Spinal cord involvement in Behçet’s disease

• Published in: Multiple sclerosis 2016-06, Vol.22 (7), p.960-963
• Main Authors: Lee, Hyung Seok, Kim, Do Young, Shin, Ha Young, Choi, Young-Chul, Kim, Seung Min
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aquaporin 4; Behcet Syndrome - complications; Behcet Syndrome - diagnostic imaging; Behcet's syndrome; Biomarkers - cerebrospinal fluid; Cerebrospinal fluid; Disability Evaluation; Disease Progression; Female; Humans; Immunosuppressive Agents - therapeutic use; Inflammatory diseases; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Middle Aged; Myelitis; Myelitis, Transverse - cerebrospinal fluid; Myelitis, Transverse - diagnostic imaging; Myelitis, Transverse - drug therapy; Myelitis, Transverse - etiology; Pleocytosis; Registries; Retrospective Studies; Spinal cord; Spinal Cord - diagnostic imaging; Spinal Cord - drug effects; Spinal Cord - metabolism; Spine; Treatment Outcome; Vein & artery diseases; Vertebrae; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1352-4585; 1477-0970
• DOI: 10.1177/1352458515613642

Background: Spinal cord involvement in Behçet’s disease is not well studied. Objective: To evaluate the clinical, laboratory and magnetic resonance imaging characteristics of spinal cord involvement in Behçet’s disease. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 10 spinal cord involvements in seven patients with Behçet’s disease. Results: The median age of onset for spinal cord involvement was 32 (23–45 years). Two patients showed a secondary progressive course. Cerebrospinal fluid findings revealed mild to moderate pleocytosis and/or elevated protein levels. In eight spinal cord involvements, the lesion was longer than three vertebrae. Serum anti-aquaporin-4 antibody was negative in all four patients tested. Conclusions: Longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis is a characteristic manifestation of spinal cord involvement in Behçet’s disease.