Therapeutic Advances in Chronic Disease (May 2022)

Exploring the risk factors and prognosis of transverse myelitis in systemic lupus erythematosus

  • Minhui Wang,
  • Ziqian Wang,
  • Li Zhang,
  • Jiuliang Zhao,
  • Di Wu,
  • Jing Li,
  • Qian Wang,
  • Jinmei Su,
  • Dong Xu,
  • Shangzhu Zhang,
  • Mengtao Li,
  • Xiaofeng Zeng

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1177/20406223221097330
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13

Abstract

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Purpose: We aimed to describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with transverse myelitis (TM) as a rare manifestation in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and explore the risk factors and prognosis of SLE-related TM (SLE-TM). Methods: We conducted a retrospective case–control and cohort analysis. All patients with SLE-TM (58 patients) and 232 with SLE without TM, as a control group, were admitted to Peking Union Medical College Hospital between January 1993 and May 2021. Factors associated with the presence of SLE-TM and its prognosis were assessed using logistic regression and Cox proportional hazard models. Results: Multivariate analysis revealed that positive anti-Ro/Sjogren’s syndrome A (anti-Ro/ SSA) (<0.01) and increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) ( p < 0.01) were associated with SLE-TM. Regarding prognosis, methylprednisolone (MP) pulse therapy within 2 weeks of onset (adjusted hazard ratio (AHR), 2.12; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.06–4.23; p = 0.03) was associated with short-term neurological improvement. An American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS) grades of A, B, or C at onset (AHR, 0.12; 95% CI 0.05–0.28; p < 0.001) and hypoglycorrhachia (AHR, 0.29; 95% CI, 0.13–0.65; p < 0.01) were associated with a short-term non-improved outcome. Conclusions: The positive anti-Ro/SSA antibodies and increased ESR may be associated with the presence of SLE-TM. An initial presentation with severe myelitis and hypoglycorrhachia appear to be predictors of a poor neurological outcome. Early steroid pulse therapy may improve the prognosis.