Paraplegia in Leptospirosis

J Korean Neurol Assoc > Volume 18(5); 2000 > Article

Journal of the Korean Neurological Association 2000;18(5): 676-678.

렙토스피라병에서 발생한 양측성 하지마비

이현정, 양진우 오승헌 김우경

연세대학교 의과대학 영동세브란스병원 신경과학교실

Paraplegia in Leptospirosis

Hyun Jeong Lee, M.D., Jin Woo Yang , M.D., Seung Hun Oh, M.D., Woo-Kyung Kim, M.D.

Department of Neurology, Yongdong Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine

Abstract

Leptospirosis is an acute generalized infectious disease caused by spirochetes of the genus Leptospira. The clinical forms of leptospirosis in Korea include asymptomatic form, influenza like form, pulmonary form, hepatic form, renal failure form, Weil’s disease, and rash form. However, neurological involvement in leptospirosis is rare. We have recent-ly experienced an interesting case of leptospirosis with flaccid paraplegia. A 73 year-old man presented with walking difficulty, voiding difficulty, fever, and myalgia for 10 days. A positive serologic test for leptospirosis was demonstrat-ed by a passive haemagglutination test. An electrophysiological study showed evidence of denervation with minimal motor nerve conduction slowings, indicating an axonal degeneration. The weakness improved gradually after conserva-tive treatment. J Korean Neurol Assoc 18(5):676~678, 2000 Key Words : Leptospirosis, paraplegia