The demographic, clinical, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of transverse myelitis in children

J Child Neurol. 2012 Jan;27(1):11-21. doi: 10.1177/0883073811420495. Epub 2011 Oct 3.

Abstract

The authors collected demographic, clinical, and neuroimaging data prospectively on 38 children with transverse myelitis. One child died during the illness. The female:male ratio was 1.2:1 for children under age 10 years and 2.6:1 over age 10 years. Twenty-eight (74%) reported a prodromal event. Twenty-two patients (58%) had longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis, 9 (24%) had focal lesions, and 5 (13%) had both. Twenty of 33 with brain imaging (61%) had brain lesions; 7 fulfilled McDonald criteria for dissemination in space. Seven of 22 (36%) tested had cerebrospinal fluid oligoclonal banding, 6 of whom had brain lesions. Serum neuromyelitis optica IgG antibodies were absent in all 20 of the children for whom this test was available. At follow-up (mean 3.2 ± 2.0 years), 16% are wheelchair-dependent, 22% have persisting bladder dysfunction, and 13% have been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones / therapeutic use
  • Brain / pathology*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Demography*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulins / therapeutic use
  • Infant
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging*
  • Male
  • Myelitis, Transverse / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Myelitis, Transverse / diagnosis*
  • Myelitis, Transverse / drug therapy*
  • Myelitis, Transverse / physiopathology
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Spinal Cord / pathology
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones
  • Immunoglobulins