TUBERCULOUS ARACHNOIDITIS OF THE SPINE

Tuberculous arachnoiditis of the spine is a rare complication of tuber culous meningitis and can occur despite correct treatment, We report t wo cases of arachnoiditis in patients with tuberculous meningitis. In both cases, clinical signs included flaccid paraparesia and sphincter dystonia, Evidence for diagnosis was obtained with magnetic resonance imaging of the lombosacral spine after a 3 or 11 week course, Adding c orticosteroids to the anti-tuberculosis therapy provided spectacular c linical improvement within 8 days in both cases, The diagnosis of tube rculous arachnoiditis of the spine is often made late but can be confi rmed easily with magnetic resonance imaging. Our cases emphasize the i mportance of oral corticosteroid therapy to avoid severe sequellae.