Poliomyelitic-like illness in central European encephalitis

Central European encephalitis (CEE) may be accompanied by myeloradiculitic symptoms in up to 5% of patients. The authors report six patients with a my elitic form of CEE mimicking acute poliomyelitis with bulbar and arm predom inance and a poor prognosis. Three patients died. Of the survivors, only on e can perform most activities of daily living, but still needs assisted ven tilation at night. Autopsy in one patient showed severe cervicothoracic inf lammation with changes almost exclusively in anterior horn cells and roots, as typically seen in poliomyelitis.