Abhijit Majumdar Death Reason Explained: What Is Osmotic Demyelination Syndrome?

Odia music composer Abhijit Majumdar passed away on Sunday at the age of 54. Majumdar was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Bhubaneswar, where he took his last breath. Majumdar was under treatment for chronic liver disease along with various other conditions, like high blood pressure. Majumdar, who had been hospitalised for a long time, was placed on ventilator support. However, his health deteriorated on Saturday night, and he slipped into a coma. On Sunday morning, he suffered a cardiac arrest at around 7.43 am, the hospital said in a statement, adding that CPR was started as per ACLS (Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support) protocol. However, despite all the resuscitation efforts, Majumdar was clinically declared dead

at 9.02 am, the statement added. According to the official bulletin issued by AIIMS Bhubaneswar, Majumdar had multiple comorbid conditions – apart from hypertension, like chronic liver disease due to Osmotic Demyelination Syndrome, bilateral pneumonia, bloodstream infection, and nutritional deficiency. Reportedly, Majumdar has been suffering from Osmotic demyelination syndrome for two years now.

What is Osmotic demyelination syndrome?

ODS happens due to the destruction of the brain's myelin sheath, often resulting from too-rapid correction of chronic low blood sodium. Symptoms of this condition typically arise days after sodium correction, ranging from acute encephalopathy, confusion, and seizures to spastic quadriparesis, pseudobulbar palsy, and coma.Also read: Odia Music Composer Abhijit Majumdar Dies At 54 - Know All About His Career

What causes ODS?

When the myelin sheath that covers nerve cells is destroyed, signals from one nerve to another aren't properly transmitted. Although the brainstem is mainly affected, other areas of the brain can also be involved. The most common cause of ODS is a quick change in the body's blood sodium levels. This most often occurs when someone is being treated for low blood sodium and the sodium is replaced too fast. Sometimes, it occurs when a high level of sodium in the body is corrected too quickly. ODS does not usually occur on its own. Most often, it's a complication of treatment for other problems or from the other problems themselves. A few risk factors include:

• Alcohol use
• Liver disease
• Malnutrition from illnesses
• Radiation treatment of the brain
• Severe nausea and vomiting during pregnancy

Signs and symptoms of ODS

Symptoms may include any of the following:

• Confusion, delirium, and hallucinations
• Balance problems and tremors
• Problems in swallowing
• Reduced alertness
• Drowsiness and sleepiness, along with lethargy
• Slurred speech
• Weakness in the face, arms, or legs, usually affecting both sides of the body

Is there a treatment for ODS?

ODS is an emergency disorder that needs to be treated in the hospital, though most people with this condition are already in the hospital for another problem. There is no known cure for central pontine myelinolysis. Treatment is focused on relieving symptoms. Physical therapy may help maintain muscle strength, mobility, and function in weakened arms and legs.