Infectious etiologies of myelopathy

Semin Neurol. 2012 Apr;32(2):154-60. doi: 10.1055/s-0032-1322588. Epub 2012 Sep 8.

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.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Central Nervous System Bacterial Infections / microbiology
  • Central Nervous System Bacterial Infections / physiopathology
  • Communicable Diseases / microbiology*
  • Communicable Diseases / physiopathology*
  • Deltaretrovirus Infections / diagnosis
  • Deltaretrovirus Infections / physiopathology
  • Demyelinating Autoimmune Diseases, CNS / immunology
  • Demyelinating Autoimmune Diseases, CNS / microbiology
  • Demyelinating Autoimmune Diseases, CNS / physiopathology
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Epidural Abscess / microbiology
  • Epidural Abscess / physiopathology
  • HIV Infections / diagnosis
  • HIV Infections / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Spinal Cord Diseases / microbiology*
  • Spinal Cord Diseases / physiopathology*
  • Virus Diseases / microbiology
  • Virus Diseases / physiopathology