Abstract
Longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis (LETM) is a syndrome that involves three
or more vertebral segments in the spinal cord lesion, and it is one of the characteristic
features of neuromyelitis optica (NMO) differentiating it from multiple sclerosis.
Many studies proved the importance of aquaporin-4 (AQP4) antibody, which plays a vital
role in the pathogenesis of NMO. Recent reports suggest that recurrent LETM patients
with positive anti-AQP4 antibody titers have a higher chance of converting to NMO,
and they are now termed as NMO spectrum disorders (NMOSD). The specific role of AQP4
antibody in NMO is yet to be elucidated but there are reports to bring up the pathogenesis
in relation with infectious events. Interestingly, parainfectious NMOSD tends to spare
the optic nerve unlike classic NMOSD. Here we report a young woman who was once diagnosed
as herpes zoster-related LETM, but later developed as recurrent LETM with positive
AQP4 antibody titers, which renders the diagnosis of parainfectious LETM without optic
neuritis.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: August 15, 2013
Accepted:
July 23,
2013
Received in revised form:
July 22,
2013
Received:
April 16,
2013
Identification
Copyright
© 2013 Elsevier B.V. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
