title: Development of severe longitudinal atrophy of thoracic spinal cord following lupus-related myelitis.
abstract: A 26-year-old woman suffered from acute myelitis at Th 6 level associated with systemic lupus erythematosus. Methyl-prednisolone pulse therapy, intravenous high-dose immunoglobulin administration and plasmapheresis were not effective. Her neurological signs had persisted in spite of subsequent administration of oral prednisolone and azathiopurine. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of spinal cord at the onset showed a marked swelling with intramedullary high intensity signals on T2WI along the whole thoracic cord. Three years later, MRI demonstrated a severe longitudinal and segmental atrophy of the mid to low thoracic cord which resulted in transverse spinal signs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Miyazaki Prefectural Hospital of Nobeoka.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yazawa
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kawasaki
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ohi
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shiomi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sugimoto
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kawagoe
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Matsukura
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001284:Atrophy; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009187:Myelitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000473:pathology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D011239:Prednisolone; D001379:Azathioprine