Profile of non-compressive myelopathy in eastern India: a 2-year study

Eighty-two patients with non-compressive myelopathy have been studied from July 1994 to June 1996 in Bangur Institute of Neurology and S.S.K.M. Hospit al, Calcutta, of which 48 patients were men and 34 patients were women. Pre sentation was acute in 40 patients (48.78%), subacute in 7 (8.53%), chronic in 27 (32.92%) and history of relapse and remission in 8 (9.75%) patients. :Preceding as well as simultaneous fever was observed in 16 cases (19.5%); vaccination (anti-rabies) in 1 case (1.21%); drug abuse in 1 case (1.21%); arthralgia-myalgia and rash in 2 cases (2.42%) and history of electrocution in 2 cases (2.42%). Only pyamidal tract involvement was present in 24 case s (29.26%) and remaining 58 cases (70.73%) had pyramidal tract affection wi th other sites of involvement. CSF study carried out in 60 cases, revealed rise of protein in 31 (37.8%); oligoclonal band had been detected in 6 (7.3 1%), pleocytosis in 18 cases (21.95%) and increased IgG index greater than 6.66 in 2 cases (2.42%). CT myelogram done in 23 cases revealed no abnormal ity. MRI study carried out in 59 cases showed myelomalacia in 1 (1.21%); de myelination plaque in 14 cases (17.07%); atrophy of cord in 3 (3.65%); infa rction of cord in 1 (1.21%) and in 40 cases (48.78%) no abnormality could b e detected. Etiological diagnosis could be established in 59 (71.95%) cases such as transverse myelitis or myelopathy (post infectious) in 24 (29.26%) ; demyelination in 16 (19.51%); vascular and vasculitis in 3 (3.65%); toxic in 1 (1.21%); physical (electrocution) in 2 cases (2.42%). In the remainin g 23 cases (28.04%) no aetiological factors could be found.