DOI: 10.12890/2022_003185

Adult-onset Mild Encephalitis/Encephalopathy with a Reversible Splenial Lesion Induced by MRSA Endocarditis

Authors

  • Hideharu Hagiya Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
  • Fumio Otsuka Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan

hagiya@okayama-u.ac.jp

Keywords

Bacteraemia, corpus callosum, Infective endocarditis, mild encephalitis/encephalopathy with a reversible splenial lesion, Staphylococcus aureus, MRSA

Abstract

Background: Mild encephalitis/encephalopathy and a reversible splenial lesion (MERS) is a clinicoradiological syndrome with an unknown pathogenic mechanism, which usually involves children. Thus, adult-onset MERS is quite rare.

Case presentation: A 71-year-old man, undergoing haemodialysis due to diabetes-induced chronic kidney disease, manifested a persistent fever and disorientation. Blood culture detected methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), while echocardiography revealed vegetation in the aortic and mitral valves. Magnetic resonance imaging of the head revealed a fluid-attenuated inversion recovery-high, diffusion-weighted image-high lesion in the splenium of the corpus callosum, with a number of emboli. Accordingly, the patient was diagnosed with MERS induced by MRSA endocarditis.

Discussion: Neurological impairment by MERS can be reversible. However, the differential diagnosis of the disease includes ischaemic lesions, multiple sclerosis, malignant lymphoma, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, and posterior reversible encephalopathy. Clinicians should consider these diseases when MERS is suspected.

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References

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Published

2022-02-25

Issue

Vol. 9 No. 2 (2022)

How to Cite

1.
Hagiya H, Otsuka F. Adult-onset Mild Encephalitis/Encephalopathy with a Reversible Splenial Lesion Induced by MRSA Endocarditis. EJCRIM [Internet]. 2022 Feb. 25 [cited 2026 Nov. 3];9(2). Available from: https://ejcrim.com/index.php/ejcrim/article/view/3185