Spinal Cord Infarction in a Patient with Hereditary Spherocytosis: A Case Report and Discussion

The etiology of spinal cord infarcts (SCIs), besides being related to aortic perioperative events, in large subset of SCIs, remains cryptogenic. We present a first case of SCI in a patient with hereditary spherocytosis and discuss the potential pathophysiologic considerations for vascular compromise...

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Main Authors: Waqar Waheed, Anjali L. Varigonda, Chris E. Holmes, Christopher Trevino, Neil M. Borden, W. Pendlebury
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2016-01-01
Series:Case Reports in Neurological Medicine
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/7024120
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author Waqar Waheed
Anjali L. Varigonda
Chris E. Holmes
Christopher Trevino
Neil M. Borden
W. Pendlebury
author_facet Waqar Waheed
Anjali L. Varigonda
Chris E. Holmes
Christopher Trevino
Neil M. Borden
W. Pendlebury
author_sort Waqar Waheed
collection DOAJ
description The etiology of spinal cord infarcts (SCIs), besides being related to aortic perioperative events, in large subset of SCIs, remains cryptogenic. We present a first case of SCI in a patient with hereditary spherocytosis and discuss the potential pathophysiologic considerations for vascular compromise. A 43-year-old woman with a history of hereditary spherocytosis, post splenectomy status, presented with chest, back, and shoulder pain with subsequent myelopathic picture; SCI extending from C4-T2 was confirmed by MRI. Despite aggressive treatment her stroke progressed leading to her demise. Her autopsy confirmed the SCI and revealed some incidental findings, but the cause of SCI remained unidentified. Exclusion of the known etiologies of SCI by extensive negative workup including autopsy evaluation suggested that SCI in our case was related to her history of hereditary spherocytosis. Both venous and arterial adverse vascular events, at a higher rate, have been associated in patients with hereditary spherocytosis who had their spleens removed compared to nonsplenectomized patients. Postsplenectomy increases in the platelet, red blood cell count, leukocyte count, and cholesterol concentrations are postulated to contribute to increased thrombotic risk. Additional prothrombotic factors include continuous platelet activation and adhesion as well as abnormalities of the red blood cell membrane.
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series Case Reports in Neurological Medicine
spelling doaj-art-b60eb2d596f74fd29235db36a42d43652025-08-20T03:20:55ZengWileyCase Reports in Neurological Medicine2090-66682090-66762016-01-01201610.1155/2016/70241207024120Spinal Cord Infarction in a Patient with Hereditary Spherocytosis: A Case Report and DiscussionWaqar Waheed0Anjali L. Varigonda1Chris E. Holmes2Christopher Trevino3Neil M. Borden4W. Pendlebury5Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT 05401, USADepartment of Psychiatry, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT 05401, USAHematology/Oncology Division, Department of Medicine, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT 05401, USADepartment of Neurological Sciences, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT 05401, USADepartment of Radiology, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT 05401, USADepartment of Neurological Sciences, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT 05401, USAThe etiology of spinal cord infarcts (SCIs), besides being related to aortic perioperative events, in large subset of SCIs, remains cryptogenic. We present a first case of SCI in a patient with hereditary spherocytosis and discuss the potential pathophysiologic considerations for vascular compromise. A 43-year-old woman with a history of hereditary spherocytosis, post splenectomy status, presented with chest, back, and shoulder pain with subsequent myelopathic picture; SCI extending from C4-T2 was confirmed by MRI. Despite aggressive treatment her stroke progressed leading to her demise. Her autopsy confirmed the SCI and revealed some incidental findings, but the cause of SCI remained unidentified. Exclusion of the known etiologies of SCI by extensive negative workup including autopsy evaluation suggested that SCI in our case was related to her history of hereditary spherocytosis. Both venous and arterial adverse vascular events, at a higher rate, have been associated in patients with hereditary spherocytosis who had their spleens removed compared to nonsplenectomized patients. Postsplenectomy increases in the platelet, red blood cell count, leukocyte count, and cholesterol concentrations are postulated to contribute to increased thrombotic risk. Additional prothrombotic factors include continuous platelet activation and adhesion as well as abnormalities of the red blood cell membrane.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/7024120
spellingShingle Waqar Waheed
Anjali L. Varigonda
Chris E. Holmes
Christopher Trevino
Neil M. Borden
W. Pendlebury
Spinal Cord Infarction in a Patient with Hereditary Spherocytosis: A Case Report and Discussion
Case Reports in Neurological Medicine
title Spinal Cord Infarction in a Patient with Hereditary Spherocytosis: A Case Report and Discussion
title_full Spinal Cord Infarction in a Patient with Hereditary Spherocytosis: A Case Report and Discussion
title_fullStr Spinal Cord Infarction in a Patient with Hereditary Spherocytosis: A Case Report and Discussion
title_full_unstemmed Spinal Cord Infarction in a Patient with Hereditary Spherocytosis: A Case Report and Discussion
title_short Spinal Cord Infarction in a Patient with Hereditary Spherocytosis: A Case Report and Discussion
title_sort spinal cord infarction in a patient with hereditary spherocytosis a case report and discussion
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/7024120
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