J Lee1, Y-M Lim1, K-K Kim1. 1. Department of Neurology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Abstract
STUDY DESIGN: This is a case report. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to report on a 66-year-old woman with a confirmed diagnosis of polycythemia vera who presented with acute spinal cord infarction. SETTING: A 66-year-old woman was previously diagnosed with polycythemia vera and presented with acute paraparesis and urinary retention. RESULTS: The patient's platelet count was 847,000 platelets per μl. T2- and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging revealed hyperintensity at the T12-L1 spinal cord. Computed tomography of the abdominal aorta further revealed multiple thrombi filling the aortic lumen. CONCLUSIONS: Polycythemia vera creates a high risk of systemic thrombosis due to hyperviscosity and platelet activation. Although acute infarction in the spinal cord is a rare complication of this myeloproliferative disease, it should be considered in all affected patients.
STUDY DESIGN: This is a case report. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to report on a 66-year-old woman with a confirmed diagnosis of polycythemia vera who presented with acute spinal cord infarction. SETTING: A 66-year-old woman was previously diagnosed with polycythemia vera and presented with acute paraparesis and urinary retention. RESULTS: The patient's platelet count was 847,000 platelets per μl. T2- and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging revealed hyperintensity at the T12-L1 spinal cord. Computed tomography of the abdominal aorta further revealed multiple thrombi filling the aortic lumen. CONCLUSIONS:Polycythemia vera creates a high risk of systemic thrombosis due to hyperviscosity and platelet activation. Although acute infarction in the spinal cord is a rare complication of this myeloproliferative disease, it should be considered in all affected patients.