Acute transverse myelitis
acute inflammation of gray and white matter in one or more adjacent spinal cord segments, usually thoracic.
Causes:
- most commonly multiple sclerosis
- neuromyelitis optica, infections, autoimmune or post-infectious (viral) inflammation, vasculitis, and certain drugs (amphtemaines, IV heroin, anti-parasitic/malarial).
Symptoms:
- neck, back or head pain
- band like tightness around torso
- bilateral motor, sensory, and sphincter deficits below the level of the lesion.
Diagnosis:
- MRI and CSF (monocyctes, protein mildly up, and IgG index high.)
- IgG marker for neuromyelitis optica variant
DDx:
other transverse myelopathies B12, folate, Zn and Cu def's vascular insufficiency and spinal tumour