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Colegio de Medicina Interna de México.

2005, Number 3

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Med Int Mex 2005; 21 (3)

Transverse myelitis, a rare complication of meningitis due to Neisseria meningitidis. A report of a case and bibliographic review

Pérez CE, Vázquez ZC, Miralrio G

Language: Spanish
References: 13
Page: 240-243
PDF size: 82.90 Kb.


ABSTRACT

Neisseria meningitidis is a frequent cause of bacterial meningitis in the adult population, with a worldwide incidence of 0.9-5.1/100,000 per year. In Mexico it has been estimated an annual incidence of 0.1-0.2/100,000. Neisseria meningitidis has been classified in more than twelve serogroups and, even though the development of appropriate antimicrobials has existed through the last decades, mortality and sequelae are still high mostly because of delay in the start of treatment. The most frequent neurologic sequelae are due to an increased intracranial pressure, hydrocefalus or cranial nerve compromise. The medullar damage associated with meningitis is of ominous prognostic value; in the international literature there are just few reports of this condition, linking it to vasculitis and eventual medullary ischemic lesions, with a mortality rate of 21% and with a neurologic deficit rate in the surviving subjects up to 88%. The case of a 29 year-old woman, who suffered an acute episode of transverse myelitis due to Neisseria meningitidis meningitis and whom eventually recovered partial medullar function is presented. Also, a discussion of the latest available clinical reports of similar cases is described.


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