Schantz, et al. (1998). Shrinking spinal cord following transverse myelopathy in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus and the phospholipid antibody syndrome.

[Wise Young]

• Schantz V, Oestergaard LL and Junker P (1998). Shrinking spinal cord following transverse myelopathy in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus and the phospholipid antibody syndrome. J Rheumatol 25:1425-8. Summary: A 38-year-old woman with systemic lupus erythematosus and the phospholipid antibody syndrome was admitted because of rapidly evolving symptoms consistent with a transverse myelopathy at the TH9/10 level. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed slight diffuse swelling and increased signal intensity of the spinal cord. She was treated with high dose methylprednisolone plus azathioprine and aspirin. Four months later she had achieved almost complete remission with minimal residual sphincter disturbances. Despite the clinical recovery, repeated MRI at 4 months and 4 years showed diffuse and irreversible atrophy of the entire spinal cord. Department of Internal Medicine C, Odense University Hospital, Denmark.