title: Epidemiology and prognosis of acute myelitis in Southern Finland.
abstract: In this study we analyzed all acute adult (>15 years) myelitis cases in the province of Uusimaa in Southern Finland during the years 1981-1993. Only cases with acute infectious myelitis were included. Demyelinating diseases, and medullopaties due to degeneration, traumatic, toxic, hereditary, nutritional or metabolic causes were excluded. A total of 45 patients fulfilled the criteria. The mean incidence was 3.5 cases/million inhabitants/year. The mean latency time from the initial infection to the beginning of neurological symptoms was 11 days. Motor paraparesis was found in 62% and tetraparesis in 13%. Sensory symptoms were found in 82% and bowel disturbances were experienced by 71% of patients. Normal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leukocytes were seen in 18% of patients, and CSF protein was elevated in 70% of patients. Case fatality was 6.7%. Permanent care in hospital needed by 13% of patients, and after 24 months 88% were ambulatory. Prognosis is quite good in myelitis, and normal CSF leukocytes do not exclude myelitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Färkkilä
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tiainen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koskiniemi
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008875:Middle Aged; D009187:Myelitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011379:Prognosis; D011859:Radiography; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging