Intramedullary tuberculosis manifested as Brown-Sequard syndrome in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus

Lupus. 2000;9(2):147-50. doi: 10.1191/096120300678828064.

Abstract

A 25-year-old girl presented with progressive deterioration of right side weakness with decreased sensation on the left trunk. She had been treated with high dose steroid due to autoimmune thrombocytopenia for 2 months. Clinical, laboratory and immunologic studies revealed that she had systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), MRI of spinal cord showed marginal contrast enhancing and fluid containing mass in the cord of the C5-6 level, suggesting intramedullary abscess. She underwent surgery of mass removal with biopsy. The pathologic findings from cord tissues revealed numerous acid fast bacilli (AFB) in necrotic tissues. After surgery and anti-tuberculous treatment, her neurologic symptoms were markedly improved with restoration of right side motor weakness. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of intramedullary tuberculosis in a patient with SLE. Since intramedullary tuberculosis may sometimes mimic neurologic complication of SLE itself, it may pose diagnostic and therapeutic confusion for clinicians. We report a case of spinal cord tuberculosis affecting C5, 6 level which was manifested as Brown-Sequard syndrome in a patient with SLE.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Biopsy
  • Brown-Sequard Syndrome / diagnosis*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / complications*
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / diagnosis*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / drug therapy
  • Spinal Cord / pathology
  • Steroids / therapeutic use
  • Tuberculosis, Spinal / complications*
  • Tuberculosis, Spinal / diagnosis*
  • Tuberculosis, Spinal / pathology

Substances

  • Steroids