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Familial adhesive arachnoiditis associated with syringomyelia.
V Pasoglou1, N Janin2, M Tebache3
1From the Departments of Radiology (V.P.) vasilikipas@gmail.com.
AJNR. American Journal of Neuroradiology
|February 1, 2014
Summary
Adhesive arachnoiditis, a rare spinal condition, can cause syringomyelia. This report details a second family with multiple affected individuals, suggesting a potential genetic link for this neurological disorder.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Genetics
- Spinal Cord Disorders
Background:
- Adhesive arachnoiditis is a rare pathological condition affecting the spinal cord.
- It is often associated with spinal surgery, inflammation, infection, or hemorrhage.
- Symptoms typically include lower extremity pain, paresthesia, and weakness due to nerve entrapment.
Observation:
- Multiple cases of adhesive arachnoiditis and secondary syringomyelia were observed within a single family.
- This family was of Belgian origin.
- Previous literature documented only one other family with multiple cases of adhesive arachnoiditis.
Findings:
- The study identified a second familial cluster of adhesive arachnoiditis.
- Secondary syringomyelia was a common complication in affected family members.
- The findings suggest a possible hereditary component in the etiology of adhesive arachnoiditis.
Implications:
- This familial occurrence strengthens the hypothesis of a genetic predisposition to adhesive arachnoiditis.
- Further research into the genetic factors underlying this condition is warranted.
- Understanding the genetic basis may lead to improved diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for spinal cord disorders.
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