Unilateral Weakness Caused By Spinal Cord Infarction in a Renal Transplant Recipient

Spinal cord infarction has various clinical presentations, depending on the vascular territory involved at the spinal cord level. The most common symptom is bilateral weakness. However, unilateral hemiparesis can occur if the sulcal artery is involved. Stroke is the most common and serious cerebrovascular complication associated with kidney transplantation. Clinically asymptomatic renal transplant recipients may experience increased intima-media thickening, which is significantly associated with an increased prevalence of cerebrovascular diseases.

Herein, we report the case of a 64-year-old adult male with a history of kidney transplantation who presented with sudden-onset right-sided hemiparesis. The patient presented with right shoulder pain, right fingertip paresthesia, and recent dysuria, necessitating catheterization. T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging at the C2-C3 level revealed hyperintensity corresponding to the right sulcal artery. Diffusion-weighted imaging revealed hyperintensities corresponding to T2 signal abnormalities, with a decreased apparent diffusion coefficient. The patient was diagnosed with cervical spinal cord infarction involving the right sulcal artery at the C2-C3 level. Subsequently, pulsed intravenous methylprednisolone and dual antiplatelet treatment (aspirin and clopidogrel) were administered. The patient showed a rapid and marked improvement in neurological function within 3 days.

The patient in this case report initially presented with unilateral hemiparesis. The symptoms mimicked those of stroke, making accurate diagnosis challenging. This case highlights the need to consider spinal cord infarction in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with unilateral hemiparesis. In addition, our findings suggest that spinal cord infarction may be a long-term complication in kidney transplant recipients.