Adriana Hristea *, Ruxandra Moroti **, Victoria Aramă *, Raluca Sandu ***, Daniela Nae ***, Athena Negoiță ***, Violeta Molagic ****
* Adriana Hristea, Victoria Aramă – medic primar boli infecțioase, șef de lucrări UMF Carol Davila, Institutul de boli infecțioase ”Profesor Dr. Matei Balș”, București
** Ruxandra Moroti – medic specialist boli infecțioase, asistent universitar UMF Carol Davila, Institutul de boli infecțioase ”Profesor Dr. Matei Balș”, București
*** Raluca Sandu, Daniela Nae, Athena Negoiță – rezident boli infecțioase, Institutul de boli infecțioase ”Profesor Dr. Matei Balș”, București
**** Violeta Molagic – medic specialist boli infecțioase, Institutul de boli infecțioase ”Profesor Dr. Matei Balș”, București
Abstract
Central nervous system (CNS) involvement of tuberculosis (TB) is rare compared with other systems involvement, but it represents an important health issue because of its high morbidity. The diagnosis of central nervous system tuberculosis is difficult and its outcome is influenced by the rapidity of appropriate therapy. Recovery takes a long time and the neurological sequelae may be serious. We report 3 cases of spinal cord TB with paraplegia, with (cases 1 and 3) or without TB meningoencephalitis (case 2). Microbiological confirmation of the diagnosis is possible by identifying acid-fast bacilli in cerebro-spinal fluid. MRI with contrast agent is the first choice of imaging procedures in patients with spinal cord TB. The recovery of these 3 patients was gradual under antituberculous drugs associated with steroid therapy (administered both iv and intrathecal).