Acute motor sensory polyneuropathy (AMSAN) complicating active ulcerative colitis with a patchy distribution

We report a case of acute motor and sensory neuropathy during a flare of ulcerative colitis. A 28-year-old male presented with a flare of distal ulcerative colitis despite treatment with mesalamine enemas and suppositories simultaneously with rapidly deteriorating weakness and needle sensation in bo...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inActa gastro-enterologica belgica Vol. 70; no. 2; p. 226
Main Authors Zezos, Petros, Mpoumponaris, Alexandros, Koutsopetras, Petros, Vounotrypidis, Periklis, Molyvas, Epaminondas, Vadikolias, Konstantinos, Moschos, Ioannis, Kouklakis, Georgios
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Belgium 01.04.2007
Subjects
Acute Disease
Adult
Biopsy
Colitis, Ulcerative - diagnosis
Colitis, Ulcerative - etiology
Colonoscopy
Diagnosis, Differential
Electromyography
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Polyradiculoneuropathy - complications
Polyradiculoneuropathy - diagnosis
Polyradiculoneuropathy - physiopathology
Online AccessGet more information

Cover

More Information
Summary:We report a case of acute motor and sensory neuropathy during a flare of ulcerative colitis. A 28-year-old male presented with a flare of distal ulcerative colitis despite treatment with mesalamine enemas and suppositories simultaneously with rapidly deteriorating weakness and needle sensation in both legs. Neurological assessment showed axonal sensorimotor polyneuropathy affecting mainly the lower limbs and to a lesser extent the upper limbs. Colonoscopy revealed moderately to severe active ulcerative colitis with a patchy distribution involving the rectum and the right colon. Vitamin and folic acid levels were normal. Virological, immunological and other laboratory tests were negative except for positive anti-ganglioside antibodies (anti-GM1). Ulcerative colitis and polyneuropathy improved when patient was treated with immunosuppressive therapy (corticosteroids, immunoglobulin and azathioprine). Peripheral polyneuropathy is a rare extraintestinal manifestation of ulcerative colitis and it is probably associated with an autoimmune pathogenetic mechanism.
ISSN:1784-3227