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Isolation of Brain-infiltrating Leukocytes
06:44

Isolation of Brain-infiltrating Leukocytes

Published on: June 13, 2011

Infectious myelopathies

Joseph R Berger1, Arman Sabet

  • 1Department of Neurology, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington 40536, USA.

Seminars in Neurology
|January 14, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Infectious myelopathies, though rare, require prompt diagnosis for better outcomes. This review details various microorganisms causing spinal cord infections, emphasizing timely identification for effective treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Spinal Cord Medicine

Background:

  • Infectious myelopathies are uncommon but necessitate rapid diagnosis for improved patient outcomes.
  • A diverse range of pathogens, including viruses (HIV, HTLV-I, herpesviruses, enteroviruses), bacteria (Treponema pallidum, Mycobacterium tuberculosis), fungi, and parasites, can cause spinal cord infections.
  • Vacuolar myelopathy in HIV-infected individuals and HTLV-I-associated myelopathy (tropical spastic paraparesis) are significant clinical entities.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review infectious myelopathies based on the causative microorganisms.
  • To highlight the importance of considering infectious etiologies in the differential diagnosis of myelopathy.
  • To provide an overview of the clinical presentations associated with various infectious agents affecting the spinal cord.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of infectious myelopathies.
  • Categorization of spinal cord infections by causative organism.
  • Discussion of clinical manifestations and diagnostic considerations.

Main Results:

  • Identified numerous pathogens responsible for infectious myelopathies, including HIV, HTLV-I, herpesviruses, enteroviruses, T. pallidum, M. tuberculosis, fungi, and parasites.
  • Highlighted vacuolar myelopathy as a common, often underrecognized, spinal cord disease in HIV.
  • Described HTLV-I-associated myelopathy's impact on pyramidal tracts and its characteristic symptoms.

Conclusions:

  • A broad spectrum of microorganisms can lead to myelopathy, presenting with varied clinical signs.
  • Physicians must maintain a high index of suspicion for infectious causes when evaluating patients with myelopathy.
  • Accurate and timely diagnosis of infectious myelopathies is crucial for effective management and improved neurological outcomes.

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