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Abstract
Vascular disorders of the spinal cord are uncommon yet under-recognized causes of myelopathy. Etiologies can be predominantly categorized into clinical and radiographic presentations of arterial ischemia, venous congestion/ischemia, hematomyelia, and extraparenchymal hemorrhage. While vascular myelopathies often produce significant morbidity, recent advances in the understanding and recognition of these disorders should continue to expedite diagnosis and proper management, and ideally improve patient outcomes. This article comprehensively reviews relevant spinal cord vascular anatomy, clinical features, radiographic findings, treatment, and prognosis of vascular disorders of the spinal cord.
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Hsu JL, Liao MF, Chang KH, Cheng MY, Ro LS. Correlations among disability, anti-AQP4 antibody status and prognosis in the spinal cord involved patients with NMOSD. BMC Neurol 2021; 21:153. [PMID: 33836682 PMCID: PMC8033738 DOI: 10.1186/s12883-021-02171-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2020] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is a rare neuroinflammatory disorder of the central nervous system that typically involves the optic nerve, the spinal cord and other specific brain regions. In relapse of the disease, factors associated with clinical features and lesion severity are important for clinicians to predict disease-related disability. Methods We retrospectively analyzed 22 female patients with NMOSD who had spinal cord lesions. Detailed clinical features, onset symptoms, motor disability, relapse episodes, serum aquaporin-4 (AQP4) and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) autoantibodies and MRI characteristics were documented to correlate their associations with the nadir and three-month Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores. Patients with three-month EDSS scores below four (< 4) were categorized as the good outcome group, while those with scores of four or more (> 4) were categorized as the poor outcome group. Results In patients with NMOSD, the mean age was 44.5 ± 12.8 years, and the mean three-month EDSS score was 4.3 ± 1.9. A significantly higher all-limb muscle power score was found in the good EDSS group than in the poor EDSS group (p = 0.01). A tendency toward longer follow-up periods and lower anti-AQP4 antibody levels was found in the good outcome group. Serum anti-AQP4 antibodies were present in 86% of patients with NMOSD, and MOG autoantibodies were found in one anti-AQP4 antibody-negative patient (33.3%). In patients with NMOSD, more than 40% of spinal cord lesions were distributed at the middle cervical and upper thoracic levels. Conclusions Our findings suggest that EDSS scores and MRC scores at the nadir had significant associations with three-month EDSS scores. The topographic distributions of the spinal cord lesions might relate to different serum anti-AQP4 antibody status. However, further studies will be needed to corroborate this finding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jung Lung Hsu
- Department of Neurology, New Taipei Municipal TuCheng Hospital, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University, New Taipei City, Taiwan.,Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Linkou Medical Center and College of Medicine, Chang-Gung University, Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan.,Graduate Institute of Mind, Brain, & Consciousness, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Brain & Consciousness Research Center, Shuang Ho Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Feng Liao
- Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Linkou Medical Center and College of Medicine, Chang-Gung University, Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Kuo-Hsuan Chang
- Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Linkou Medical Center and College of Medicine, Chang-Gung University, Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Mei-Yun Cheng
- Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Linkou Medical Center and College of Medicine, Chang-Gung University, Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan.,Institute of Molecular Medicine, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Long-Sun Ro
- Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Linkou Medical Center and College of Medicine, Chang-Gung University, Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
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Katanazaka K, Chihara N, Akazawa S, Ueda T, Sekiguchi K, Matsumoto R. [A case of spinal cord infarction accompanied with neuromyelitis optica spectrum pathophysiology]. Rinsho Shinkeigaku 2021; 61:127-131. [PMID: 33504754 DOI: 10.5692/clinicalneurol.cn-001535] [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: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
