Can't pee, can't climb a tree: Seropositive myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) antibodies in acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM)

When weighing the costs and benefits of “choosing wisely,” in a healthcare climate that continues to stress cost-saving practices, it is difficult to argue with approaching low-risk patients with conservative approaches and treatments. In defense of liberal and broad approaches to patient workups, however, one must also weigh the bounce-back emergency department (ED) visit, which may represent either a failure of initial evaluation or a success of appropriate return precautions. An 18-year-old male presented to the ED with two days of urinary retention, abdominal pain, and subjective fever, was discharged with urology follow-up and doxycycline, and subsequently returned to the ED in <24 h with inability to stand and loss of reflexes in bilateral lower extremities. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the brain and spine demonstrated extensive and multifocal areas of signal abnormalities consistent with active demyelination concerning for acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM). Additional lab workup demonstrated seropositive myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) antibodies, further supporting the diagnosis of ADEM, an immune-mediated disorder which can lead to rapid multifocal neurologic dysfunction.