Schistosomal myeloradiculopathy

Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical

Lambertucci, José Roberto¹  Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte¹  Pereira, Sílvio Roberto de Sousa¹  Hospital Sarah Kubitscheck, Belo Horizonte¹  Andrade, Luciene Mota¹  Silva, Luciana Cristina dos Santos¹  Ribas, João Gabriel Ramos¹  Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais¹  Serufo, José Carlos¹  Antunes, Carlos Maurício¹  Laboratório Hermes Pardini¹  Maciel, Pedro Ernane¹  IRM, Belo Horizonte¹ 

关键词: Schistosomiasis;    Myelopathy;    Neuroschistosomiasis;    Myeloradiculopathy;    Spinal cord;   

DOI  :  10.1590/S0037-86822004000300013

学科分类：农业科学（综合）

来源: Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical

【 摘 要 】

Schistosomal myeloradiculopathy is the most severe and disabling ectopic form of schistosomiasis mansoni. Its prevalence in endemic areas has been underestimated. The diagnosis relies on the presence of low thoracic/upper lumbar neurological symptoms, demonstration of the Schistosoma mansoni infection by microscopic or serologic techniques, and exclusion of other causes of transverse myelitis. When treatment with antischistosomal drugs and corticosteroids is started early, the clinical response is surprisingly good and those left untreated do not improve and frequently die. There is no consensus about doses and duration of treatment, but a recent study suggests that when steroids are given for at least 6 months clinical improvement is enhanced. As the diagnosis of SMR is presumptive and treatment is essentially clinical, physicians should be aware of the disease and more research is needed to increase the accuracy of the diagnostic methods and, hence, to avoid routine laminectomy. With the advent of magnetic resonance imaging of the spinal cord the diagnosis of this ectopic form of the disease was facilitated. In accordance, the number of cases of schistosomal myelopathy reported is increasing rapidly.

【 授权许可】

Unknown