Acute longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis in a six year old child

Acute transverse myelitis (ATM) is a rare disease in childhood and adolescence. In the United States ATM has an incidence of 1-4 new cases per million people per year, but there is no specific evaluation of pediatric incidence. ATM is characterized by bilateral spinal cord dysfunction presenting as lower extremity weakness with sensory symptoms and bladder dysfunction. We describe a case of a boy with typical ATM in childhood, with rapid, changing onset of paralysis and progression within a few hours. The diagnosis was made on the basis of the clinical features and course of disease, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis, electrophysiological tests as well as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of a longitudinally extensive lesion in spinal cord. In spite of early implemented intravenous high-dose steroid treatment and plasmapheresis the recovery is still poor after three months. He is undergoing intensive physical therapy with continuous follow up.

Keywords: MYELITIS, TRANSVERSE – diagnosis, therapy; CHILD
Category: Case report
Volume: Vol. 53, No 3, july - september 2009
Authors: S. Delin, K. Pavešić, G. Tešović, I. Knezović, B. Miše, L. Lujić
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