Radicular dysfunction preponderance at early phase clinical evaluation in myelitis by Schistosoma mansoni.

UNLABELLED: In neuroschistosomiasis, the spinal cord is the most common place of the disease. In high prevalent areas for schistosomiasis mansoni, the clinical alertness is important for an early diagnostic, in order to decrease the final neurological damage. This study provides some useful neurologic information about a series of patients with schistosomal myelitis. METHOD: The sample consisted of 13 schistosomiasis mansoni carriers examined at the moment of the diagnosis of myelitis. RESULTS: The classical triad (lumbago, weakness at the lower limbs and urinary dysfunctions) was documented in 11 (86.61%) patients. The distribution of the clinical forms was: myeloradicular in six patients (46.15%), radicular in four (30.76%) and myelitic in three (23.07%). CONCLUSION: The radicular dysfunction and their clinical associated forms were the most prominent pattern during the early phase of this disease.

Radicular dysfunction preponderance at early phase clinical evaluation in myelitis by Schistosoma mansoni / Preponderância de disfunções radiculares na avaliação clínica precoce da mielite pelo Schistosoma mansoni

In neuroschistosomiasis, the spinal cord is the most common place of the disease. In high prevalent areas for schistosomiasis mansoni, the clinical alertness is important for an early diagnostic, in order to decrease the final neurological damage. This study provides some useful neurologic information about a series of patients with schistosomal myelitis. METHOD: The sample consisted of 13 schistosomiasis mansoni carriers examined at the moment of the diagnosis of myelitis. RESULTS: The classical triad (lumbago, weakness at the lower limbs and urinary dysfunctions) was documented in 11 (86.61 percent) patients. The distribution of the clinical forms was: myeloradicular in six patients (46.15 percent), radicular in four (30.76 percent) and myelitic in three (23.07 percent). CONCLUSION: The radicular dysfunction and their clinical associated forms were the most prominent pattern during the early phase of this disease.

Na neuroesquistossomose, a medula espinhal é o sítio de predileção da doença. Em áreas de alta prevalência para esquistossomose mansoni, o conhecimento clínico dessa condição é importante para o seu diagnóstico precoce e consequente redução da lesão neurológica definitiva. Este estudo provê informações neurológicas relevantes pertinentes a uma série clínica de pacientes com mielite esquistossomótica. MÉTODO: A amostra consistiu de 13 pacientes portadores de esquistossomose mansoni examinados no momento do diagnóstico de sua forma mielítica. RESULTADOS: A tríade clássica (lombalgia, fraqueza nos membros inferiores e disfunções urinárias) foi documentada em 11 (86,61 por cento) pacientes. Quanto à distribuição das formas clínicas, se observou a ocorrência da mieloradicular em seis pacientes (46,15 por cento), da radicular em quatro (30,76 por cento) pacientes e da mielítica em três (23,07 por cento) pacientes. CONCLUSÃO: A disfunção radicular e suas formas clínicas associadas foram o padrão mais frequente durante a avaliação na fase precoce da doença.