A unique presentation of a spinal dural arteriovenous fistula exacerbated by steroids.

Abstract

Spinal dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF) is an acquired vascular malformation of the spinal cord that presents as a congestive myelopathy resulting from venous hypertension, edema, and ischemia within the cord. Acute clinical exacerbations have been demonstrated in a variety of clinical settings. We report a unique presentation of a 45-year-old male with progressive paraplegia that acutely worsened following three independent treatments with oral and intravenous steroid administration. Spinal angiogram revealed a spinal DAVF at L3 and the patient underwent successful surgical repair. This report highlights the clinical presentation of spinal DAVF and emphasizes the unique and important potential relationship between steroid administration and clinical deterioration.

• Authors: Roy E Strowd, Carol Geer, Alexander Powers, Nuhad Abou-Zeid
• Journal: Journal of clinical neuroscience : official journal of the Neurosurgical Society of Australasia (J Clin Neurosci) Vol. 19 Issue 3 Pg. 466-8 (Mar 2012) ISSN: 1532-2653 [Electronic] Scotland
• PMID: 22249021 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Anti-Inflammatory Agents
• Steroids
• Prednisone

Topics

• Anaphylaxis (drug therapy, etiology)
• Angiography
• Animals
• Anti-Inflammatory Agents (adverse effects)
• Arteriovenous Fistula (chemically induced, pathology, surgery)
• Dura Mater (blood supply)
• Electromyography
• Food Hypersensitivity (drug therapy)
• Humans
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Neurologic Examination
• Paraparesis (chemically induced, etiology)
• Prednisone (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Seafood (adverse effects)
• Spinal Diseases (chemically induced, pathology)
• Steroids (adverse effects)
• Vascular Surgical Procedures