Tranverse myelitis

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1)-associated myelopathy (HAM) is a well-recognized neurologic complication of HTLV-1. Beyond HAM, several other neurologic manifestations are increasingly recognized, including acute myelopathy, encephalopathy, and myositis. The clinical and imaging features of these presentations are less well understood and potentially underdiagnosed. In this study, we summarize the imaging features of HTLV-1-related neurologic disease, providing both a pictorial review and pooled series of the less well-recognized presentations...

BACKGROUND: Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is an auto-immune disease of the central nervous system (CNS) associated with the IgG-antibody against aquaporin-4 (AQP4-IgG). There is little published epidemiology of NMOSD from sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). METHODS: We retrospectively collated NMOSD cases admitted to our tertiary regional neurology centre. RESULTS: We identified 11 cases (10 female, average age 30 years). 64% (7/11) were seropositive for AQP4-IgG, measured using indirect immunofluorescence...

Methylprednisolone and cyclophosphamide pulse therapies are the most commonly used for transverse myelopathy in neuropsychiatric lupus. Little is known about the efficacy of other immunosuppressors. We describe the case of a 33-year-old woman with systemic lupus erythematosus, who developed a tranverse myelopathy, beginning with a hiccup due to involvement of the medulla oblongata; despite pulses of methylprednisolone plus azathioprine and cyclosporine therapy, she developed paraparesis with involvement of the cervical spine cord...

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective analysis. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate long-term efficacy and complications of AMS 800 (American Medical Systems) artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) in treatment of urodynamic stress incontinence (USI) in male patients with spinal cord lesion (SCL). SETTING: London Spinal Injuries Unit, Stanmore, UK and Institute of Urology and Nephrology, London, UK. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis identified nine males with SCL (five thoracic, three lumbar, one cervical) with USI, who underwent AMS 800 AUS implantation by a single surgeon at a specialist spinal injuries unit...

The authors report a case of zoster with signs of transverse myelitis and peripheral involvement of the facial nerve. The fact that tranverse myelitis developed late after zoster and was followed by facial nerve palsy is stressed. The involvement of these nervous structures occurred in a way suggesting exacerbations. In the light of literature data and the described case the authors state that zoster with complications in the form of multifocal nervous system involvement occurring at different time intervals is infrequent...