Transverse Myelitis Publisher



Maghzi AH^{1, 2, 3} ; Etemadifar M^{2, 4} ; Savoj MR² ; Steven Alexander J⁵ ; Gonzaleztoledo E^{6, 7} ; Minagar A⁷ Show Affiliations
Source: Neuroinflammation Published:2011

Abstract

Acute transverse myelitis (ATM) is an idiopathic inflammatory form of myelopathy that represents only one of the many causes of acute transverse myelopathies. A large and heterogeneous group of pathogenic disorders can cause transverse myelitis, including inflammatory demyelinating disorders like multiple sclerosis (MS), neuromyelitis optica (NMO), and ATM. Transverse myelitis can be classified as either complete or partial. Patients with the complete form of transverse myelitis exhibit more severe symptoms, which indicates involvement of all spinal cord tracts and accompanying loss of corticospinal, sensory, and autonomic functions below the level of the lesion. This form of acute myelopathy is usually observed in the context of trauma or acute necrotizing viral myelitis. The partial form of acute myelitis manifests in several clinical pictures based on the involved tracts. Patients with partial myelitis may present with Brown-Sequard hemicord syndrome, and these patients suffer from ipsilateral corticospinal dysfunction and posterior columnar and contralateral spinothalamic dysfunction. Patients with compressive myelopathies or MS may also present with this form. The first step in treatment is to exclude treatable causes such as compressive lesions, infections, collagen vascular disease, paraneoplastic syndromes, local tumors, and vascular diseases affecting the spinal cord. Based on the underlying pathology, the appropriate treatment should be initiated. © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.