title: [Nosology and etiologies of acute longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis].
abstract: Acute transverse myelitis had many names and definitions, based primarily on clinical criteria. The role of MRI in the exploration of myelitis has increased recently after the individualization of neuromyelitis optica (NMO) in 2004. This approach has enabled clarification of the diagnostic and prognostic value of acute longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis (LETM), defined by an extensive T2 lesion affecting three vertebral segments in the sagittal plane. The limitations of this definition, the multiplicity of terms used to characterize it as well as the large number of etiologies associated with it led our group of experts to clarify its etiology and nosology. We conducted a national survey on this subject in order to propose a new definition of LETM. Additional first- and second-intention examinations were determined according to the clinical context. Infectious/para-infectious, inflammatory or paraneoplastic causes can thus be identified. To determine within a short time the cause of LETM is essential, since most of its causes are severe and require urgent treatment.
authors.affiliation: Département de neurologie, hôpital universitaire de Strasbourg, 1, avenue Molière, 67200 Strasbourg, France. Electronic address: nicolas.collongues@chru-strasbourg.fr.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Collongues
authors.affiliation: Département de neurologie, hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, 47-83, boulevard de l'Hôpital, 75013 Paris, France.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Papeix
authors.affiliation: Département de neurologie, hôpital universitaire de Lille Nord de France, rue Émile-Laine, 59037 Lille, France.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zéphir
authors.affiliation: Département de neurologie, hôpital universitaire de Marseille, 264, rue Saint-Pierre, 13005 Marseille, France.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Audoin
authors.affiliation: Département de neurologie, hôpital universitaire de Lyon, 59, boulevard Pinel, 69003 Lyon, France.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cotton
authors.affiliation: Département de neurologie, hôpital universitaire de Lyon, 59, boulevard Pinel, 69003 Lyon, France.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Durand-Dubief
authors.affiliation: Département de neurologie, hôpital universitaire de Lyon, 59, boulevard Pinel, 69003 Lyon, France.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vukusic
authors.affiliation: Département de neurologie, hôpital universitaire de Toulouse, 2, rue Viguerie, 31000 Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Brassat
authors.affiliation: Département de neurologie, hôpital universitaire de Nantes, 5, allée de l'Île-Gloriette, 44000 Nantes, France.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Laplaud
authors.affiliation: Département de neurologie, hôpital universitaire de Lyon, 59, boulevard Pinel, 69003 Lyon, France.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Marignier
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis; D032921:Consensus; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000592:standards; D009188:Myelitis, Transverse / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D009471:Neuromyelitis Optica / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011379:Prognosis; D009626:Terminology as Topic
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies
keywords: Anti-AQP4 antibody; Anticorps anti-AQP4; Longitudinally transverse acute muélitis; Multiple sclerosis; Myélite transverse; Myélite transverse longitudinalement étendue; Neuromyelitis optica; Neuromyélite optique; Sclérose en plaques; Transverse myelitis