BACKGROUND: Angiographic vasculitis affecting the spine has been rarely described. The use of immunosuppression as a primary treatment and a review of the literature is presented. METHODS: Case report. RESULTS: A 61-year-old female presented with sudden onset back pain and headache. The patient was found to have acute spinal epidural hemorrhage and subsequent work-up demonstrated angiographic spinal vasculitis. Immunosuppression with cyclophosphamide resulted in clinical and radiographic improvement. CONCLUSIONS: Immunomodulating therapy should be considered in the management of select patients with spinal vasculitis which may lead to improved clinical outcome and potentially disease resolution.
BACKGROUND: Angiographic vasculitis affecting the spine has been rarely described. The use of immunosuppression as a primary treatment and a review of the literature is presented. METHODS: Case report. RESULTS: A 61-year-old female presented with sudden onset back pain and headache. The patient was found to have acute spinal epidural hemorrhage and subsequent work-up demonstrated angiographic spinal vasculitis. Immunosuppression with cyclophosphamide resulted in clinical and radiographic improvement. CONCLUSIONS: Immunomodulating therapy should be considered in the management of select patients with spinal vasculitis which may lead to improved clinical outcome and potentially disease resolution.
Authors: L Fernando Gonzalez; Joseph M Zabramski; Peyman Tabrizi; Robert C Wallace; Manoj G Massand; Robert F Spetzler Journal: Neurosurgery Date: 2005-12 Impact factor: 4.654
Authors: Ansgar Berlis; Kai-Michael Scheufler; Christian Schmahl; Sebastian Rauer; Friedrich Götz; Martin Schumacher Journal: AJNR Am J Neuroradiol Date: 2005-02 Impact factor: 3.825