Case report: Hypereosinophilic atopic transverse myelitis

Abstract

Atopic transverse myelitis is a rare disorder that is defined as a localized myelitis of an unknown cause in patients with either high immunoglobulin E (IgE) level or mite‑specific IgE or coexistent atopic disease. It is a cause of intramedullary cord lesions, but its diagnosis does not need tissue confirmation. We report a case of a patient who presented with bladder and anal incontinence, paresthesia, and lower limb weakness. Neither IgE level nor mite‑specific IgE level could be determined due to lack of fund; however, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the thoracolumbar region showed hypotense‑isotense lesion within the spinal cord at T4 vertebral level, suggestive of transverse myelitis. Blood cell count showed hypereosinophilia. Therefore, a diagnosis of atopic transverse myelitis based on high eosinophil count and MRI was made. Patient was commenced on prednisolone and had good response to treatment. Complete blood count is a cheap simple diagnostic tool in resource‑poor country to distinguish atopic transverse myelitis from other causes of intramedullary cord lesions.

Keywords: Atopic transverse myelitis, blood count, eosinophilia