Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of schistosomal myeloradiculopathy

Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of schistosomal myeloradiculopathy

Schistosomal myeloradiculopathy is the most severe and disabling ectopic form of Schistosoma mansoni infection. The prevalence of SMR in centres in Brazil and Africa that specialise in attending patients with non traumatic myelopathy is around 5%. The initial signs and symptoms of the disease includ...

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Main Authors: Lambertucci,José Roberto, Silva,Luciana Cristina dos Santos, Amaral,Ronaldo Santos do
Format: Digital revista
Language:English
Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical - SBMT 2007
Online Access:http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0037-86822007000500016
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spelling oai:scielo:S0037-868220070005000162007-10-31Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of schistosomal myeloradiculopathyLambertucci,José RobertoSilva,Luciana Cristina dos SantosAmaral,Ronaldo Santos do Schistosomiasis Neuroschistosomiasis Myeloradiculopathy Steroids Praziquantel Schistosomal myeloradiculopathy is the most severe and disabling ectopic form of Schistosoma mansoni infection. The prevalence of SMR in centres in Brazil and Africa that specialise in attending patients with non traumatic myelopathy is around 5%. The initial signs and symptoms of the disease include lumbar and/or lower limb pain, paraparesis, urinary and intestinal dysfunctions, and impotence in men. The cerebrospinal fluid of SMR patients shows an increase in protein concentration and in the number of mononuclear cells in 90% of cases; eosinophils have been reported in 40%. The use of magnetic resonance imaging is particularly valuable in the diagnosis of Schistosomal myeloradiculopathy. The exclusion of other myelopathies and systemic diseases remains mandatory. Early diagnosis and treatment with steroids and schistosomicides provide a cure for most patients, whilst delayed treatment can result in irreversible physical disabilities or death. To improve awareness concerning Schistosomal myeloradiculopathy amongst public health professionals, and to facilitate the control of the disease, the Brazilian Ministry of Health has launched a program of education and control of this ectopic form of schistosomiasis. The present paper reviews current methods for the diagnosis of SMR and outlines protocols for treatment of the disease.info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessSociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical - SBMTRevista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical v.40 n.5 20072007-10-01info:eu-repo/semantics/articletext/htmlhttp://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0037-86822007000500016en10.1590/S0037-86822007000500016
institution SCIELO
collection OJS
country Brasil
countrycode BR
component Revista
access En linea
databasecode rev-scielo-br
tag revista
region America del Sur
libraryname SciELO
language English
format Digital
author Lambertucci,José Roberto
Silva,Luciana Cristina dos Santos
Amaral,Ronaldo Santos do
spellingShingle Lambertucci,José Roberto
Silva,Luciana Cristina dos Santos
Amaral,Ronaldo Santos do
Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of schistosomal myeloradiculopathy
author_facet Lambertucci,José Roberto
Silva,Luciana Cristina dos Santos
Amaral,Ronaldo Santos do
author_sort Lambertucci,José Roberto
title Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of schistosomal myeloradiculopathy
title_short Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of schistosomal myeloradiculopathy
title_full Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of schistosomal myeloradiculopathy
title_fullStr Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of schistosomal myeloradiculopathy
title_full_unstemmed Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of schistosomal myeloradiculopathy
title_sort guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of schistosomal myeloradiculopathy
description Schistosomal myeloradiculopathy is the most severe and disabling ectopic form of Schistosoma mansoni infection. The prevalence of SMR in centres in Brazil and Africa that specialise in attending patients with non traumatic myelopathy is around 5%. The initial signs and symptoms of the disease include lumbar and/or lower limb pain, paraparesis, urinary and intestinal dysfunctions, and impotence in men. The cerebrospinal fluid of SMR patients shows an increase in protein concentration and in the number of mononuclear cells in 90% of cases; eosinophils have been reported in 40%. The use of magnetic resonance imaging is particularly valuable in the diagnosis of Schistosomal myeloradiculopathy. The exclusion of other myelopathies and systemic diseases remains mandatory. Early diagnosis and treatment with steroids and schistosomicides provide a cure for most patients, whilst delayed treatment can result in irreversible physical disabilities or death. To improve awareness concerning Schistosomal myeloradiculopathy amongst public health professionals, and to facilitate the control of the disease, the Brazilian Ministry of Health has launched a program of education and control of this ectopic form of schistosomiasis. The present paper reviews current methods for the diagnosis of SMR and outlines protocols for treatment of the disease.
publisher Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical - SBMT
publishDate 2007
url http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0037-86822007000500016
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AT amaralronaldosantosdo guidelinesforthediagnosisandtreatmentofschistosomalmyeloradiculopathy
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