[ etiologic study of acute non traumatic myelopathy in patients who admitted in neurology emergency of Ghaem hospital [2002-2005]]

ABSTRACT

Acute myelopathy is defined as an acute spinal cord dysfunction initiated during less than 2 weeks. Many of these spinal cord dysfunctions are reversible if quickly recognized and treated, on the contrary. If recognized late, irreversible damages are expected. In this prospective, descriptive, cross - sectional study which done in patients who admitted in neurology emergency of Ghaem hospital [2002 - 2005], we supposed acute myelopathy base on history and Clinical findings for patients with paraparesia or tetraparesia and we completed questionnaire for all them. Based on laboratory findings, X-ray, MRI, Cerebrospinal fluid [CSF] and pathology, etiology of acute myelopathy was definited or was strong probability. From 42 cases with acute myelophathy, 19 cases [45%] had myelitis, 16 cases [37%] was secondary to tumor, 5 cases [12.5%] vascular, 1 case [2.5%] structural [stenosis of spinal cord canal due to klipple fiels], 1 case [2.5%] central herniation. Results from this study [like other studies] indicate that non - infectious myelitis is the most common etiology of acute myelopathy but in this study post - infectious myelitis was observed more than MS as the etiologic agent of acute myelopathy; but in other studies , MS was most common agent