Concomitant Transverse Myelitis and Acute Axonal Sensory-Motor Neuropathy in an Elderly Patient

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Immunology

Background:

• Diagnosing coexisting transverse myelitis (TM) and Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) presents diagnostic challenges.
• Previous reports have documented comorbid TM with other GBS variants.

Observation:

• An elderly patient presented with acute quadriplegia, sensory disturbances, urinary retention, ophthalmoparesis, facial weakness, and dysarthria.
• Electrodiagnostic studies indicated acute motor sensory axonal neuropathy (AMSAN).
• Spinal cord imaging revealed a longitudinally extensive, tumefactive, contrast-enhancing lesion from T6 to the conus medullaris.

Findings:

• This case represents the first reported instance of concomitant acute motor sensory axonal neuropathy (AMSAN) and transverse myelitis (TM) in an elderly individual.
• The clinical presentation and diagnostic findings highlight a rare neurological syndrome.

Implications:

• This case underscores the importance of considering overlapping autoimmune neuropathies in elderly patients with complex neurological symptoms.
• Further research is needed to establish optimal treatment strategies for this rare combination of neurological disorders.
• Understanding this rare co-occurrence can improve diagnostic accuracy and patient management.