ABSTRACT
Transverse myelitis is a focal inflammatory disorder of the spinal cord characterized by motor, sensory, and autonomic dysfunction. A 41-year-old man with transverse myelitis and no pre-existing neurologic disease presented with hypesthesia, numbness, weakness in the both lower extremities, back pain, decreased libido, constipation, and dysuria. A MRI test showed intramedullary high signal intensity between T4 and T8 on a T2-weighted image. After high-dose intravenous methylprednisolone and oral prednisolone therapy, he showed facial swelling and acneiform eruption. Therefore, we injected 40 mg methylprednisolone via an epidural route. A 7-dose serial treatment improved most symptoms. A follow up MRI showed radiological improvement. We report a case of transverse myelitis treated by epidural steroids.
Subject(s)
Adult , Humans , Acneiform Eruptions , Back Pain , Constipation , Dysuria , Follow-Up Studies , Hypesthesia , Libido , Lower Extremity , Methylprednisolone , Myelitis, Transverse , Prednisolone , Spinal Cord , SteroidsABSTRACT
Behcet's disease is a chronic relapsing vasculitis characterized by recurrent aphthous oral and genital ulcers with uveitis. Multiple organs can be involved. Entero-Behcet's disease is often uncontrollable, relapsing, and can cause acute intestinal bleeding, fistula formation, or perforation. Corticosteroids, immunosuppressors, and colchicines are used to treat Entero-Behcet's disease with varying degree of success. Thalidomide may also be feasible. We present a 29-year-old male Entero-Behcet's patient suffering from abdominal pain, diarrhea, and back pain. He did not respond to prior treatments, but responded to thalidomide.
Subject(s)
Adult , Humans , Male , Abdominal Pain , Adrenal Cortex Hormones , Back Pain , Diarrhea , Fistula , Hemorrhage , Stress, Psychological , Thalidomide , Ulcer , Uveitis , VasculitisABSTRACT
The incidence of AIDS and related disorders continues to rise sharply these days and anesthesologists may expect to encounter such patients more and more frequently during the performance of routine procedures on the seemingly healthy and during indicated procedures on the sick. AIDS is a disease for which there is no cure, and thus prevention becomes even more important. However, the dangers of this disorder should not be exaggerated. We experienced one case of a subcutaneous injury during spinal anesthesia caused by a stylet of an infected asymptomatic carrier. Postexposure prophylaxis was performed with zidobudine and lamibudine, and enzyme linked immunoassay (ELISA) testing for medical personnel has been repeated three times during last 6 months.