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Abstract
Spinal cord diseases in pediatric patients are highly variable in terms of presentation, pathology, and prognosis. Not only do they differ with respect to each other but so too with their adult equivalents. Some of the most common diseases are autoimmune (ie, multiple sclerosis, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, and acute transverse myelitis), congenital (ie, dysraphism with spina bifida, split cord malformation, and tethered cord syndrome), tumor (ie, juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma, ependymoma, and hem-angioblastoma), and vascular (ie, cavernous malformations, arteriovenous malformations, and dural arteriovenous fistulas) in nature. These each require their own niche treatment paradigm and prognosis. Furthermore, presentation of different spinal cord diseases in children can be difficult to discern without epidemiologic and imaging data. Interpretation of these data is crucial to facilitating a timely and accurate diagnosis. Correspondingly, the aim of this review was to highlight the most pertinent features of the most common spinal cord diseases in the pediatric population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor M Lu
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Nicklaus Children's Hospital, Miami, FL.,Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami, Miami, FL
| | - Toba N Niazi
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Nicklaus Children's Hospital, Miami, FL.,Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami, Miami, FL
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Sebastian AP, Basu A, Mitta N, Benjamin D. Transverse myelitis caused by varicella-zoster. BMJ Case Rep 2021; 14:e238078. [PMID: 34462272 PMCID: PMC8407226 DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2020-238078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Transverse myelitis is a rare neurological complication seen with varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infection, which is common among immunocompromised hosts. It can occur during the primary VZV infection or reactivation of latent infection. It is a complication that requires prompt diagnosis and treatment. The present case is that of a 28-year-old immunocompetent man, who presented with fever, rash and acute-onset spastic paraparesis with bladder involvement. Causes such as herpes simplex 1 and 2, cytomegalovirus, enterovirus and Epstein-Barr virus infection were ruled out. On evaluation, he was diagnosed with acute primary disseminated VZV infection with parainfectious transverse myelitis, based on positive cerebrospinal fluid multiplex PCR (PCR) and serum VZV IgM antibodies. He was treated with intravenous acyclovir and steroids, with which he improved significantly.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Arini Basu
- Internal Medicine, Bangalore Baptist Hospital, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Nandini Mitta
- Department of Neurology, Bangalore Baptist Hospital, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Dominic Benjamin
- Internal Medicine, Bangalore Baptist Hospital, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
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Pavesi-Krieger C, Rech MA, Lovett S. Atypical presentation of transverse myelitis in the emergency department. Am J Emerg Med 2021; 50:813.e5-813.e6. [PMID: 34217564 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajem.2021.06.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Revised: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Transverse myelitis (TM) is an inflammatory disorder of the spinal cord characterized by acute onset sensory loss and motor weakness below the level of the lesion. The etiology of the disease is varied, and diagnosis of TM in the Emergency Department (ED) can be difficult owing to the low incidence of the disease, and frequently insidious onset. We report a case of a 59-year-old female who presented to the ED from home with left upper quadrant abdominal pain and flank pain of sudden onset. While in the ED, she experienced left lower extremity weakness and sensory changes that slowly progressed bilaterally, and ultimately was diagnosed with transverse myelitis. Transverse myelitis rarely diagnosed in the ED setting, but it is an important clinical consideration when evaluating ED patients presenting with both pain and progressive neurologic symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Pavesi-Krieger
- Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, 2160 S 1st Ave, Maywood, IL 60153, United States of America
| | - Megan A Rech
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Loyola University Medical Center, 2160 S 1st Ave, Maywood, IL 60153, United States of America; Department of Pharmacy, Loyola University Medical Center, 2160 S 1st Ave, Maywood, IL 60153, United States of America
| | - Shannon Lovett
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Loyola University Medical Center, 2160 S 1st Ave, Maywood, IL 60153, United States of America.
