Background: Spinal cord involvement is infrequently reported in primary central nervous system vasculitis (PCNSV). This study describes the clinical findings, therapeutic responses, and outcomes of spinal cord involvement in a large cohort of patients with PCNSV.
Methods: We retrospectively studied 216 consecutive patients with PCNSV evaluated at the Mayo Clinic from 1983 to 2023. Spinal cord involvement was documented by histological examination or imaging. The clinical, laboratory, radiological, and pathological findings, along with management and outcomes, were compared between patients with and without spinal cord involvement.
Results: Of 216 patients, 10 (4.6%) had spinal cord involvement, with cerebral involvement in 9 cases. One patient (0.5%) had isolated spinal cord vasculitis. Histological evidence of vasculitis was found in all 10, with necrotizing vasculitis in 5 (50%). Magnetic resonance imaging showed thoracic abnormalities in 8 patients, cervical spine involvement in 2, conus medullaris involvement in 3, and cauda equina enhancement in 4. Compared with the 206 patients without spinal cord involvement, those with spinal cord vasculitis were more likely to present with paraparesis/tetraparesis (P<0.001) and necrotizing vasculitis (P=0.01) and less likely with hemiparesis (P=0.006) and granulomatous vasculitis (P=0.03). Patients with spinal cord involvement were more likely to have at least 1 relapse (P<0.001) or more (P<0.001). No differences between the 2 groups were observed regarding long-term remission, therapy response, and high disability scores (modified Rankin Scale score, 4-6) or death at last follow-up. Spinal cord involvement was associated with meningeal enhancement on brain imaging (odds ratio, 10.50) and the presence of lymphoma (odds ratio, 6.49), specifically Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosed simultaneously with PCNSV. Spinal involvement was negatively associated with increasing age (odds ratio, 0.64) and cerebral infarction on imaging (odds ratio, 0.08).
Conclusions: Spinal cord involvement defines a distinct subset of patients with PCNSV.
Keywords: brain; magnetic resonance imaging; odds ratio; spinal cord; vasculitis, central nervous system.