Neuropathology of the brainstem and spinal cord in end stage rheumatoid arthritis: implications for treatment

Article Abstract:

Compression, stretch and movement may cause damage to the spinal cord in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). RA is an inflammatory disease that affects the joints. Researchers examined changes in the brainstem and spinal cord of nine patients between 47 and 72 years old with end-stage rheumatoid arthritis. Six patients had had significant neurological deterioration over a period of three to 32 weeks. None of the patients had impairment of the cranial nerve. Abnormalities of the brainstem were also rare. Subaxial changes were found in the spinal cords of eight patients. The changes mainly affected the white matter of the spinal cord. Blood supply to the spinal cord was normal in all the patients. None of the patients had inflammation of the blood vessels of the spinal cord.

Abnormalities, Development and progression, Spinal cord, Brain stem

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Development of a functional scoring system for rheumatoid arthritis patients with cervical myelopathy

Article Abstract:

Results of a shortened version of the Stanford health assessment questionnaire appear to provide valuable presurgical information for patients with rheumatoid arthritis complicated by lower back nerve damage. Two hundred fifty patients with rheumatoid arthritis undergoing spinal surgery completed this abbreviated questionnaire. Test results provided an equally clear picture of the patients' presurgical functional abilities and reliably predicted their functional abilities following surgery as the longer version.

Neuromuscular manifestations of general diseases

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Successful conservative treatment of rheumatoid subaxial subluxation resulting in improvement of myelopathy, reduction of subluxation, and stabilisation of the cervical spine. A report of two cases

Article Abstract:

Neck traction and immobilization may effectively stabilize the cervical spine in patients with rheumatoid subaxial subluxation, reducing neurological symptoms and preventing the need for neck surgery. Researchers placed two patients with progressive nerve damage from spinal cord compression and dislocation in a Halo vest, immobilizing and decompressing the vertebrae in the neck. Diagnostic images of the cervical spine revealed reduced spinal disease, and both patients were relieved of symptoms of myelopathy.

Netherlands, Spinal cord compression

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