title: High dose methylprednisolone in severe acute transverse myelopathy.
abstract: No effective treatment has been shown for patients with acute transverse myelopathy. In an open study five children with severe acute transverse myelopathy were treated with intravenous methylprednisolone and compared with a historical group of 10 patients. The results show that in the methylprednisolone treatment group compared with the historical group of 10 patients: the median time to walk independently was significantly reduced (23 v 97 days); the proportion of patients with a full recovery within 12 months was significantly higher (80 v 10%); all patients had complete motor recovery within one year in contrast with only two of 10 patients in the historical group; and serious adverse effects did not occur. This pilot study suggests that high dose methylprednisolone is effective in the treatment of acute transverse myelopathy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Hôpital de Bicêtre, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sébire
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hollenberg
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Huault
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Landrieu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tardieu
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D002648:Child; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009188:Myelitis, Transverse / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D008775:Methylprednisolone