Open AccessLongitudinal extensive transverse myelitis: a rare neurological complication of systemic lupus erythematosus
Author(s) -
Sara Seyedali,
Deborah Alpert
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
bmj case reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.231
H-Index - 26
ISSN - 1757-790X
DOI - 10.1136/bcr-2018-228950
Subject(s) - medicine , transverse myelitis , plasmapheresis , surgery , complication , cyclophosphamide , systemic lupus erythematosus , weakness , acute transverse myelitis , multiple sclerosis , chemotherapy , disease , psychiatry , antibody , immunology
We present a 47-year-old woman with recently diagnosed systemic lupus erythematosus who developed progressive numbness and tingling of her upper and lower extremities, followed by weakness and difficulty ambulating. She was diagnosed with longitudinal extensive transverse myelitis involving her entire cervical and thoracic spinal cord. Infectious workup was unrevealing. She failed to respond to pulse-dose intravenous steroids, but slowly improved with the addition of plasmapheresis and cyclophosphamide. Following maintenance treatment with mycophenolate mofetil and slow tapering of oral steroids, she has maintained complete remission with significant recovery of neurological function.