PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Algahtani, Hussein A.
AU  - Aldarmahi, Ahmed A.
AU  - Al-Rabia, Mohammed W.
AU  - Baeesa, Saleh S.
TI  - Acute paraplegia caused by Schistosoma mansoni
DP  - 2014 Jan 01
TA  - Neurosciences Journal
PG  - 47--51
VI  - 19
IP  - 1
4099  - http://nsj.org.sa/content/19/1/47.short
4100  - http://nsj.org.sa/content/19/1/47.full
SO  - Neurosciences (Riyadh)2014 Jan 01; 19
AB  - Schistosomiasis affects over 200 million people worldwide. Involvement of the CNS is a rare occurrence. We report 2 young males who presented with rapidly progressing paraparesis associated with urinary incontinence. In both cases, MRI of the spine demonstrated a diffusely enhancing mass at the conus medullaris with extensive spinal cord edema. Laboratory investigations revealed mild peripheral eosinophilia and abnormal, but non-specific, CSF analysis. In one patient, the diagnosis was made based on a rising schistosomal titer with a positive rectal biopsy. In the other patient, spinal cord biopsy revealed a granuloma. Both cases were caused by Schistosoma mansoni and patients were treated with praziquantel and steroid therapy. They both made a remarkable neurological recovery. We emphasize that a high index of suspicion should be raised in the differential diagnosis of transverse myelitis in endemic areas.