onset of the disorder is sudden. Symptoms, which vary among individuals, may include headache, delirium, lethargy, coma, seizures, stiff neck, fever, ataxia, optic neuritis, transverse myelitis, vomiting, and weight loss. Other symptoms may include monoparesis (paralysis of a single limb) or hemiplegia (paralysis on one side of the body). The disorder occurs in children more often than in adults.

Links to additional information:

• MyDailyApple Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis (ADEM)
• The Encephalitis Center at Johns Hopkins
• Neuroimmunological Lessons Learned from Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis
• NINDS Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis Information Page
• Fulminant Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis NOROL BIL D 18: 1 , 2001
  
• Encephalitis Information - Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis (ADEM)
• Encephalitis Global
• The Contact a Family Directory - ACUTE DISSEMINATED ENCEPHALOMYELITIS
• ADEM support group
• ADEM Discussion Forum
• Obstetric Issues - TM, ADEM, NMO

From the 2006 Rare Neuroimmunologic Disorders Symposium Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis (ADEM) Anita Venkataramana, MBBS Thomas O. Crawford, MD View Video

From the 2004 Rare Neuroimmunologic Disorders Symposium Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis (ADEM) David Irani, MD Assistant Professor of Neurology Co-Director, Johns Hopkins Transverse Myelopathy Center (JHTMC) Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Handouts 500Kb View Video 34 mins

From the 2004 Rare Neuroimmunologic Disorders Symposium Recognizing pediatric TM from CIDP and pediatric ADEM Gregory Barnes, MD, University of Kentucky, KY View Video 29 mins

From the 2nd Transverse Myelitis Symposium, July 2001 Lessons from ADEM/Acute Leukoencephalopathies David Irani, MD Assistant Professor of Neurology Co-Director, Johns Hopkins Transverse Myelopathy Center (JHTMC) Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine View Handouts 308KB View Video 26 minutes plus 7 minute Q & A View Slideshow 298KB

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