[Osmotic demyelination syndrome--can we avoid it?].

Osmotic demyelination syndrome is an iatrogenic disease related to inappropriately rapid correction of plasma osmolar disorders. The precise mechanism of injury is still unknown. Focal demyelination may appear in pontine (central pontine myelinosis, CPM) and extrapontine locations (extrapontine myelinosis, EPM), determining clinical manifestations of the disease. Modern techniques of radiological imaging like MRI play important role in demyelination syndrome diagnosis. The knowledge of conditions associated with an increased risk of osmotic demyelination syndrome and careful management of osmotic disturbances according to current standards may contribute to improved prognosis in this disease.