We report on the first patient with a relapsing, anti-aquaporin-4 (AQP-4) antibody-positive, longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis (LETM) who developed systemic sclerosis (SSc). A 62-year-old woman, who presented with bilateral, distal lower limb and perineal numbness, developed clinical manifestations and paraclinical features of SSc. Spinal cord imaging revealed lesions that were consistent with LETM. Patient's serum was positive for neuromyelitis optica (NMO)-IgG/AQP-4 antibodies. High-dose intravenous corticosteroids improved the neurological symptoms. The present case expands the list of autoimmune systemic diseases that occur in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders associated with NMO-IgG/AQP-4 antibodies.
Systemic sclerosis in aquaporin-4 antibody-positive longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis
CAPORALI, ROBERTO;CERONI, MAURO;
2011-01-01
Abstract
We report on the first patient with a relapsing, anti-aquaporin-4 (AQP-4) antibody-positive, longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis (LETM) who developed systemic sclerosis (SSc). A 62-year-old woman, who presented with bilateral, distal lower limb and perineal numbness, developed clinical manifestations and paraclinical features of SSc. Spinal cord imaging revealed lesions that were consistent with LETM. Patient's serum was positive for neuromyelitis optica (NMO)-IgG/AQP-4 antibodies. High-dose intravenous corticosteroids improved the neurological symptoms. The present case expands the list of autoimmune systemic diseases that occur in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders associated with NMO-IgG/AQP-4 antibodies.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
