Acute bilateral arm paresis.
OBJECTIVE
To study pure motor bilateral arm paresis of acute onset. This syndrome is as yet a barely described clinical feature attributed to ischemia in the territory of the anterior spinal artery (ASA).


METHODS
We present 2 patients with acute onset of pure motor deficit in both upper extremities.


RESULTS
Magnetic resonance imaging of the cervical spinal cord revealed infarcts in the territory of the ASA. In 1 case, electrophysiology further suggested discrete gray matter involvement.


CONCLUSIONS
In patients with acute weakness of both arms without further neurological deficits, an incomplete ASA syndrome should be considered with the anterior horns predominantly being affected. Magnetic resonance imaging and electrophysiology are valuable tools to further confirm both location and extension of the spinal lesion.
Stapf
C
C
Stroke Unit/Neurologische Klinik, Universitätsklinikum Benjamin Franklin, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany. cs585@columbia.edu
Mohr
J P
JP
Straschill
M
M
Mast
H
H
Marx
P
P
D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D020759:Anterior Spinal Artery Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001132:Arm; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D007238:Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009431:Neural Conduction; D010243:Paralysis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000098:blood supply*