investigations

Last reviewed 01/2018

Investigations in acute disseminated encephalomyelitis show:

  • CSF - pleocytosis, lymphocytic and often, nucleophilic; raised protein; oligoclonal bands are present initially but then disappear

  • blood - normal or evidence of neutrophilia, lymphocytosis or lymphopenia

  • EEG - shows diffuse slow wave activity

  • CT - normal

  • MRI - shows small focal white matter changes, usually, symmetrical. The plaques may become haemorrhagic and oedematous, and present as mass lesions.