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Semin Neurol 2021; 41(03): 269-279
DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1725152
Review Article

Immune-Mediated Myelopathies: A Review of Etiologies, Diagnostic Approach, and Therapeutic Management

Lama Abdel-Wahed
1   Department of Neurology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa
,
Tracey A. Cho
1   Department of Neurology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa
› Author Affiliations Funding None.
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Abstract

Myelopathy is a broad term used to describe a heterogeneous group of disorders that affects the spinal cord; the focus of this article will be a subgroup of these disorders with an autoimmune and inflammatory-based pathology. Symptoms typically develop over hours or days and then worsen over a matter of days to weeks, but sometimes can have a more insidious or subacute presentation, which can make the diagnosis more puzzling. Despite relatively low incidence rates, almost a third of affected patients are left with severely disabling symptoms. Prompt recognition of the underlying etiology is essential so that a specific targeted therapy can be implemented for optimal outcomes. The authors discuss a systematic approach to immune-mediated myelopathies, with a focus on the unique characteristics of each that may aid in diagnosis.

Keywords

myelopathy - autoimmune - myelitis - multiple sclerosis - neuromyelitis optica - neurosarcoidosis - MOG-related disease - ADEM - paraneoplastic - parainfectious

Note

All authors had access to the data and played a role in writing the manuscript and have approved the final version for submission.




Publication History

Article published online:
24 May 2021

© 2021. Thieme. All rights reserved.

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