Neuromyelitis optica in a Ugandan woman: a case report

Journal of Medical Case Reports

Elly Katabira¹  Steven Matovu¹  Martin Kaddumukasa¹  Abdu Musubire¹  Mark Kaddumukasa¹ 

[1] Neurology Unit, Department of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, P. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda

关键词: Devic’s syndrome;    Neuromyelitis optica;    Uganda;   

Others  :  1181142
DOI  :  10.1186/1752-1947-7-177

 received in 2013-02-07, accepted in 2013-05-27,  发布年份 2013

【 摘 要 】

Introduction

Few cases of neuromyelitis optica have been reported in Africa. This is the first case report of neuromyelitis optica in Uganda. It highlights the need to have a high index of suspicion to promptly identify and appropriately treat these patients.

Case presentation

We present the case of a 24-year-old woman of Bantu origin who presented initially with bilateral loss of vision and weakness of the lower limbs in 2010 that resolved completely after a few days. Eight months later, she presented with bilateral lower limb weakness and urinary incontinence that improved completely following steroid use. This was followed four months later with an episode of quadriparesis that was treated with steroids and azathioprine with some improvement currently using a walking aide.

Conclusions

The patient described here represents a phenotypic expression of a recurrent (multiphasic), steroid-sensitive, inflammatory demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system occurring in a black Ugandan woman. This case highlights the occurrence of Devic’s disease within our setting and the need to properly diagnose this condition even in a resource-limited setting to prevent disability.

【 授权许可】

   
2013 Kaddumukasa et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

【 图 表 】

Figure 1.

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