Radiculomyelitis following acute haemorrhagic conjunctivitis

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Virology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis (AHC) is a newly reported disease.
• Neurological complications following AHC were investigated in a series of patients.

Observation:

• Thirty-three adult patients (ages 21-55) developed radiculomyelitis 5-37 days after AHC onset.
• Key neurological signs included radicular pain and acute flaccid paralysis, often asymmetrical and affecting proximal lower limbs.
• Cerebrospinal fluid analysis revealed pleocytosis and elevated protein levels; antibody titers confirmed AHC virus infection in most patients.

Findings:

• Motor paralysis was the most prominent feature, with significant muscle atrophy and potential for permanent incapacitation in severe cases.
• The clinical presentation and prognosis resembled poliomyelitis, suggesting anterior horn cell involvement.
• The study confirmed an etiological link between the AHC virus and this neurological syndrome.

Implications:

• This neurological syndrome is caused by the neurovirulent properties of the AHC virus.
• Understanding this link is crucial for differentiating it from polio and Guillain-Barré syndrome.
• The findings emphasize the importance of recognizing AHC as a potential cause of neurological disease.