A case of pediatric paraparesis secondary to an idiopathic acute transverse myelitis

• Autor(a) principal: Teixeira, Joana
• Data de Publicação: 2014
• Outros Autores: Carvalho, Susana, Martins, Sofia, Pontes, Teresa, Machado, Álvaro, Antunes, Henedina
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
• Texto Completo: http://hdl.handle.net/1822/32222
• topic: Transverse myelitis; Retinitis pigmentosa; Paraparesis; Neurogenic urinary bladder

Introduction: Acute transverse myelitis (ATM) refers to a frequently idiopathic, segmental spinal cord inflammation. It is a rare condition, in particular in children, and not previously reported in a family retinitis pigmentosa (RP) clinical setting. Case Report: An 11-year-old previously healthy girl, with a family history of RP, presented with a subacute flaccid paraparesis, with bilateral, up to the fourth dorsal level, mixed sensory hypoesthesia and autonomic dysfunction. Brain and spinal cord magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed an extensive, T2-hyperintense, non-contrast enhancing lesion from the second to fifth dorsal levels. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and lab studies were normal, as the ophthalmologic observation. Treated with high-dose corticosteroids and intensive physical therapy, a significant recovery could be seen. Conclusion: Early pharmacological and physical treatment is fundamental and may indeed change the prognosis of this disease ATM. The family history of RP, although probably incidental, brings nevertheless the issue of a possible etiological contribution, or pathologic common pathways.