We report a 60-year-old woman who developed spinal cord infarction (SCI) with anti-aquaporin (AQP) 4 antibody seropositive. She was admitted to our hospital with acute onset of flaccid paraparesis and urinary disturbances that completed within a few minutes after acute pain in her lower back. Neurological examination revealed flaccid paraparesis, bladder and bowel dysfunction and dissociated sensory loss below the level of Th11 spinal cord segment. Diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) and T2-wighted imaging (T2WI) of thoracic spine MRI showed high signal intensity in the spinal cord between Th9 and Th12 vertebral levels with decreased apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC). We diagnosed her as having SCI. Thereafter the serum examination on admission was reported as positive for anti-aquaporin 4 (AQP4) antibody. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis revealed pleocytosis, and the spinal cord lesions became enlarged in MRI on 12 days after the onset. We, therefore, suspected that the pathophysiology of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) accompanied SCI. The patient underwent two courses of high dose intravenous methylprednisolone (IVMP) for three days (1 g/day). Her neurological symptoms did not improve significantly, but the size of T2WI MRI high signal lesion improved to that of the initial MRI scan. Anti-AQP4 antibody seropositivity may have modified the SCI pathology in the present patient.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Norio Chihara
- Division of Neurology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine
| | - Sayaka Akazawa
- Division of Neurology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine
| | - Takehiro Ueda
- Division of Neurology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine
| | - Kenji Sekiguchi
- Division of Neurology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine
| | - Riki Matsumoto
- Division of Neurology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine
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Zalewski NL, Rabinstein AA, Krecke KN, Brown RD, Wijdicks EFM, Weinshenker BG, Kaufmann TJ, Morris JM, Aksamit AJ, Bartleson JD, Lanzino G, Blessing MM, Flanagan EP. Characteristics of Spontaneous Spinal Cord Infarction and Proposed Diagnostic Criteria. JAMA Neurol 2019; 76:56-63. [PMID: 30264146 DOI: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2018.2734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Importance Spinal cord infarction (SCI) is often disabling, and the diagnosis can be challenging without an inciting event (eg, aortic surgery). Patients with a spontaneous SCI are often misdiagnosed as having transverse myelitis. Diagnostic criteria for SCI are lacking, hindering clinical care and research. Objective To describe the characteristics of spontaneous SCI and propose diagnostic criteria. Design, Setting, and Participants An institution-based search tool was used to identify patients evaluated at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, from January 1997 to December 2017 with a spontaneous SCI. Patients provided written consent to use their records for research. Participants were 18 years and older with a diagnosis of spontaneous SCI (n = 133), and controls were selected from a database of alternative myelopathy etiologies for validation of the proposed diagnostic criteria (n = 280). Main Outcomes and Measures A descriptive analysis of SCI was performed and used to propose diagnostic criteria, and the criteria were validated. Results Of 133 included patients with a spontaneous SCI, the median (interquartile range) age at presentation was 60 (52-69) years, and 101 (76%) had vascular risk factors. Rapid onset of severe deficits reaching nadir within 12 hours was typical (102 [77%]); some had a stuttering decline (31 [23%]). Sensory loss occurred in 126 patients (95%), selectively affecting pain/temperature in 49 (39%). Initial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) spine results were normal in 30 patients (24%). Characteristic MRI T2-hyperintense patterns included owl eyes (82 [65%]) and pencil-like hyperintensity (50 [40%]); gadolinium enhancement (37 of 96 [39%]) was often linear and located in the anterior gray matter. Confirmatory MRI findings included diffusion-weighted imaging/apparent diffusion coefficient restriction (19 of 29 [67%]), adjacent dissection/occlusion (16 of 82 [20%]), and vertebral body infarction (11 [9%]). Cerebrospinal fluid showed mild inflammation in 7 of 89 patients (8%). Diagnostic criteria was proposed for definite, probable, and possible SCI of periprocedural and spontaneous onset. In the validation cohort (n = 280), 9 patients (3%) met criteria for possible SCI, and none met criteria for probable SCI. Conclusions and Relevance This large series of spontaneous SCIs provides clinical, laboratory, and MRI clues to SCI diagnosis. The diagnostic criteria proposed here will aid clinicians in making the correct diagnosis and ideally improve future care for patients with SCI. The validation of these criteria supports their utility in the evaluation of acute myelopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Karl N Krecke
- Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Robert D Brown
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | | | | | | | | | | | - J D Bartleson
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
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Hsu JL, Cheng MY, Liao MF, Hsu HC, Weng YC, Chang KH, Chang HS, Kuo HC, Huang CC, Lyu RK, Lin KJ, Ro LS. A comparison between spinal cord infarction and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders: Clinical and MRI studies. Sci Rep 2019; 9:7435. [PMID: 31092838 PMCID: PMC6520381 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-43606-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2018] [Accepted: 04/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
