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Published on: January 10, 2019
Lumbosacral plexitis.
Andrew Tarulli1, Seward B Rutkove
1From the Department of Neurology, Division of Neuromuscular Diseases, Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA.
Journal of Clinical Neuromuscular Disease
|December 17, 2008
Summary
Lumbosacral plexitis (LSP) is a rare condition causing severe leg pain, weakness, and sensory loss. Current treatments show inconsistent efficacy, highlighting the need for further research into its causes and management.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Immunology
Background:
- Lumbosacral plexitis (LSP) is an uncommon idiopathic neurological disorder.
- It presents with acute severe lower extremity pain, muscle wasting, weakness, and sensory loss.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize the characteristics, potential causes, and treatment outcomes of Lumbosacral plexitis.
- To differentiate LSP from other causes of lumbosacral plexopathy.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of idiopathic lumbosacral plexitis.
- Exclusion of secondary causes like mass lesions and trauma.
- Analysis of proposed pathophysiological mechanisms (vasculitis vs. demyelination).
Main Results:
- LSP affects muscles innervated by multiple nerve roots.
- Evidence suggests vasculitis with axonal injury is a more likely cause than autoimmune demyelination.
- Recovery is variable, often slow and incomplete.
Conclusions:
- Lumbosacral plexitis requires exclusion of other pathologies.
- Vasculitis is increasingly implicated in LSP pathophysiology.
- Immunomodulatory therapies demonstrate inconsistent effectiveness, necessitating further investigation.
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