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[Acute transverse myelitis in childhood]
Judit Móser1, Zoltán Liptai, Eva Veres
1Heim Pál Gyermekkórház, Neurológiai Osztály, Budapest. jmoser@mail.datanet.hu
Ideggyogyaszati Szemle
|December 23, 2009
Summary
Acute idiopathic transverse myelitis in children typically resolves with prompt diagnosis and methylprednisolone pulse therapy, leading to good recovery with minimal long-term effects. Early intervention is key for favorable outcomes in pediatric transverse myelitis.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pediatric Neurology
- Inflammatory Diseases
Context:
- Acute idiopathic transverse myelitis (ITM) is a rare neurological disorder affecting children.
- Diagnosis and treatment of ITM are crucial for patient outcomes.
- Understanding the long-term prognosis of pediatric ITM is essential for clinical management.
Purpose:
- To evaluate the clinical presentation, treatment, and long-term outcomes of pediatric patients with acute idiopathic transverse myelitis.
- To assess the effectiveness of methylprednisolone pulse therapy in managing ITM in children.
- To identify factors influencing the clinical outcome and prognosis of ITM in pediatric cases.
Summary:
- This study reviewed 10 pediatric patients diagnosed with acute idiopathic transverse myelitis (ITM) using Transverse Myelitis Consortium Working Group criteria.
- Patients aged 3-15 years presented with pain and urinary retention, progressing to paraparesis/plegia within five days.
- Immediate treatment with methylprednisolone pulse therapy resulted in most patients walking within 10-30 days, with good long-term recovery and no relapses observed in follow-up periods of 1.5-13 years.
Impact:
- Prompt diagnosis and immediate methylprednisolone pulse therapy significantly improve clinical outcomes in pediatric acute idiopathic transverse myelitis.
- Long-term follow-up indicates a favorable prognosis for most children, with residual deficits rarely observed.
- This study contributes to understanding ITM in children and may inform adult patient management and future multicenter research.
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