Rinsho Shinkeigaku (Clinical Neurology)

Case Report

A case of myelitis with anti-aquaporin 4 antibody concomitant with immune thrombocytopenic purpura

Hideki Mizuno, M.D.1), Shigeru Sato, M.D.1), Yasushi Ohnishi, M.D.2), Toshiyuki Takahashi, M.D.3), Ichiro Nakashima, M.D.3), Kazuo Fujihara, M.D.3), Masashi Aoki, M.D.3) and Ayumu Ohnuma, M.D.1)

1)Department of Neurology, Kohnan Hospital
2)Department of Hematology and Rheumatology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine
3)Department of Neurology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine

We report a 44-year-old woman who had anti-aquaporin 4 (AQP4) antibody-positive myelitis and immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). She was admitted to our hospital with paraparesis, dysesthesia below the Th8 dermatome level on her right side and lower extremities, constipation and urinary retention. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a longitudinally extending lesion at the level of Th4 Th10. Her serum sample was positive for anti-AQP4 antibody. Corticosteroid therapy was initiated, and her symptoms were largely ameliorated. Furthermore, concurrently with the myelitis, her platelet count dropped (99 × 109/l). A diagnosis of ITP was made with positive serum platelet-associated IgG (PA-IgG) and negative work-up for blood malignancies by bone marrow aspiration. Since a causal relationship between Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and ITP is suggested by several studies, she was also examined and diagnosed with H. pylori-positive ITP. After the bacteria eradication therapy, her platelet count and PA-IgG returned to normal range. Furthermore, the anti-AQP4 antibody titer declined and her symptoms were almost resolved. We considered that H. pylori might influence progression of the myelitis as well as induction and development of ITP.
Full Text of this Article in Japanese PDF (2756K)

(CLINICA NEUROL, 54: 195|199, 2014)
key words: anti-aquaporin 4-positive myelitis, immune thrombocytopenic purpura, Helicobacter pylori

(Received: 4-Oct-12)