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Case Reports
. 2011 Feb 2:2011:bcr1020103444.
doi: 10.1136/bcr.10.2010.3444.

Diagnosis of longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis

Helen Nightingale  1 , Jonathan Witherick, Alastair Wilkins
Affiliations
Case Reports

Diagnosis of longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis

Helen Nightingale et al. BMJ Case Rep. .

Abstract

Longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis (LETM) is a neurological condition characterised by a contiguous inflammatory lesion of the spinal cord. LETM is often associated with the autoimmune central nervous system disease neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and rarely with multiple sclerosis. The discovery of the NMO-IgG antibody, provides a useful serological marker of LETM associated with the NMO disease spectrum (LETM and/or optic neuritis). Here, the authors report two cases of LETM, which differ in disease severity and NMO-IgG antibody serological status.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests None.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
T2-weighted MRI of the spine of case 1. A continuous demyelinating lesion can be seen extending from C5/6 to T10.
Figure 2
Figure 2
T2-weighted MRI of the spine of case 2. A continuous demyelinating lesion can be seen extending from C5/C6 to T3/T4.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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