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Fugate, Jennifer

0000-0001-7479-6732

Mayo Clinic

Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA Fugate.Jennifer@mayo.edu.

Citations 1

Influenza-associated encephalopathy mimicking dermatoneuro syndrome
Rode, Matthew M. , Rigby, Michael J. , Schipani, Elke , Fugate, Jennifer E. , Rode, Matthew , Fugate, Jennifer

BMJ Case Reports | March 26, 2025 | Volume: 18 | Issue: 3 | Pages: e264930

10.1136/bcr-2025-264930 Get It

Dermatoneuro syndrome (DNS) is a rare diagnosis of exclusion characterised by fever, altered mental status and seizures in patients with scleromyxoedema. We present a complex case of a patient presenting with a fever, coma, seizures, rigidity and deep T2 fluid-attenuated inversion recovery hyperintensities in the context of both scleromyxoedema and influenza A with extensive, negative infectious workup. This case highlights the shared clinical features of DNS and influenza-associated encephalopathy, the latter being the eventual diagnosis for our patient. We review the DNS literature focusing on presentation, adequacy of investigation, treatment and prognosis. Finally, we provide an initial workup for patients with suspected DNS, including nasopharyngeal influenza PCR.