A retrospective study was performed to describe the clinical and epidemiological profile of
patients with suspected infectious myelitis admitded at João de Barros Barreto Hospital and
Ofir Loyola Hospital, from January 1998 to July 2010. Thirteen patients aged seven to 53
years, seven men and six women, most coming from the interior of the state. Ten evolved
acute (76.9%) and three insidious (23%). All had a history of fever, 77% dorsalgia and 23%
adenopathy. As for the motor deficit, seven (53.8%) had paraplegia, five (38.4%) paraparesis
and one (7.6%) quadriparesis. Sensory changes were described in all patients and sphincter in
12 (92.3%). Six (46.1%) had spinal MRI with T2 hyperintensity and two with intermediate
signal on T1.Three (23%) had CSF examination with inflammatory pattern. Serologic tests
were performed in nine patients (69.2%), which results were positive in four (30.7%) to
agents such as HIV, HTLV, cytomegalovirus and toxoplasma. Two other cases (15.3%) were
in the presence of dengue and varicella. Six patients were underwent to specific treatment and
length of hospitalization ranged from 10 to 106 days (mean 38.9 days), with 12 hospital
discharges for medical management and one death. During hospitalization there was no
neurological recovery, with partial improvement in five patients (38.4%). The definitive
diagnosis was hampered by the absence in the hospitals studied for own MRI and by not
carrying enough of exams or solicitation for the etiological investigation.
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