Volume 5, Issue 3 (Summer 2019)                   Caspian J Neurol Sci 2019, 5(3): 147-149 | Back to browse issues page


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Naser Moghadasi A, Hatamian H. Is Hemorrhagic Demyelinating Lesions of Central Nervous System a Spectrum?. Caspian J Neurol Sci 2019; 5 (3) :147-149
URL: http://cjns.gums.ac.ir/article-1-267-en.html
1- Multiple Sclerosis Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , abdorrezamoghadasi@gmail.com
2- Department of Neurology, Poursina Hospital, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
Keywords: HDLC, CNS, Spectrum
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Dear Editor, 
Small number of demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) are associated with hemorrhage in the neural tissue, among which, the most well-recognized is acute hemorrhagic leukoencephalitis (AHL). There have been reports of hemorrhage in other demyelinating diseases of the CNS. Investigating these cases can help us understand the less recognized symptoms of the demyelinating diseases of the CNS. hemorrhagic demyelinating lesions of CNS (HDLC) can be defined as per the following criteria: 1. Hemorrhage should be definitely revealed by imaging; 2. Hemorrhagic lesions must have a hemorrhagic mechanism due to CNS tissue demyelination; 3. Other possible differential diagnoses such as autoimmune encephalitis, vasculitis, and vasculopathy should be evaluated and ruled out.
This definition can provide a clear and pathological understanding of these lesions. In addition, the recognition of HDLC as a separate spectrum disorder necessitates investigating the immunological basis of this new entity. A comprehensive literature research has been conducted on PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar in this regard; however, there were few cases compatible with HDLC definition. Although the reports consistent with this definition are scarce, attention must be paid to better understand and consequently better treat this rare symptom.
Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most recognized CNS demyelinating disease. However, there are very few reports of hemorrhage in this disease; to our knowledge, some of those reports meet the definition of HDLC. The studied patient was a 43-year-old woman who referred to the emergency department with a decreased consciousness and seizure. In magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), besides a tumefactive hemorrhagic lesion, there were periventricular plaques. Moreover, tumefactive lesion biopsy revealed a tumefactive hemorrhagic demyelinating lesion. The patient responded well to steroid treatment [1].
As mentioned above, there are limited reports of hemorrhage in MS disease. The demyelination mechanism is irresponsible for such hemorrhage; the use of anticoagulants, tobacco [2], MS medicines [3], or some vascular lesions [4] are associated with it. However, in one of these cases, an MS patient treated with natalizumab had a hemorrhage in the former site of the tumefactive demyelinating lesion. The authors correctly referred to the role of natalizumab in preventing angiogenesis; thus, facilitating hemorrhage, since hemorrhage occurred in the former site of the tumefactive lesion, can highlight the role of demyelination mechanism in causing this hemorrhage [5].
Myelitis
Another CNS demyelinating disease is the involvement of the spinal cord by the demyelinating process, recognized as isolated transverse myelitis. Hemorrhage in myelitis caused by the demyelinating mechanism is quite rare; spinal cord hemorrhage mainly occurs due to tumors, vascular malformations, or infections like varicella-zoster virus (VZV). In a case report, a 33-year-old Japanese woman was discussed who presented with paraparesis. A longitudinal extensive transverse myelitis (LETM) with hemorrhage was observed in her MRI. There was no pathology sample available. Furthermore, all possible causes in this patient were examined and rejected; therefore, the most important cause was the demyelinating involvement of the spinal cord [6].
Acute Hemorrhagic Leukoencephalitis 
As mentioned above, AHL is the most well-recognized CNS demyelinating disease, diagnosed by hemorrhage. It is a rare, yet deadly disease, which is a subset of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM). Unlike that, AHL is most commonly observed in adults. It is clinically recognized with a rapid progressive trend that can lead to death within a few days. In scanning, the disease is diagnosed with large bilateral lesions and edematous with hemorrhage [7].
Acute Necrotizing Encephalopathy 
This rare disease was first introduced by Mizuguchi et al. in 1995 [8]. Clinically, the disease is also recognized with a rapidly progressive and fatal trend. Unlike AHL, it is mainly observed in children. The majority of reported cases are related to infectious diseases, especially influenza. Radiologically, bilateral hemorrhagic lesions may also be observed in the white matter of the cerebellum, brain stem, and thalamus [9, 10]. Its primary distinguishing feature from AHL is the lack of demyelinating characteristics in biopsy [8]. The lack of demyelination in the pathology contradicts our definition of HDLC; however, concerning that, it is similar to AHL in terms of progression and radiological features, it was reviewed here, and it needs further attention.
Conclusion 
In addition to AHL, HDLC can occur in other CNS demyelination diseases like MS or myelitis. Thus, HDLC should be considered as a spectrum disorder. Although the number of reported cases in this regard is minimal, taking into account the increased incidence of CNS demyelination worldwide, calls for paying more attention to this issue.

Ethical Considerations
Compliance with ethical guidelines

All the study procedures complied with the ethical guidelines of the Declaration of Helsinki 2013.
Funding
This manuscript was self-funded.
Conflict of interest
There are no conflicts of interests to be declared.
Acknowledgements
The author should thank MS Research Center of Sina Hospital for their support.


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Type of Study: Letter to Editor | Subject: General
Received: 2019/05/3 | Accepted: 2019/08/14 | Published: 2019/07/1

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