Idiopathic acute myelopathy.
The clinical spectrum of acute intrinsic spinal cord disease remains uncertain because of varying criteria used in different studies. The characteristics of 17 patients with idiopathic acute myelopathy drawn from a larger group of 34 with acute intrinsic myelopathies of varying aetiology are reported. Results, which differ from previous studies, include the finding of a high proportion of patients with evidence of predominantly unilateral cord disease (47%). A higher percentage of patients (24%) than previously reported later developed multiple sclerosis, possibly related to broader inclusion criteria. A rise in protein concentration of the cerebrospinal fluid on repeat lumbar puncture was observed in patients with spinal shock on presentation, and a poor outcome was most clearly associated with these cases.
Silber
M H
MH
Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town.
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000209:etiology*