Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39697258›Full record

ArticleRadiology case reports2025

First case report on Bickerstaff brainstem encephalitis in a young adult from Syria: Bridging clinical knowledge and practice.

Ahmad Almohamed, Ayham Qatza, Haifa Alsamman, Suaad Hamsho, Mohammad Atia, Rahaf Tamer, Almaya Mhd Ali, Waddah Kazkz

Abstract readCase Reports
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Radiology case reports, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Ahmad AlmohamedFaculty of Medicine, Hama University, Hama, Syria.
Ayham QatzaFaculty of Medicine, Hama University, Hama, Syria.
Haifa AlsammanNeurology Department, Hama National Hospital, Hama, Syria.
Suaad HamshoRheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Damascus University, Damascus, Syria.
Mohammad AtiaFaculty of Medicine, Al-sham Private University, Damascus, Syria.
Rahaf TamerFaculty of Medicine, Hama University, Hama, Syria.
Almaya Mhd AliFaculty of Pharmacy, Aleppo University, Aleppo, Syria.
Waddah KazkzNeurology Department, Hama National Hospital, Hama, Syria.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Bickerstaff Brainstem Encephalitis (BBE) is a rare immunologic condition characterized by CNS inflammation, presenting with ataxia, external ophthalmoplegia, altered consciousness, and quadriplegia. A 25-year-old male with no significant medical history exhibited symptoms of blurred vision, diplopia, facial numbness, and imbalance following a respiratory infection. Brain MRI revealed hyperintense lesions in the cerebral peduncle and pons on T2-weighted/FLAIR sequences but not on T1-weighted sequences, indicative of demyelination. Lumbar puncture showed clear cerebrospinal fluid with lymphocytic pleocytosis (80 cells/μl, 95% lymphocytes) and normal protein levels. The patient was treated with intravenous methylprednisolone (1000 mg/day for five days), resulting in recovery and normal follow-up MRI findings. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial to minimize complications and improve outcomes. Additionally, airway management is essential for patients with impaired respiratory function, and long-term rehabilitation may be necessary for those recovering from encephalitis.

Indexed as

Bickerstaff brainstem encephalitisCase reportFunctional neurologic disorderMethylprednisolone

Identifiers

PMID39697258
PMCPMC11653127

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.