Inflammatory transverse myelitis: evolving concepts
- 1 August 2006
- journal article
- review article
- Published by Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health) in Current Opinion in Neurology
- Vol. 19 (4), 362-368
- https://doi.org/10.1097/01.wco.0000236615.59215.d3
Abstract
Acute transverse myelitis is a pathogenetically heterogeneous inflammatory disorder of the spinal cord. Here we describe recent advances in inflammatory non-infectious transverse myelitis. Particular attention will be paid to the serum autoantibody marker NMO-IgG and its application to acute transverse myelitis. The recent identification of neuromyelitis optica-IgG, a novel marker of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (including longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis), contributes to an evolving understanding of acute transverse myelitis. Other serological markers, such as collapsin response-mediator protein-5 -IgG and amphiphysin-IgG, predict specific cancers in the setting of a paraneoplastic acute transverse myelitis. Furthermore, novel inflammatory markers such as interleukin-6 or other proteins in their signaling pathways may represent markers of disease severity and potential therapeutic targets. Additional cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers, such as protein 14-3-3 and neuron-specific enolase, may be useful prognostic indicators in transverse myelitis. Acute transverse myelitis in children, in contrast to adults, is more likely to be longitudinally extensive, and has a better prognosis and lower likelihood of recurrence. Prognostic factors in pediatric transverse myelitis are reviewed. The recent identification of novel biomarkers associated with acute transverse myelitis has led to a better understanding of the spectrum of disorders associated with inflammatory transverse myelitis, as well as a greater appreciation of its diverse and complex pathogenetic basis.This publication has 41 references indexed in Scilit:
- Acute transverse myelitisNeurology, 2005
- Idiopathic acute transverse myelitis: Application of the recent diagnostic criteriaNeurology, 2005
- IL-6 induces regionally selective spinal cord injury in patients with the neuroinflammatory disorder transverse myelitisJCI Insight, 2005
- Amphiphysin autoimmunity: Paraneoplastic accompanimentsAnnals of Neurology, 2005
- A serum autoantibody marker of neuromyelitis optica: distinction from multiple sclerosisThe Lancet, 2004
- Transverse myelitis: pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatmentFrontiers in Bioscience-Landmark, 2004
- Detection of the 14-3-3 protein in the cerebrospinal fluid of Japanese multiple sclerosis patients presenting with severe myelitisJournal of the Neurological Sciences, 2003
- Paraneoplastic autoimmune optic neuritis with retinitis defined by CRMP‐5‐IgGAnnals of Neurology, 2003
- Acute transverse myelitis in children: clinical course and prognostic factors.Journal of Child Neurology, 2003
- Proposed diagnostic criteria and nosology of acute transverse myelitisNeurology, 2002