Spinal cord complications of acute schistosomiasis mansoni

Abstract
5 cases of clinically unsuspected involvement of the spinal cord by S. mansoni are reported. In contrast to the cases usually described in the literature, the nervous system involvement was observed during the acute phase of the infection. One of the patients exhibited a clinical picture closely resembling that of the Guillain-Barré syndrome, and cure was not dependent upon the use of corticoid hormone or antischistosomal therapy. 2 other patients improved after neurological involvement (paraparesis and paraplegia) following the completion of specific treatment (hycanthone). The sudden appearance of a polyradiculoneuritis syndrome was observed in 1 patient during treatment with niridazole. In another patient who developed a sudden transverse myelitis at T.11 with flaccid paraplegia, antischistosomal therapy apparently did not influence the course of the neurological process. It is suggested that the nervous system involvement in the reported cases cannot be explained entirely by the mechanical action of eggs and worms and the resultant granuloma formation. In the authors' opinion an anomalous response of the nervous system to the immuno-allergic products derived from dead worms and; or their eggs probably was responsible for the clinical manifestations of spinal cord involvement.

This publication has 12 references indexed in Scilit: