Central pontine myelinolysis

Abstract

Two patients are reported who showed the pathologic changes of central pontine myelinolysis. In addition, the first patient also showed the pathologic features of pellagra encephalopathy and the second patient showed the pathologic features of Wernicke-Korsakoff''s disease. The literature on central pontine myelinolysis is reviewed. The identity of "central neuritis of Meyer" and pellagra encephalopathy is emphasized. It is concluded that these cases support the hypothesis that central pontine myelinolysis is a disease of malnutrition.