Charidimos Tsagkas†
Maria Janina Wendebourg†
Matthias Mehling
Johannes Lorscheider
Philippe Lyrer
Bernhard Friedrich Décard*- Neurology Clinic and Policlinic, Departments of Medicine, Clinical Research and Biomedical Engineering, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
Objective: Inflammatory polyradiculomyelitis belongs to a rare group of immune-mediated diseases affecting both the central and peripheral nervous system. We aimed to describe an unusual presentation of acute polyradiculomyelitis with marked spinal cord lesions restricted to the gray matter.
Methods: Thorough examination of two case reports including clinical, MRI, serologic, electrophysiologic and CSF examinations as well as short-term follow-up.
Results: We present two adult patients with acute polyradiculomyelitis and unusual spinal cord lesions restricted to the gray matter on MRI. The clinical presentation, serologic, electrophysiologic and CSF features of the two patients varied, whereas both patients demonstrated severe, asymmetrical, predominantly distal, motor deficits of the lower extremities as well as bladder and bowel dysfunction. Both patients only partially responded to anti-inflammatory treatment. Severe motor impairment and bladder dysfunction persisted even months after symptom onset.
Conclusions: To our best of knowledge, these are the first reports of acute polyradiculomyelitis with distinct involvement of the lower thoracic spinal cord gray matter. Currently, it remains unclear whether gray matter lesions reflect a separate pathophysiologic mechanism or an exceedingly rare presentation of spinal cord involvement in acute polyradiculomyelitis.
Introduction
Inflammatory polyneuroradiculopathies are a group of immune-mediated diseases of the peripheral nerves and their spinal roots (1). Clinical manifestation usually involves distal onset and ascending sensory and/or motor deficits as well as autonomic dysfunction. Often, symptoms follow a preceding infection, most commonly with C. jejuni or respiratory viral pathogens (2). Symptom onset and progression may be acute or slow over a longer time span. Typical electrophysiological findings include slowing of nerve conduction velocity (NCV), conduction blocks and F-wave alterations, although early in the disease process, changes may not be detected (3). CSF analysis typically shows albuminocytological dissociation. The most effective therapy is intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) whereas rapid administration, especially in acute cases, is important.
Most common MRI findings include thickening of the cauda equina and spinal roots (4). Contrast enhancement of the conus, cauda equina and spinal roots is also compatible with the diagnosis (5), whereas it may disappear after treatment (6).
Rarely, myelitis accompanies inflammatory polyneuroradiculitis (7), resulting in polyradiculomyelitis. Viral or bacterial pathogens may be detected (8, 9).
However, to our knowledge, the combination of inflammatory polyneuroradiculitis and spinal cord (SC) lesions restricted to the gray matter (GM) has not been reported before. We present two cases of acute-onset inflammatory polyradiculomyelitis with GM lesions.
Case Reports
First Case
A 56-year-old male with no previous neurologic history presented with severe lower back pain and reduced sensation as well as weakness of the distal right lower extremity. Within the next hours, these symptoms extended to the left leg and ascended proximally. Additionally, he complained about urinary retention and obstipation.
Clinically, he showed a predominantly right-sided, severe, flaccid, distal paraparesis and hypoesthesia involving dermatomes L4-S5 in all sensory modalities of both lower extremities. Spontaneous fasciculations were visible on the right M. quadriceps femoris. Stretch reflexes were absent in both lower extremities except for normal left quadriceps and adductor reflexes.
SC T2-weighted MRI of the lumbar spine revealed a hyperintense lesion extending from T12 to L1, including the conus medullaris with a butterfly-like shape on axial slices 1 day after admission. Post-contrast T1-weighted MRI showed enhancement of the cauda equina and subtle contrast enhancement of the SC lesion. A follow-up MRI 3 days later showed focal SC edema and persistence of subtle lesion contrast enhancement (Figures 1A–E). CSF analysis revealed an albuminocytological dissociation as well as an increased CSF/serum albumin quotient (Table 1). Serological analysis was positive for Campylobacter jejuni. Anti-ganglioside antibodies were unremarkable. NCV studies showed increased distal motor latencies. F-waves were either prolonged or absent (Table 1).
Figure 1. R imaging of case 1 (male, 56 yrs). T2w hyperintense lesions and swelling of the conus (A) and selective hyperintensity and swelling of the gray matter on axial imaging (B). On T1w, a diffuse contrast enhancement of the gray matter can be seen (C), as well as contrast enhancement of spinal roots in axial (D) and sagittal imaging (E).
Table 1. Overview of diagnostic measures applied to both patients.
Hence, acute post-infectious polyradiculomyelitis was diagnosed. The patient was treated with IVIG 35g/d for 5 days. Under IVIG treatment, the patient improved significantly, particularly regarding proximal motor deficits, but was dismissed with a persisting severe, predominantly right-sided and distal, flaccid paraparesis and hypoesthesia as well as urinary retention and obstipation. The patient was transferred to a neuro-rehabilitation facility. After 3 months, his symptoms improved slightly further, but paraparesis and bladder dysfunction remained.
