Transverse myelitis in patients with antiphospholipid antibodies--the importance of early diagnosis and treatment.
Transverse myelitis (TM) is a rare manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). No uniform therapeutic protocol exists for its treatment, and the prognosis is usually poor. Here we describe four patients having TM associated with antiphospholipid antibodies. Treatment measures and delay in diagnosis between symptom onset and the initiation of treatment varied between patients, but the earlier the diagnosis and the more aggressive the treatment the better was the patient's outcome. Based on these cases and on a literature review we suggest that early aggressive treatment (usually with pulses of methylprednisolone and cyclophosphamide) might improve the prognosis of patients with TM associated with antiphospholipid antibodies.
Department of medicine B, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, 56121 Israel.
Y
Y
Sherer
S
S
Hassin
Y
Y
Shoenfeld
Y
Y
Levy
A
A
Livneh
A
A
Ohry
P
P
Langevitz
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017152:Antibodies, Antiphospholipid / Q000032:analysis*; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D009188:Myelitis, Transverse / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013997:Time Factors
D017152:Antibodies, Antiphospholipid; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D008775:Methylprednisolone