Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome-related encephalopathy: magnetic resonance imaging findings

Abstract Objective To report the incidence and findings of brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS)-related encephalopathy along with its clinical course. Methods Medical records and brain MRI were reviewed from January 2004 to January 2013. The final cohort consisted of 145 patients. Brain MRI findings were correlated with associated clinical stage of disease. Results The MRI findings associated with clinical course of HFRS-related encephalopathy were posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome pattern ( n =3) in oliguric phase and splenial lesion pattern ( n =1) in febrile phase. Conclusions Brain MRI findings in HFRS-related encephalopathy may be associated with the clinical course of HFRS.