Longitudinal extensive transverse myelitis (LETM) in children: A twenty-year study from Oman.

Roshan Koul,Rana A Abdel Rahim,Renjith Mani,Faisal M Al Azri,Dilip K Sankhla,Amna M Alfutaisi

doi:10.17712/nsj.2017.2.20160352

Roshan Koul, Rana A Abdel Rahim + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.17712/nsj.2017.2.20160352

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Abstract

Objective:The data on children with diagnosis of idiopathic transverse myelitis (ITM) was searched to find the pattern of myelitis in Oman.Method:A retrospective study was carried out from January1995 to December 2014. Electronic medical records and patient medical files were seen to get the complete data of the children with ITM. This work was carried out at Sultan Qaboos University hospital, Muscat, Oman. The ethical committee of the hospital had approved the study. The diagnosis was based on the established criteria. Other causes of myelopathy were excluded.Results:19 children with idiopathic transverse myelitis were found. There were 18 out of 19 (94.6%) children with longitudinal extensive transverse myelitis (LETM).Conclusion:Longitudinal transverse extensive myelitis is the most common form of ITM in Oman.

Highlights

Subtypes of Acute transverse myelitis (ATM) are acute partial or complete and transverse/segmental or longitudinal depending upon the severity and number of vertebral segments involvement respectively
Acute transverse myelitis formed a part of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) program to eradicate poliomyelitis in Oman
The CSF analysis for aquaporin antibodies was sent in patient with compatible diagnosis of neuromyelitis optica after 2006

Summary

Methods

Sultan Qaboos University hospital is a tertiary care center of the country. This hospital is the final referral center for all cases of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP). All the children below 15 years age with AFP in the country were referred to this hospital. The diagnosis of idiopathic transverse myelitis (ITM) was based on established criteria.[5] All the inpatient and electronic medical records were reviewed. The children with final diagnosis of ITM at the time of the discharge were included in the study. The diagnosis was based on established criteria and exclusion of the other causes on detailed neurophysiological tests, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination, MRI brain and spine. All the children were followed up in the Pediatric Neurology Outpatient Clinic

Results

Discussion

Conclusion