COPPER DEFICIENCY MYELOPATHY: THE GREAT IMPERSONATOR PRESENTING AS LONGITUDINALLY EXTENSIVE TRANSVERSE MYELITIS

Ritwik Ghosh; Souvik Dubey; Arpan Mandal; Mrinalkanti Ghosh

Volume : IX, Issue : II, February - 2019

COPPER DEFICIENCY MYELOPATHY: THE GREAT IMPERSONATOR PRESENTING AS LONGITUDINALLY EXTENSIVE TRANSVERSE MYELITIS

Ritwik Ghosh, Souvik Dubey, Arpan Mandal, Mrinalkanti Ghosh

Abstract :

Copper deficiency myelopathy represents a rare but treatable cause of non compressive myelopathy. Nutritional deficiencies of copper in human adults are rare unless a condition is there that affects uptake or metabolism of copper, or dietary intake is markedly deficient in copper, such as with some parenteral feeding formulations. Longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis (LETM) represent extensive involvement of spinal cord, with abnormal T2 signal affecting three or more consecutive spinal cord segments which are typical of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) but can be found in many other neurologic conditions. We are presenting a rare case of LETM secondary to copper deficiency in a teenager presenting with three months history of ataxic–spastic gait with proprioceptive deficits.