Second Case
A 62-year-old female with no previous neurologic history presented with acute pain and weakness in both lower extremities.
Clinically, she showed a mild, predominantly right-sided and distal paraparesis. The anal sphincter tonus was normal at that time point. Within a few hours, her symptoms deteriorated dramatically, and she developed a severe, flaccid, predominantly right-sided, distal paraparesis accompanied by urinary and stool incontinence. The patellar reflex was absent on the right side and brisk on the left side, whereas the achilles tendon reflexes were absent bilaterally.
SC T2-weighted MRI revealed a hyperintense lesion from T11 to L1, including the conus medullaris, with a butterfly-like shape on axial slices. Post-contrast T1-weighted MRI showed partial enhancement of the anterior parts of this lesion (Figures 2A–D). Brain MRI and CSF-analysis were unremarkable (Table 1). Two days after symptom onset, NCV studies showed absent F-waves of both lower extremities and a reduced compound muscle action potential of the M. extensor digitorum brevis. Electromyography demonstrated neither spontaneous nor voluntary activity of the right M. gastrocnemius, whereas examination of the left M. tibialis anterior showed signs of acute denervation. Somatosensory evoked potentials of tibial nerve were unremarkable on both sides. Motor evoked potentials of the right lower extremity were absent, whereas normal latencies were shown in the left lower extremity. Serologic analysis was unremarkable (Table 1). A poliovirus neutralization-test showed immunity.
Figure 2. MR Imaging of case 2 (female, 63 yrs). T2w sagittal imaging shows swelling and hyperintense lesions of the conus (A) while axial T2w imaging shows a butterfly-shaped lesion involving only the gray matter [at T11-12, (B)]. T1w imaging showed discreet contrast enhancement of the anterior horns on axial imaging (C), and, on day 22 after onset, post-contrast T1w imaging also showed contrast of spinal cord roots (D).
Therefore, idiopathic acute polyradiculomyelitis was diagnosed. Assuming the myelitis was the leading cause for the symptoms, the patient was initially treated with methylprednisolone i.v., 500 mg daily for 5 days and consecutive oral prednisone. Under this regimen, the patient's symptoms improved slightly, but the paraparesis, bladder and bowel dysfunction were still severe. Therefore, 6 cycles of plasmapheresis were carried out. A further slight improvement of the motor symptoms became evident.
Thereafter, electrophysiological studies were repeated. Distal motor potentials of tibial and peroneal nerves were absent, whereas proximally (left N. femoralis), a compound muscle action potential amplitude reduction was shown. In contrast, sensory NCV studies of the lower extremities, e.g., the left sural and superficial peroneal nerve, were normal. Furthermore, the upper extremities showed normal NCV studies. Electromyography of the right vastus lateralis muscle showed spontaneous activity and increased recruitment frequency (>20/s). In addition, a follow-up SC MRI (22 days after the first MRI) showed new post-contrast enhancement of the cauda equina inT1-weighted MRI (Figure 2D). The SC T2-weighted hyperintensity remained stationary and showed subtle post-contrast enhancement in T1-weighted imaging.
After 3 months of neurorehabilitation, proximal pareses of the lower extremities were slightly improved but distal motor and bladder dysfunction persisted.
Discussion
We present two cases of acute polyradiculomyelitis with distinct involvement of the lower SCGM on MRI. Lesions restricted to the SCGM are not a common feature of acute polyradiculomyelitis. They have been described in acute SC infarction or chronic compressive myelopathy, leading to the typical “snake/owl's eyes” or “fried eggs” appearance on axial T2-weighted images (10, 11). In contrast to our patients, contrast enhancement in SC ischemia is absent in the acute phase. In addition, anterior horn lesions have been reported in some rare cases of West Nile virus-associated myelitis (12). However, due to a lack of a relevant travel history and missing typical accompanying symptoms such as high fever, neither patient was tested for West Nile virus. In addition, both patients formally fulfill the diagnostic criteria of the herpes simplex virus-associated Elsberg syndrome as described by Savoldi and colleagues (13) with the first patient meeting the criteria for a clinically definite and the second patient for a clinically probable diagnosis. However, in contrast to patients with Elsberg syndrome, our patients did not report signs of previous herpes simplex virus infection. Furthermore, Gorson and Ropper described two myelitis cases with polio-like anterior horn lesions mimicking a motor Guillain-Barre syndrome variant after an unspecific mild viral infection (14). Neither of our patients had reported symptoms of a previous viral infection. However, mild symptoms may simply not have been acknowledged. Moreover, polyradiculomyelitis has also been described in the context of both aquaporin-4 antibody positive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) associated disorder (15–18). In particular, MOG-associated disorder frequently presents with longitudinally extensive lesions restricted in the SCGM of the thoracolumbar region, typically with absent contrast enhancement; in contrast, in patients with aquaporin-4 antibody positive myelitis, cervical and thoracic longitudinally extensive lesions with contrast enhancement are more frequent (19, 20). Indeed, both these differential diagnoses were considered in the clinical management of one of our patients (patient 2), which —however— tested negative for both anti-aquaporin 4 and anti-MOG antibodies. In addition, patient 1, who was not tested for any of those antibodies, did not demonstrate any additional typical signs and features of these disorders such as longitudinally extensive spinal cord lesions, brain or optic nerve involvement, recurrent and/or multifocal disease making these etiologies rather unlikely.
