Article Text
PDF
Statistics from Altmetric.com
Description
A previously healthy 9-year-old girl was admitted to the emergency department of a district hospital due to persistent headache for 3 days. Somnolence, fever and meningismus were noticed. No previous infections or recent immunisations were reported. The child had leucocytosis with elevated C reactive protein. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis showed pleocytosis of 96 cells, 73% of lymphocytes, with negative bacteriological, enterovirus and herpes simplex virus screen. Ceftriaxone was started. Owing to persistent fever and headache, a brain CT scan was performed, showing no abnormalities. Focal and generalised seizures started by the ninth day of disease, followed by right-sided Todd hemiparesis. A second lumbar puncture showed increased pleocytosis (316 cells, 66% of lymphocytes). Acyclovir and vancomycin were added and the patient was transferred to our hospital with the diagnostic hypothesis of meningoencephalitis. On admission, she presented a normal level of consciousness, and the physical examination showed flaccid paraparesis, pain and vibratory hypoesthesia below T2 and bilateral cervical adenopathy. Ciprofloxacin was added. Brain MRI revealed leptomeningeal enhancement with no basal ganglia or thalami involvement. Spinal cord MRI showed a longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis (figures 1 and 2). Neoplastic and autoimmune causes were ruled out, including negative neuromyelitis optica IgG (NMO-IgG). The extensive microbiological screening revealed positivity for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA in blood (6.5×103 copies of EBV DNA/mL) and in CSF (900 copies of EBV DNA/mL), with positive early EBV IgG and borderline EBV IgM. Treatment included a 5-day course of immunoglobulin and 28-day course of endovenous ganciclovir followed by oral valganciclovir. The patient gradually improved, regaining ability to walk, though maintaining a neurogenic bladder and left foot drop.
Learning points
In this patient, the association of fever and meningismus with elevated inflammatory markers, made the diagnosis of infectious myelopathy and meningitis very likely. However, the extensiveness of the lesion (more than three vertebral segments) imposed the exclusion of other inflammatory causes, such as neuromyelitis optica (NMO)-spectrum disorders.1 Although a negative NMO-IgG does not exclude this diagnosis, the finding of positivity for EBV in blood as well as in cerebrospinal fluid, and the apparent response to the antiviral and immunomodulating therapy, support the diagnosis of an infectious myelopathy.1
Transverse myelitis is a rare complication of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection, or postinfectious state, usually with poor prognosis.2
Treatment of EBV-induced transverse myelitis remains controversial, since evidence-based results are not available.2 ,3
Spinal cord MRI, sagittal T2-weighted images showing a hyperintense lesion on T2-weighted sequence, centrally located, occupying more than two-thirds of the cross-sectional area and leading to spinal cord expansion, extending from D2 to D10. There was no significant enhancement with gadolinium.
Spinal cord MRI, axial T2-weighted images showing a hyperintense lesion on T2-weighted sequence, centrally located, occupying more than two-thirds of the cross-sectional area and leading to spinal cord expansion, extending from D2 to D10. There was no significant enhancement with gadolinium.
Footnotes
Contributors All the authors contributed substantially to the conception of the work, and to the analysis and interpretation of the clinical and imaging data. They also contributed to drafting of the work, which was mainly performed by DMA; TP and MS revised it critically for important intellectual content. All the authors approve the version sent for publishing and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.
Competing interests None declared.
Patient consent Obtained.
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.