Agraphia with reversible splenial corpus callosum lesion caused by hypoglycemia

Brain Dev. 2018 Aug;40(7):592-595. doi: 10.1016/j.braindev.2018.03.003. Epub 2018 Mar 30.

Abstract

Background: Neurological manifestations caused by hypoglycemia range from reversible focal deficits and transient encephalopathy to irreversible coma or death. Recently, high signal intensity lesions in the splenium of the corpus callosum on diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging were reported in adults experiencing hypoglycemia. However, patients presenting with agraphia are rare.

Subject and methods: We examined a 17-year-old left-handed female patient with type 1 diabetes who exhibited transient left agraphia with a reversible splenium lesion of the corpus callosum on diffusion-weighted imaging caused by hypoglycemia, which was improved with blood glucose management alone.

Conclusion: This rare case indicates that agraphia, a sign of callosal disconnection syndrome, can result from a reversible splenial lesion of the corpus callosum caused by hypoglycemia.

Keywords: Agraphia; Callosal disconnection syndrome; Children; Hypoglycemia; Hypoglycemic encephalopathy; Splenium of the corpus callosum.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Agraphia / diagnostic imaging*
  • Agraphia / etiology*
  • Agraphia / physiopathology
  • Agraphia / therapy
  • Corpus Callosum / diagnostic imaging*
  • Corpus Callosum / physiopathology
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / complications
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / diagnostic imaging
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / physiopathology
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / therapy
  • Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypoglycemia / complications*
  • Hypoglycemia / diagnostic imaging*
  • Hypoglycemia / physiopathology
  • Hypoglycemia / therapy