The underlying pathology for these MRI findings is unclear. Possibly, they reflect the aftermath of axonal injury occurring distally to the SCGM and leading to secondary Wallerian degeneration and axonal swelling reaching the neuron-somas. However, this hypothesis does not explain the presence of these lesions at symptom onset in our patients since axonal degeneration begins 36–44 h after nerve injury. Hence, a direct SCGM inflammatory involvement seems more plausible, which is also supported by the SCGM contrast enhancement in one of our patients. Despite the SC involvement in both patients, no pleocytosis was shown in CSF analysis, whereas one patient showed typical albuminocytological dissociation. Regarding the pathogenesis of our patients' disorder, bacterial and viral agents such as Campylobacter jejuni, Mycoplasma pneumoniae as well as the Zika and Dengue viruses have been described as triggers in both transverse myelitis and inflammatory polyneuroradiculitis (21). One of our patients tested positive for Campylobacter jejuni (the second patient was not tested), which may offer a pathogenetic explanation. Despite that, both patients had negative anti-ganglioside antibodies, which have been associated with these pathogens, although this is not unusual in all forms of polyneuroradiculitis (21).
With regard to the clinical features, both patients presented with atypical polyneuroradiculitis symptoms e.g., acute, distal, flaccid paralysis of the lower extremities, but also marked bowel and bladder symptoms. The latter most likely correspond to the SC involvement rather than the polyneuropathic component of the patients' disorder.
Notably, besides SC-associated symptoms, the two patients presented with different phenotypes; while the first patient showed sensorimotor deficits, the second patient presented a pure motor-fiber involvement. In patients with Elsberg syndrome, sensory nerve involvement may not be present. The pure motor fiber involvement may reflect the pronounced anterior horn lesions. Finally, despite early immunomodulatory treatment, severe motor impairment and bladder dysfunction persisted even months after symptom onset. In the few reported cases of concomitant myelopolyradiculitis (22–24), long-term clinical outcomes varied, although pure motor variants seemed to be associated with a poorer prognosis (25).
To summarize, we report two cases of unusual SCGM lesions in patients with acute polyradiculomyelitis. Currently, it remains unclear whether this presentation reflects a separate pathophysiologic mechanism or an underappreciated manifestation of the inflammatory disease. Hence, future larger-scale studies should further investigate these findings.
Data Availability Statement
The original contributions presented in the study are included in the article/supplementary material, further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding authors.
Ethics Statement
Ethical review and approval was not required for the study on human participants in accordance with the local legislation and institutional requirements. The patients/participants provided their written informed consent to participate in this study. Written informed consent was obtained from the individuals for the publication of any potentially identifiable images or data included in this article.
Author Contributions
CT, MW, and BD drafted the manuscript and reviewed the data reported. All authors contributed to the clinical management of the reported patients and the revision and editing of the manuscript.
Conflict of Interest
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
Publisher's Note
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
Abbreviations
NCV, nerve conduction velocity; IVIG, intravenous immunoglobulin; MOG, myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein; SC, spinal cord; GM, gray matter.
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Keywords: MRI, peripheral neuropathology, myelopathy, guillain-barre syndrome, clinical neurology, spinal cord gray matter lesions, AIDP
Citation: Tsagkas C, Wendebourg MJ, Mehling M, Lorscheider J, Lyrer P and Décard BF (2021) Acute Polyradiculomyelitis With Spinal Cord Gray Matter Lesions: A Report of Two Cases. Front. Neurol. 12:721669. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2021.721669
Received: 07 June 2021; Accepted: 15 July 2021;
Published: 19 August 2021.
Edited by:
Mamede De Carvalho, University of Lisbon, PortugalReviewed by:
Sibel Karsidag, Maltepe University, TurkeyCatarina Falcão De Campos, Santa Maria Hospital, Portugal
Copyright © 2021 Tsagkas, Wendebourg, Mehling, Lorscheider, Lyrer and Décard. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Bernhard Friedrich Décard, bernhard.decard@usb.ch; orcid.org/0000-0003-0118-8159
†These authors have contributed equally to this work