J Korean Neurol Assoc.  2014 Nov;32(4):304-306. 10.0000/jkna.2014.32.4.304.

Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome Following Bee Venom Acupuncture

• Lee M
• Park DG
• Kim MS
• Seo HI
• Kim M
• Moon SY

• KMID: 2343560
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.0000/jkna.2014.32.4.304

Abstract

A 64-year-old woman presented with headache and visual disturbance which occurred 10 minutes after bee venom acupuncture. She was normotensive. Her pupils were isocoric and normally reflexive but she could precept only lights just in front of her eyes. The brain MRI showed vasogenic edema in the cerebellum and occipitotemporoparietal areas. She fully recovered 2 days later. The brain MRI taken after 7 days revealed remarkable improvement. This case suggests that bee venom might cause posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome.

Keyword

Bee venom; Vasogenic edema; Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome

MeSH Terms

Acupuncture*
Bee Venoms*
Brain
Cerebellum
Edema
Female
Headache
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Middle Aged
Posterior Leukoencephalopathy Syndrome*
Pupil
Reflex
Bee Venoms