AUTHOR=Li Wenjuan , Guo Jia , Wang Lei , Zhang Tinghua , Li Tian 

TITLE=Acute spinal cord infarction secondary to ankylosing spondylitis: a case report and literature review

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Neurology

VOLUME=Volume 14 - 2023

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neurology/articles/10.3389/fneur.2023.1221810

DOI=10.3389/fneur.2023.1221810

ISSN=1664-2295

ABSTRACT=Spinal cord infarction secondary to ankylosing spondylitis is a rare but severe disorder.Case presentation: Here we present a case of acute spinal cord infarction in a 54-year-old man with a medical history of ankylosing spondylitis, scoliosis, and hypotension. The patient was complaining of sudden onset of lower limb weakness. Physical examination showed that he suffered from a dissociative sensory disorder, paralysis, and concomitant sphincter disturbances.After he underwent a whole spine MRI, he was diagnosed with an acute ischemic injury from T2 to T5. As he did not treat his ankylosing spondylitis, it caused spinal deformity later, making lumbar puncture technically challenging. However, using Taylor's approach, a CSF sample was successfully obtained. CSF biochemical test excluded myelitis, NMOSD, and MS. After receiving treatment with low molecular weight heparin, atorvastatin calcium, and methylprednisolone, his sphincter function was gradually regained, but his strength was only partially restored. Conclusion:Although this is a rare entity, it is necessary for physicians to consider it when evaluating patients with a sudden loss of sensitivity and strength in their lower limbs.