Musculoskeletal Medicine and PainCase Report
High-Dose Steroid Treatment in a Patient With Balò Disease Diagnosed by Means of Magnetic Resonance Imaging
J Osteopath Med; 111(3): 170-172
Abstract
Balò disease, also called concentric sclerosis, is a rare variant of multiple sclerosis that has been historically characterized as a monophasic, rapidly progressive, often fatal demyelinating disease. The diagnosis of Balò disease is based on the pathognomonic concentric ring pattern seen on magnetic resonance images. The authors describe the case of a 30-year-old woman with Balò disease who was initially treated with an unconventionally high dose of steroids and had a positive long-term clinical outcome with near-complete resolution of her neurologic symptoms. The authors also report MRI findings of concentric lesions before steroid treatment and resolution of the lesions shortly after and several months after steroid treatment. Given the outcome in this patient, we propose using high doses of steroids in the early treatment of patients with Balò disease. However, further studies are needed.