Fatal neurogenic pulmonary edema in a patient with progressive multiple sclerosis

Abstract

We report a case of fatal neurogenic pulmonary edema in progressive multiple sclerosis (MS). The patient had one isolated relapse-like episode. Six years later progressive disease began, lasting 5 years until unexpected death during sleep. Medico-legal autopsy revealed pulmonary edema and neuropathological examination showed infiltrations with lymphocytes and microglia in the respiratory centers of the medulla. More classical demyelinated lesions were found in the white matter of spinal cord and in the gray matter of the brain along with disseminated perivascular lymphocytic infiltrates. Medullary inflammation in progressive MS may result in sudden fatal respiratory failure.