Spinal cord schistosomiasis: a prospective study of 63 cases emphasizing clinical and therapeutic aspects

Abstract

A prospective study was conducted on 63 patients with schistosomal myeloradiculopathy admitted to a university hospital in Brazil. They were evaluated according to a protocol and treated with corticosteroid and praziquantel. The disease, in general, presented as a lower cord syndrome of acute progression characterized by motor, sensory and autonomic dysfunctions. The severity of the clinical picture was different among the patients, but the symptoms were quite constant. Cerebrospinal fluid examination showed an inflammatory pattern with or without eosinophils and/or IgG against schistosomal antigens. The most frequent alterations detected by imaging methods were enlargement of the medullary cone and of the roots of the cauda equina. Schistosome egg counts suggested a low parasite burden in 71.6% of the cases. Outcome was favorable in 38 (60.3%) patients and improvement usually started within the first 48 h after commencing on corticoid and was faster during the early period of treatment.