title: Childhood acute transverse myelitis: clinical profile, outcome, and association with antiganglioside antibodies.
abstract: Prospectively, in 15 children the association of acute transverse myelitis with Campylobacter jejuni infection and antiganglioside antibodies was studied. The clinical profile, radiological findings, and treatment outcome in these children were analyzed. Stool culture and serology for Campylobacter jejuni and antiganglioside antibodies were tested. In all, 15 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were tested for evidence of Campylobacter jejuni infection and antiganglioside antibodies. Anti-GM1 antiganglioside immunoglobulin G antibodies were found in 46% of patients with acute transverse myelitis versus 6.6% of controls (P = .035). Evidence of Campylobacter jejuni infection was absent in both the groups. The magnetic resonance imaging revealed longitudinally extensive lesions in majority. All children underwent intravenous high-dose corticosteroid treatment. At 1-year follow-up, 8 children had recovered completely, whereas 3 were nonambulatory. Bladder disturbances persisted in 7. The significance of these findings and the possible role antiganglioside antibodies may play in acute transverse myelitis pathophysiology is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India. kalra.veena@gmail.com
authors.forename: Veena
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kalra
authors.forename: Suvasini
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Jitendra
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sahu
authors.forename: Naveen
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sankhyan
authors.forename: Rama
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chaudhry
authors.forename: Benu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dhawan
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mridula
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017677:Age Distribution; D000367:Age Factors; D017668:Age of Onset; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D002169:Campylobacter Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005677:G(M1) Ganglioside / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009188:Myelitis, Transverse / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012699:Serology; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D001750:Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D001323:Autoantibodies; D015415:Biomarkers; D005677:G(M1) Ganglioside