A 24-year-old woman was diagnosed with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) after giving birth. She complained of ataxic weakness in her four limbs and difficulty in swallowing. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) T2 weighted images taken after admission revealed multiple areas of high intensity, mainly in the brain stem and cerebral white matter. The following day, the patient was admitted to the ICU because of respiratory failure, bradycardia and hypotension. She received two courses of methylprednisolone by pulse dose intravenous administration and plasmapheresis. The patient gradually recovered. ADEM should be recognized as a life-threatening disease that may present after a woman has given birth. MRI images of the brain and spinal cord are useful for the diagnosis of acute phase ADEM. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential for a good prognosis in cases of ADEM.
