ABSTRACT
Definition and epidemiology Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is an acute inflammatory demyelinating disease of the brain and spinal cord characterized by widespread perivascular inflammation and demyelination and caused by an autoimmune attack on the brain, most commonly as a reaction to a viral infection which activates autoreactive T cells that recognize myelin-specific proteins. The disease is one of immunoregulatory failure rather than immunosuppression. • Incidence: uncommon; most frequent after
nonspecific upper respiratory tract infections of undetermined etiology.
