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Isolating Central Nervous System Tissues and Associated Meninges for the Downstream Analysis of Immune cells
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Published on: May 19, 2020

Idiopathic recurrent transverse myelitis

Kwang-kuk Kim1

  • 1Department of Neurology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Songpa-gu, Seoul, South Korea. kkkim@amc.seoul.kr

Archives of Neurology
|September 17, 2003
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Idiopathic recurrent transverse myelitis (RTM) is distinct from multiple sclerosis-associated RTM (MSRTM). Key differences include male predominance, absence of oligoclonal bands, and presentation as acute transverse myelitis.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Neuroimmunology
  • Clinical Medicine

Background:

  • Recurrent transverse myelitis (RTM) presents diagnostic challenges, often overlapping with multiple sclerosis-associated RTM (MSRTM).
  • Distinguishing between idiopathic RTM and MSRTM is crucial for accurate diagnosis and management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To differentiate idiopathic RTM from MSRTM using clinical, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) findings.
  • To establish criteria for identifying idiopathic RTM as a distinct clinical entity.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of 37 patients with RTM (15 idiopathic, 22 MSRTM) diagnosed between 1992-2001.
  • Comparison of clinical presentations, relapse frequency, MRI findings (spinal cord lesions), and CSF analysis (IgG index, oligoclonal bands).
  • Idiopathic RTM defined by recurrent myelitis without cranial MRI abnormalities or evidence of disease dissemination beyond the spinal cord.

Main Results:

  • Idiopathic RTM showed a male preponderance and more frequent presentation as acute transverse myelitis compared to MSRTM.
  • No significant differences in spinal cord lesion location were observed between the two groups.
  • Patients with idiopathic RTM predominantly had normal CSF profiles, including normal IgG index and absence of oligoclonal bands.

Conclusions:

  • Idiopathic RTM may represent a distinct disease entity separate from MSRTM.
  • Clinical and paraclinical features such as male predominance, lack of CSF oligoclonal bands, and acute transverse myelitis presentation support idiopathic RTM as a unique diagnosis.

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