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Case Reports
. 2019 Apr 25;12(4):e228950.
doi: 10.1136/bcr-2018-228950.

Longitudinal extensive transverse myelitis: a rare neurological complication of systemic lupus erythematosus

Sara Seyedali  1 , Deborah R Alpert  2
Affiliations
Case Reports

Longitudinal extensive transverse myelitis: a rare neurological complication of systemic lupus erythematosus

Sara Seyedali et al. BMJ Case Rep. .

Abstract

We present a 47-year-old woman with recently diagnosed systemic lupus erythematosus who developed progressive numbness and tingling of her upper and lower extremities, followed by weakness and difficulty ambulating. She was diagnosed with longitudinal extensive transverse myelitis involving her entire cervical and thoracic spinal cord. Infectious workup was unrevealing. She failed to respond to pulse-dose intravenous steroids, but slowly improved with the addition of plasmapheresis and cyclophosphamide. Following maintenance treatment with mycophenolate mofetil and slow tapering of oral steroids, she has maintained complete remission with significant recovery of neurological function.

Keywords: connective tissue disease; neuromuscular disease; spinal cord; systemic lupus erythematosus.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(A) Cervical spine and (B) thoracic spine MRIs at presentation demonstrating diffuse spinal cord enhancement and swelling.
Figure 2
Figure 2
(A) Cervical spine and (B) thoracic spine MRIs after 5 months of treatment. There is decreased calibre of the spinal cord diffusely with decreased patchy elevated signal intensity, but increased patchy enhancement at focal areas.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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