Spinal cord lesions of myelitis with hyperIgEemia and mite antigen specific IgE (atopic myelitis) manifest eosinophilic inflammation

We report the neuropathological findings of spinal cord specimens obtained from two patients who had localized myelitis with hyperIgEemia and mite ant igen specific IgE (atopic myelitis). Both cases showed mild spinal cord dys function, and the gadolinium-enhanced area of the isolated spinal cord lesi on observed on MRI was biopsied, respectively. Neuropathologically, both ca ses showed many perivascular lymphocyte cuffings associated with disrupted vessels, and the infiltration of eosinophils in the spinal cord lesions. Bo th myelin and axons were lost in the lesions, which were associated with as trogliosis. These findings suggest that an allergic mechanism may play a ro le in this condition. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.