{"title":"A rare presentation of acute onset metronidazole-induced leukoencephalopathy with rapid resolution: a case report.","authors":"Govind Singh Mann, Neeti Ajay Gupta, Nitin Jain","doi":"10.1007/s00234-025-03566-5","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Metronidazole is a widely used antimicrobial and is generally well-tolerated, but its adverse effects can rarely manifest as ataxia, dysarthria, and encephalopathy. Rarely it can cause severe neurological toxicity in the form of Metronidazole-Induced Encephalopathy.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We report a 48-year-old female with acute cerebellar symptoms and altered sensorium following a 12-day course of Metronidazole.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) revealed unusual diffuse leukoencephalopathy involving the cerebellar, brainstem, and cerebral white matter with rapid clinical and radiological resolution occurred after discontinuation.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This case highlights the importance of early recognition of symptoms and immediate discontinuation of Metronidazole to prevent irreversible neurological sequelae, even in cases with limited exposure.</p>","PeriodicalId":19422,"journal":{"name":"Neuroradiology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4000,"publicationDate":"2025-02-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Neuroradiology","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00234-025-03566-5","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"CLINICAL NEUROLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Purpose: Metronidazole is a widely used antimicrobial and is generally well-tolerated, but its adverse effects can rarely manifest as ataxia, dysarthria, and encephalopathy. Rarely it can cause severe neurological toxicity in the form of Metronidazole-Induced Encephalopathy.
Methods: We report a 48-year-old female with acute cerebellar symptoms and altered sensorium following a 12-day course of Metronidazole.
Results: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) revealed unusual diffuse leukoencephalopathy involving the cerebellar, brainstem, and cerebral white matter with rapid clinical and radiological resolution occurred after discontinuation.
Conclusions: This case highlights the importance of early recognition of symptoms and immediate discontinuation of Metronidazole to prevent irreversible neurological sequelae, even in cases with limited exposure.
期刊介绍:
Neuroradiology aims to provide state-of-the-art medical and scientific information in the fields of Neuroradiology, Neurosciences, Neurology, Psychiatry, Neurosurgery, and related medical specialities. Neuroradiology as the official Journal of the European Society of Neuroradiology receives submissions from all parts of the world and publishes peer-reviewed original research, comprehensive reviews, educational papers, opinion papers, and short reports on exceptional clinical observations and new technical developments in the field of Neuroimaging and Neurointervention. The journal has subsections for Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Advanced Neuroimaging, Paediatric Neuroradiology, Head-Neck-ENT Radiology, Spine Neuroradiology, and for submissions from Japan. Neuroradiology aims to provide new knowledge about and insights into the function and pathology of the human nervous system that may help to better diagnose and treat nervous system diseases. Neuroradiology is a member of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and follows the COPE core practices. Neuroradiology prefers articles that are free of bias, self-critical regarding limitations, transparent and clear in describing study participants, methods, and statistics, and short in presenting results. Before peer-review all submissions are automatically checked by iThenticate to assess for potential overlap in prior publication.