Cognitive recovery after delayed carbon monoxide encephalopathy

• Published in: Clinical neurology and neurosurgery Vol. 107; no. 4; pp. 347 - 350
• Main Authors: Cocito, Leonardo, Biagioli, Manuela, Fontana, Paola, Inglese, Maria Laura, Pizzorno, Matteo, Spigno, Fabio, Volpe, Silvia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.06.2005; Elsevier Science; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Brain Diseases - etiology; Brain Diseases - psychology; Carbon monoxide; Carbon Monoxide Poisoning - complications; Cognition Disorders - etiology; Cognitive functions; Delayed postanoxic encephalopathy; Frontal Lobe; Frontal-executive functions; Humans; Leukoencephalopathy; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Neurology; Neurosurgery; Poisoning; Recovery of Function; Severity of Illness Index; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Time Factors; Poisoning; Carbon monoxide; Delayed postanoxic encephalopathy; Leukoencephalopathy; Cognitive functions; Frontal-executive functions; Executive function; Nervous system diseases; Leucoencephalopathy; Cerebral disorder; Surgery; Encephalopathy; Central nervous system disease; Frontal
• ISSN: 0303-8467; 1872-6968
• DOI: 10.1016/j.clineuro.2004.09.008

We report on a patient with delayed carbon monoxide encephalopathy who presented with severe cognitive impairment associated with MRI findings of extensive demyelination of the cerebral white matter after a silent period of three weeks from acute intoxication. Despite the severe signs of structural and functional cerebral impairment in the sub-acute stage, the clinical course was favorable but for residual mild dysfunction of the frontal lobes.