12th August 2024

Spinal inflammatory diseases

Transverse myelitis

This is a focal inflammation of the spinal cord, generally affecting one or two segments of the thoracic cord. The aetiology may be inflammatory (MS, NMO [neuromyelitis optica], ADEM), infectious (enteroviruses, West Nile virus, Herpes viruses, HIV, HTLV-1, Zika, Lyme, mycoplasma and syphilis) or due to connective tissue disorders (RA, SLE, Behçet’s, ankylosing spondylitis).

Neurosarcoid

Extramedullary or intramedullary granulomatous lesions can cause an acute or subacute myelopathy.