title: Acute cervical segmental denervation in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is an inflammatory demyelinating disease of central nervous system. We report a case of NMO spectrum disorder that developed acute cervical segmental denervation during an episode of transverse myelitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case report and a literature review.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A 69-year-old woman presented with right leg weakness, which improved in 2 weeks of intravenous methylprednisolone. Six weeks later, she returned with recurrent transverse myelitis followed by left hand weakness and atrophy. Electromyography showed active denervation on left C8/T1-innervated muscles. Magnetic resonance imaging of thoracic spine showed patchy T2-signal enhancement from T10 to lower cervical spine. NMO antibody was positive. Review of literature revealed 5 cases of cervical transverse myelitis that developed denervation on electromyography.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Segmental denervation may occur in NMO and variants resulting from severe myelitis extending to involve gray and white matter leads to anterior horn cell loss.
authors.affiliation: Neurological Institute, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH.
authors.forename: Prompan
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mingbunjerdsuk
authors.forename: Bashar
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Katirji
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009188:Myelitis, Transverse / Q000209:etiology*; D009471:Neuromyelitis Optica / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology