metrizamide and Muscle-Spasticity

Temporary but considerable increase in spasticity following myelography using metrizamide at 300 mgs I/ml concentration occurred in 4 patients. In 3 of the patients the diagnosis is uncertain, but it is likely to be some form of degenerative disease involving motor pathways in two of them; the fourth case has cervical spondylotic myelopathy. The spasticity might be related to the anticholinesterase activity of metrizamide or to competitive inhibition of endogenous glucose metabolism by the deoxyglucose component of the metrizamide molecule.

Topics: Female; Humans; Male; Metrizamide; Middle Aged; Muscle Spasticity; Myelography

Epileptic seizures are a known complication of metrizamide myelography. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a case of nonconvulsive status epilepticus of the absence type following metrizamide myelography. There was symptomatic and electroencephalographic improvement after intravenous administration of antiepileptic drugs, and there was no neurological residual. Nonconvulsive status epilepticus should be considered when impairment of consciousness supervenes after radiographic procedures using metrizamide.

Topics: Electroencephalography; Epilepsy, Absence; Humans; Male; Metrizamide; Middle Aged; Muscle Spasticity; Myelography; Paraplegia; Spinal Osteophytosis; Status Epilepticus