A case of longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis with an isolated pontine lesion following epidural and spinal anesthesia for cesarean section

Severe neurologic complications following epidural and spinal anesthesia rarely occur. Transverse myelitis has been reported as a rare complication of epidural or spinal anesthesia. We report a case of longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis and an isolated pontine lesion, which responded to immunotherapy. The patient was a 31-year-old pregnant woman who underwent elective cesarean section under epidural and spinal anesthesia. Though the insertions of the epidural and spinal catheters were smooth, she experienced back pain and transient hearing loss during epidural anesthesia. Postoperatively, she exhibited severe motor weakness in both lower extremities, neuralgia below the level of Th10 dermatome, and urinary retention. Magnetic resonance imaging showed longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis from T6 to T10 with a ring-shaped enhanced lesion and an isolated pontine lesion. These findings on magnetic resonance imaging were suggestive of autoimmune diseases such as neuromyelitis optica. The patient was diagnosed with an immunoreactive disease triggered by epidural or spinal anesthesia and was administered high-dose methylprednisolone, which led to the improvement in clinical symptoms. Clinicians should be aware of the possibility of the development of longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis and isolated pontine lesions after cesarean section under epidural and spinal anesthesia.

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder: Pathogenesis, treatment, and experimental models

Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and NMO spectrum disorder (NMOSD) are inflammatory CNS syndromes mainly involving the optic nerve and/or spinal cord and characterized by the presence of serum aquaporin-4 immunoglobulin G antibodies (AQP4-IgG). The pathology of NMOSD is complicated, while therapies for NMOSD are limited and only partially effective in most cases. This review article focuses on the main pathology of NMOSD involving AQP4-IgG and lymphocyte function. We also review the existing therapeutic methods and potential new treatments. Experimental NMO animal models are crucial for further research into NMO pathology and treatment. However, no AQP4-IgG-immunized animals have been reported. The establishment of NMO models is therefore difficult and primarily depends on the generation of transgenic mice or transcranial manipulation using human or monoclonal mouse anti-AQP4 antibodies. Advantages and disadvantages of each model are discussed.

Increased cerebrospinal fluid osteopontin levels and its involvement in macrophage infiltration in neuromyelitis optica

BACKGROUND

Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is an inflammatory disease of the central nervous system that predominantly affects the optic nerves and spinal cord. Although NMO has long been considered a subtype of multiple sclerosis (MS), the effects of interferon-β treatment are different between NMO and MS. Recent findings of NMO-IgG suggest that NMO could be a distinct disease rather than a subtype of MS. However, the underlying molecular mechanism of NMO pathology remains poorly understood.

METHODS

OPN in the cerebrospinal fluid and brain of patients with NMO and with MS, as well as of patients with other neurologic disease/idiopathic other neurologic disease was examined using Western blotting, ELISA, immunohistochemistry and Boyden chamber.

RESULTS

Here we show that osteopontin is significantly increased in the cerebrospinal fluid of NMO patients compared with MS patients. Immunohistochemical analyses revealed that osteopontin was markedly elevated in the cerebral white matter of NMO patients and produced by astrocytes, neurons, and oligodendroglia as well as infiltrating macrophages. We also demonstrate that the interaction of the cerebrospinal fluid osteopontin in NMO patients with integrin αvβ3 promoted macrophage chemotaxis by activating phosphoinositide 3-kinase and MEK1/2 signaling pathways.

CONCLUSION

These results indicate that osteopontin is involved in NMO pathology.

GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE

Thus therapeutic strategies that target osteopontin signaling may be useful to treat NMO.