Abstract
Spinal cord sarcoidosis is a rare disorder whose natural history and therapeutic outcome are not fully known. We examined four patients with spinal cord sarcoidosis both clinically and radiologically, particularly in relation to corticosteroid treatment. The initial manifestation was cervical myelopathy in three and uveitis in one. All four patients progressed slowly until corticosteroid therapy was initiated. The cervial spine was involved in all patients. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed spinal cord swelling with T2-weighted high intensity and linear leptomeningeal and patchy or diffuse intramedullary enhancement with gadolinium diethylene triaminepentaacetic acid. With corticosteroid therapy, dramatic improvement was seen on MRI, including disappearance or marked reduction of swelling and enhancement. Plasma levels of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) were also markedly improved. In contrast, the clinical symptoms were little improved in one patient, unchanged in two, and rather worsened in one patient. Recurrence was seen on MRI at the maintenance dose in all four patients, without any dramatic change in clinical manifestation. MRI findings and plasma ACE are well correlated with active leasion of the spinal cord sarcoidosis, providing a useful marker for recurrence, but do not parallel the clinical manifestations.
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Received: 14 December 1999, Received in revised form: 25 February 2000, Accepted: 12 March 2000
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Koike, H., Misu, Ki., Yasui, K. et al. Differential response to corticosteroid therapy of MRI findings and clinical manifestations in spinal cord sarcoidosis. J Neurol 247, 544–549 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/s004150070154
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s004150070154