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Long-term follow-up of acute partial transverse myelopathy

B Ford1, D Tampieri, G Francis

  • 1Department of Neurology, McGill University Faculty of Medicine, Montreal, PQ, Canada.

Neurology
|January 1, 1992
PubMed

Insights

A study found that 80% of patients diagnosed with acute partial transverse myelopathy developed multiple sclerosis (MS). Cranial MRI lesions at onset significantly increased the risk of developing MS.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Neuroimaging
  • Clinical Medicine

Background:

  • Acute partial transverse myelopathy is a neurological condition of unknown cause.
  • Early diagnosis and prognosis are crucial for managing patients.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the long-term clinical outcomes of patients diagnosed with acute partial transverse myelopathy.
  • To determine the predictive value of early MRI findings for the development of multiple sclerosis.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective, long-term clinical and MRI follow-up study.
  • Involved 15 patients diagnosed with acute partial transverse myelopathy between 1985-1988.
  • Assessed development of clinically definite or lab-supported definite multiple sclerosis (MS).

Main Results:

  • 80% of patients (12 out of 15) developed multiple sclerosis (MS) after a mean follow-up of 38.5 months.
  • Presence of central nervous system (CNS) periventricular white matter lesions on cranial MRI at onset was associated with a 93% likelihood of developing MS.
  • This highlights the prognostic significance of early MRI findings.

Conclusions:

  • Acute partial transverse myelopathy is a significant risk factor for developing multiple sclerosis (MS).
  • Cranial MRI at onset is a valuable tool for predicting MS development in these patients.
  • Early identification of CNS lesions can aid in prognosis and patient management.

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