Abstract
Myelopathy refers to a spinal cord disorder that presents with motor and/or sensory deficits. Infectious agents that cause myelopathy do so by either direct infection of neural structures (e.g., polio), a parainfectious mechanism (with a presumed autoimmune pathogenesis), or as a result of involvement of structures adjoining the spinal cord, which may cause a compressive myelopathy. This review of infectious causes of myelopathy focuses on pathogens that are most relevant to clinicians in North America.
MeSH terms
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Central Nervous System Bacterial Infections / microbiology
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Central Nervous System Bacterial Infections / physiopathology
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Communicable Diseases / microbiology*
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Communicable Diseases / physiopathology*
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Deltaretrovirus Infections / diagnosis
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Deltaretrovirus Infections / physiopathology
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Demyelinating Autoimmune Diseases, CNS / immunology
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Demyelinating Autoimmune Diseases, CNS / microbiology
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Demyelinating Autoimmune Diseases, CNS / physiopathology
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Diagnosis, Differential
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Epidural Abscess / microbiology
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Epidural Abscess / physiopathology
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HIV Infections / diagnosis
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HIV Infections / physiopathology
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Humans
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Spinal Cord Diseases / microbiology*
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Spinal Cord Diseases / physiopathology*
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Virus Diseases / microbiology
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Virus Diseases / physiopathology