Presence of Schistosoma mansoni or haematobium infection:
(1) ova and parasites performed on stool
(2) rectal biopsy
(3) positive serologic tests to schistosomal soluble egg antigen
(4) periportal hyperecogenic signal on abdominal ultrasound
Clinical syndromes that may occur:
(1) cauda equina syndrome
(2) conus medullaris syndrome
(3) transverse myelitis (inflammation of the spinal cord)
(4) cord infarct
(5) granulomatous cord compression
Clinical findings may include:
(1) lumbar pain
(2) lower limb pain
(3) lower limb weakness
(4) saddle anesthesia, hypothesia or paresthesia
(5) anesthesia, hypothesia or paresthesia in the lower extremities
(6) bladder dysfunction
(7) anorectal dysfunction
(8) sexual impotence in the male
The MRI showed changes in all of the patients studied:
(1) Changes may be seen in nerve roots, the lower spinal cord, and/or the conus medullaris.
(2) A hyperintense signal is seen in T2-weighted sequences.
(3) There is a heterogeneous, diffuse granular enhancement following gadolinium injection.
Exclusion of other causes of tranvserse myelitis or injury to the distal spinal cord:
(1) syphilis
(2) viral hepatitis B
(3) CMV
(4) HSV
(5) HTLV1 and HTLV2
(6) HIV
(7) enterovirus
(8) diabetes mellitus
(9) autoimmune vasculitis
(10) ischemia
(11) acute hemorrhage
(12) multiple sclerosis
(13) tumor
(14) vitamin B12 deficiency
(15) radiation myelopathy
(16) trauma
