Longitudinal Myelitis in the Cervical Cord Presenting Weakness of the Lower Extremities, as an Initial Manifestation of SLE.
- Author:
Sang Tae CHOI
1
;
Sang Won LEE
;
Min Chan PARK
;
Yong Beom PARK
;
Seung Min KIM
;
Soo Kon LEE
Author Information
1. Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. yongbpark@yumc.yonsei.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
Longitudinal myelitis;
Systemic lupus erythematosus
- MeSH:
Cyclophosphamide;
Humans;
Lower Extremity*;
Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic;
Magnetic Resonance Imaging;
Methylprednisolone;
Middle Aged;
Myelitis*;
Myelitis, Transverse;
Spinal Cord;
Spine;
Upper Extremity
- From:The Journal of the Korean Rheumatism Association
2005;12(4):341-346
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
Transverse myelitis is a rare and serious complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) shows cord swelling and increased signal intensity in T2-weighted images in a patient with transverse myelitis. We described a 45-year-old man presenting with weakness on the lower extremities without involvement of the upper extremities, as an initial manifestation of SLE. The lesion was involved continuous levels of the cervical spinal cord, a distinctive feature recently named 'longitudinal myelitis'. His symptoms and signs responded well to the cyclophosphamide and methylprednisolone pulse therapies. So far, 10 cases of longitudinal myelitis have been reported in the world. But only 2 cases presented lower extremities weakness rather than upper extremities, in spite of cervical spine involvement. We report a patient with longitudinal myelitis in the cervical cord presenting weakness of the lower extremities as an initial manifestation of SLE with literature review.
