Acute epidural spinal hemorrhage from vasculitis: resolution with immunosuppression.
BACKGROUND
Angiographic vasculitis affecting the spine has been rarely described. The use of immunosuppression as a primary treatment and a review of the literature is presented.


METHODS
Case report.


RESULTS
A 61-year-old female presented with sudden onset back pain and headache. The patient was found to have acute spinal epidural hemorrhage and subsequent work-up demonstrated angiographic spinal vasculitis. Immunosuppression with cyclophosphamide resulted in clinical and radiographic improvement.


CONCLUSIONS
Immunomodulating therapy should be considered in the management of select patients with spinal vasculitis which may lead to improved clinical outcome and potentially disease resolution.
Department of Neurologic Surgery, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. jacob.jeffrey@mayo.edu
Jeffrey T
JT
Jacob
Shota
S
Tanaka
Christopher P
CP
Wood
Eelco F
EF
Wijdicks
Giuseppe
G
Lanzino
D001416:Back Pain / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D046748:Hematoma, Epidural, Spinal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D020293:Vasculitis, Central Nervous System / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents