A young woman with numbness in her feet. Issue 12 (December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pavlik, Daniel; Huber, Michael; Justice, Melissa
• Is Part Of: JAAPA. Volume 29:Issue 12(2016)
• Publication Date: 2016-12
• Subjects: transverse myelitis -- myalgia -- sensory deficit -- myelopathy -- weakness -- spinal cord inflammation; Medicine -- Periodicals; Physicians' assistants -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Physician Assistants -- Periodicals; Medicine; Physicians' assistants; Periodicals; 610.7372069
• DOI: 10.1097/01.JAA.0000508204.02557.9a
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0893-7400

Abstract

Abstract : ABSTRACT: This article describes a young, otherwise healthy woman who presented to the ED with numbness in her feet and was discharged. Twenty-four hours later, she returned because of difficulty walking; in 48 hours she could not walk without assistance. Although Guillain-Barré syndrome was suspected initially, the patient's weakness, sensory loss, and autonomic dysfunction eventually were diagnosed as transverse myelitis, a myelopathy often associated with infectious or autoimmune diseases. The article describes the presentation, diagnostic evaluation and criteria, treatment, and prognosis of transverse myelitis.