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Maikap D, Padhan P. Acute onset paraplegia in a case of granulomatosis with polyangitis (GPA) - an unusual complication. Mod Rheumatol Case Rep 2020; 5:113-116. [PMID: 33269652 DOI: 10.1080/24725625.2020.1785075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) is a rare multisystem autoimmune disease of unknown aetiology with only a few reported cases about spinal cord involvement in the literature. We report on the case of an established GPA presented with acute onset bilateral lower limb weakness, urinary retention and faecal incontinence consistent with transverse myelitis. Contrast-enhanced MRI scanning revealed T2 hyperintensity extending from the T1 to conus medularis, without any gadolinium enhancement features suggestive of long segment myelitis. He was successfully treated with I.V IG followed by Rituximab.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debashis Maikap
- Department of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences, KIIT University, Bhubaneswar, India
| | - Prasanta Padhan
- Department of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences, KIIT University, Bhubaneswar, India
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Wang P, Zhang S, Lv H, Qiao G, Zhong X, Li H, Zhang L. Clinical efficacy of γ-globulin combined with dexamethasone and methylprednisolone, respectively, in the treatment of acute transverse myelitis and its effects on immune function and quality of life. Exp Ther Med 2020; 20:104. [PMID: 32989383 PMCID: PMC7517252 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2020.9234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2019] [Accepted: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Effects of γ-globulin combined with dexamethasone or methylprednisolone in the treatment of acute transverse myelitis (ATM) were investigated. A retrospective analysis of medical records from 136 ATM patients admitted to Linzi District People's Hospital from July 2014 to September 2017 was performed. Patients treated with dexamethasone combined with γ-globulin were in group A (66 cases), and patients treated with methylprednisolone combined with γ-globulin were in group B (70 cases). Clinical efficacy, recovery time of bone marrow function and incidence rate of adverse reactions were analyzed and compared between the two groups. T-lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood of both groups were detected by Flow cytometry. Quality of life of patients was assessed by the Quality of Life Scale (SF-36) developed by the American Institute of Medicine. Time of sensory recovery, self-walking, improving muscle strength at two levels and urination recovery after treatment in group B were significantly shorter than those in group A (P<0.001); effective rate of treatment in group B was significantly higher than that in group A (P<0.05); incidence rate of adverse reactions in group B was significantly lower than that in group A (P<0.05); ratios of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ cells and CD4+/CD8+ in peripheral blood of group A and group B after treatment were significantly higher than those before treatment (P<0.05); scores of general health (GH), physical function (PF), role physical (RP), body pain (BP), social function (SF), role emotional (RE), mental health (MH) and vitality (VT) in group B after treatment were significantly higher than those in group A (P<0.05). In conclusion, clinical efficacy of γ-globulin combined with methylprednisolone in the treatment of ATM patients shows definitely fewer adverse reactions, which can improve their immune function and quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peiquan Wang
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Linzi District People's Hospital, Zibo, Shandong 255400, P.R. China
| | - Suhua Zhang
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Linzi District People's Hospital, Zibo, Shandong 255400, P.R. China
| | - Hongchun Lv
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Linzi District People's Hospital, Zibo, Shandong 255400, P.R. China
| | - Gang Qiao
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Linzi District People's Hospital, Zibo, Shandong 255400, P.R. China
| | - Xiaodong Zhong
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Linzi District People's Hospital, Zibo, Shandong 255400, P.R. China
| | - Hua Li
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Linzi District People's Hospital, Zibo, Shandong 255400, P.R. China
| | - Lili Zhang
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Linzi District People's Hospital, Zibo, Shandong 255400, P.R. China
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Transverse myelitis masquerading as cauda equina syndrome, stroke and cervical myelopathy. Biomedicine (Taipei) 2020; 10:45-50. [PMID: 33854913 PMCID: PMC7608839 DOI: 10.37796/2211-8039.1005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2019] [Accepted: 06/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Transverse myelitis is an uncommon but well-defined neurological syndrome. However, a high index of suspicion is needed to diagnose this condition, especially when it occurs in concomitance with preexisting spinal canal stenosis. We report our patient, a 48 year old male, who initially presented to our spine clinic with acute onset unilateral lower limb weakness associated with urinary retention, which was suspected to be cauda equina syndrome due to a prolapsed intervertebral disc. However, initial magnetic resonance (MR) imaging showed only mild spinal canal stenosis from L2-L5 and C3– C6 levels; thus, the possibility of cauda equina syndrome was ruled out. A few days later, patient developed ipsilateral upper limb weakness giving an impression of hemiparesis due to stroke. However, imaging of brain returned normal. There was still a dilemma whether symptoms could be due to cervical myelopathy as there was mild cervical cord compression with early myelomalacia changes, but the findings were subtle to come to a definite conclusion. Subsequently, patient desaturated and required ventilatory support. Repeat MR imaging of the cervical spine revealed T2 hyperintensities spanning multiple levels in the cervical cord which highlighted the possibility of transverse myelitis and the diagnosis was clinched after a CSF analysis. Despite the debilitating effects, patient responded well to corticosteroid therapy and gradually recovered. This case is reported to highlight the diagnostic dilemma and the rapid progression of transverse myelitis that demands timely medical intervention to avoid permanent disabilities.
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Corwell BN, Davis NL. The Emergent Evaluation and Treatment of Neck and Back Pain. Emerg Med Clin North Am 2019; 38:167-191. [PMID: 31757249 DOI: 10.1016/j.emc.2019.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Neck and back pain are among the most common symptom-related complaints for visits to the emergency department (ED). They contribute to high levels of lost work days, disability, and health care use. The goal of ED assessment of patients with neck and back pain is to evaluate for potentially dangerous causes that could result in significant morbidity and mortality. This article discusses the efficient and effective evaluation, management, and treatment of patients with neck and back pain in the ED. Emphasis is placed on vertebral osteomyelitis, epidural abscess, acute transverse myelitis, epidural compression syndrome, spinal malignancy, and spinal stenosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian N Corwell
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 110 S. Paca Street, 6th Floor, Suite 200, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; Department of Orthopaedics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Natalie L Davis
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 110 S. Paca Street, 8th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
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