title: Chronic meningoencephalomyelitis with spastic spinal paralysis: a case report.
abstract: A case of chronic meningoencephalomyelitis in a 48-year-old housewife is presented. The onset was characterized by spastic paralysis of the lower extremities. The course was progressive with repeated remissions and exacerbations, and the patient died approximately seven years after the onset of disease. Laboratory tests showed slightly increased cell count in the spinal fluid, accelerated sedimentation rate, positive CRP and RA, and increased ASLO and gamma globulin levels. Neuropathologic examination revealed such changes as perivascular cellular infiltration, glial nodules, poorly demarcated demyelination and recent necrosis in the spinal cord and basal ganglia. Only mild inflammatory findings were noted in the telencephalon and brain stem. The clinico-pathologic findings in this case supported a diagnosis of chronic meningoencephalomyelitis which could not be classified as any known type of encephalomyelitis.
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease; D004679:Encephalomyelitis / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008590:Meningoencephalitis / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009128:Muscle Spasticity / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*