Related Experiment Videos
[Hashimoto's thyroiditis associated with recurrent transverse myelopathy]
A Drouet1, L Guilloton, O Jacquin
1Service de Neurologie, Hôpital d'Instruction des Armées Desgenettes, Lyon.
Revue Neurologique
|August 12, 2003
Summary
A woman experienced recurrent paraplegia linked to Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Despite corticosteroid treatment, she had a severe relapse, suggesting complex autoimmune interactions affecting the spinal cord.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Immunology
- Endocrinology
Background:
- This case study examines a 55-year-old woman with recurrent D6-level paraplegia.
- The patient was diagnosed with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, maintaining euthyroid status.
Observation:
- The initial paraplegia showed neurological improvement, but a relapse occurred within five months.
- Despite a 9-month course of oral corticosteroids, the patient could only walk with assistance.
- Two years later, a second severe paraplegia at D6 level developed, with persistent positive thyroid antibodies.
Findings:
- The patient experienced multiple episodes of paraplegia at the D6 level.
- Hashimoto's thyroiditis was identified as a co-occurring condition.
- Treatment with oral corticosteroids provided only temporary or limited benefit.
Implications:
- This case highlights the potential for spinal cord involvement in Hashimoto's thyroiditis, even in euthyroid patients.
- The recurrent nature and severity of neurological deficits suggest complex autoimmune mechanisms.
- Differential diagnoses, including Devic's disease and spinal cord Hashimoto's encephalopathy, were considered.