This study aims to investigate the clinical features and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in patients with spinal cord infarction (SCI) and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSDs). Over a period of 16 years, we retrospectively analyzed 39 patients with SCI and 21 patients with NMOSD. The demographic features and clinical presentations of both diseases were carefully documented. Etiology-specific MRI features, such as the length and distribution of the lesions, the owl's eyes sign and bright spotty lesions, were recorded and analyzed regarding their association with the clinical signs/symptoms. Patients with SCI were older than patients with NMOSD and had sudden onset of clinical symptoms with focal pain adjacent to the lesions. Concomitant spinal cord and vertebral body infarctions were frequently associated with aortic pathology (p = 0.04). In addition, artery dissection was highly associated with combined ASA and unilateral PSA infarctions and long segments of SCI (all p < 0.05). In contrast, patients with NMOSD had a relatively younger age of onset, female predominance and subacute progression of limbs weakness. As observed by MRI, the length and location of the lesions demonstrated significant differences between the two diseases (P < 0.01). The owl's eyes sign showed more frequently in patients with SCI than NMOSD (p < 0.01). The predicted prognoses in SCI and NMOSD were significantly associated with initial motor function (muscle power), after adjustments for age and gender (p < 0.01 and p = 0.02, respectively). Along with patient demographic characteristics, lesion features on MRI can help clinicians differentiate acute noncompressive myelopathy due to SCI from that due to NMOSD, which may lead to immediate initiation of adequate therapeutic measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jung Lung Hsu
- Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Linkou Medical Center and College of Medicine, Chang-Gung University, Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan.,Graduate Institute of Mind, Brain, and Consciousness, Taipei Medical University, Taipei and Brain and Consciousness Research Center, TMU Shuang Ho Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Mei-Yun Cheng
- Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Linkou Medical Center and College of Medicine, Chang-Gung University, Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan.,Institute of Molecular Medicine, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Feng Liao
- Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Linkou Medical Center and College of Medicine, Chang-Gung University, Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Hui-Ching Hsu
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Division of Chinese Acupuncture and Traumatology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou Medical Center and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Ching Weng
- Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Linkou Medical Center and College of Medicine, Chang-Gung University, Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Kuo-Hsuan Chang
- Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Linkou Medical Center and College of Medicine, Chang-Gung University, Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Hong-Shiu Chang
- Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Linkou Medical Center and College of Medicine, Chang-Gung University, Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Hung-Chou Kuo
- Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Linkou Medical Center and College of Medicine, Chang-Gung University, Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Chin-Chang Huang
- Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Linkou Medical Center and College of Medicine, Chang-Gung University, Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Rong-Kuo Lyu
- Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Linkou Medical Center and College of Medicine, Chang-Gung University, Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Kun-Ju Lin
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Center for Advanced Molecular Imaging and Translation, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan.,Department of Medical Imaging and Radiological Sciences and Healthy Aging Research Center, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Long-Sun Ro
- Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Linkou Medical Center and College of Medicine, Chang-Gung University, Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
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Zalewski NL, Rabinstein AA, Krecke KN, Brown RD, Wijdicks EF, Weinshenker BG, Doolittle DA, Flanagan EP. Spinal cord infarction: Clinical and imaging insights from the periprocedural setting. J Neurol Sci 2018; 388:162-167. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2018.03.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2017] [Revised: 03/04/2018] [Accepted: 03/16/2018] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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