idiopathic myelopathies with white matter vacuolation

Although the etiology of these myelopathies is unknown, their association with immune suppression and coexistent viral infection of the central nervous system suggests that an opportunistic viral infection may be important.

See also

 vacuolar myelopathy
 acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

Associations

 leukemia
 lymphoma
 carcinoma
 systemic lupus erythematosus
 chronic lung disease
 transplantation
 cirrhosis
 diabetes
 hemophagocytic syndrome
 viral encephalitis
 long-term steroid therapy
 immunosuppressive chemotherapy

Signs and symptoms

 paraparesis
 ataxia
 bilateral extensor plantar reflexes

Microscopic examination

 vacuolation in spinal cord white matter primarily located in posterior and lateral columns.
 Lipid-laden macrophages and axonal changes were proportional to the severity of the vacuolation.

See also

 myelopathies

References

 Idiopathic myelopathies with white matter vacuolation in non-acquired immunodeficiency syndrome patients. Kamin SS, Petito CK. Hum Pathol. 1991 Aug;22(8):816-24. PMID: 1869265