ADEM
Epidemiology
According to a study published in 2008, the estimated incidence in California is 0.4 per 100,000 population per year, and there are approximately 3 to 6 ADEM cases seen each year at regional medical centers in the US, UK, and Australia.1 ADEM is more common in children and adolescents than it is in adults, and there does not seem to be a higher incidence of ADEM among males or females, nor does there seem to be a higher frequency among any particular ethnic group.
Post-infectious: In approximately 50-75 percent of ADEM cases, the inflammatory attack is preceded by a viral or bacterial infection. There have been a large number of viruses associated with these infections, including but not limited to measles, mumps, rubella, varicella zoster, Epstein-Barr, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex, hepatitis A, influenza, and enterovirus infections. A seasonal distribution has been observed showing that most ADEM cases occur in the winter and spring. The inflammatory attack and neurological symptoms often begin within a couple of weeks after the viral or bacterial illness.
Post-immunization: Less than 5 percent of ADEM cases follow immunization.1 The association between an inflammatory attack following an immunization has only been temporal and the direct connection between a vaccination and an immune attack has not been established. Post-vaccinial ADEM has been associated with immunization for rabies, hepatitis B, influenza, Japanese B encephalitis, diphtheria/pertussis/tetanus, measles, mumps, rubella, pneumococcus, polio, smallpox, and varicella. Currently, the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccinations are most commonly associated with post-vaccinial ADEM. No infectious agent is isolated in most cases. The incidence of ADEM associated with the live measles vaccination is 1 to 2 per million. Neurologic symptoms typically appear 4 to 13 days after a vaccination.
1. Lotze TE, Chadwick DJ. Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis in children: Pathogenesis, clinical features, and diagnosis. UpToDate. 2009.