Slow ascending myelopathy, tetraplegia, carcinoma of the bladder and amyloidosis in a patient with ankylosing spondylitis.
OBJECTIVE
We report a case of slow ascending myelopathy in a patient with ankylosing spondylitis (AS).


METHODS
Case report of a 60-year-old patient suffering from AS, who developed over a period of 39 years a slow ascending myelopathy leading to tetraplegia, squamous cell carcinoma of the bladder and amyloidosis of the small intestine secondary to neuropathic bladder and bowel.


METHODS
Department and Outpatient's Department of Neurological Rehabilitation Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel.


METHODS
Single patient case report.


METHODS
Clinical follow-up of the patient between the years 1959 - 1998.


RESULTS
Physical examination disclosed deteriorating incomplete tetraplegia with hypotonia and hyporreflexia. Neurogenic bladder and bowel complicated to squamous cell carcinoma and amyloidosis.


CONCLUSIONS
To our knowledge, flaccid tetraplegia associated with AS, has never been reported in the literature. The possibility of vascular compression by the ankylosed spine causing the clinical picture of flaccid tetraplegia in this patient is discussed.
Zwecker
M
M
Department of Neuro-Rehabilitation, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel.
Daich
A
A
Blumen
N
N
Zeilig
G
G
Ohry
A
A
D000686:Amyloidosis / Q000150:complications*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000150:complications*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007410:Intestinal Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009123:Muscle Hypotonia / Q000209:etiology; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000209:etiology*; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000150:complications*; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D001750:Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic / Q000209:etiology