BrainWaves: A Neurology Podcast

#97 What is so idiopathic about transverse myelitis?

BrainWaves: A Neurology Podcast

We've abused the term, 'idiopathic.' Not all clinical conditions have to have an unclear cause. More and more, we are finding out the answers. This week, using transverse myelitis as an example, Dr. Clyde Markowitz shares his experience in working up unknown etiologies of spinal cord inflammation.

Produced by James E. Siegler. Music by Quantum Jazz, Rui, and Steve Combs. Voiceover by Erika Mejia. BrainWaves' podcasts and online content are intended for medical education only and should not be used for clinical decision making.

REFERENCES

  1. Zalewski NL, Flanagan EP and Keegan BM. Evaluation of idiopathic transverse myelitis revealing specific myelopathy diagnoses. Neurology. 2018;90:e96-e102.
  2. Bevan CJ and Cree BA. Fulminant Demyelinating Diseases of the Central Nervous System. Semin Neurol. 2015;35:656-66.
  3. Greenberg BM and Frohman EM. Immune-mediated myelopathies. Continuum (Minneap Minn). 2015;21:121-31.
  4. Kimbrough DJ, Mealy MA, Simpson A and Levy M. Predictors of recurrence following an initial episode of transverse myelitis. Neurol Neuroimmunol Neuroinflamm. 2014;1:e4.
  5. Cobo Calvo A, Mane Martinez MA, Alentorn-Palau A, Bruna Escuer J, Romero Pinel L and Martinez-Yelamos S. Idiopathic acute transverse myelitis: outcome and conversion to multiple sclerosis in a large series. BMC Neurol. 2013;13:135.
  6. Jacob A and Weinshenker BG. An approach to the diagnosis of acute transverse myelitis. Semin Neurol. 2008;28:105-20.

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