myelin-basic-protein and Paraneoplastic-Syndromes

We report an autopsied case of paraneoplastic necrotizing myelopathy. The patient had bilateral blindness, quadriplegia, and dyspnea of acute onset and died without remission 7 weeks later. The severe tissue necrosis and demyelination were found in the optic chiasm and from the medulla oblongata throughout the whole length of spinal cord. A papillary carcinoma was found in the thyroid gland at autopsy. In the present case IgG, myelin basic protein and activated helper T cells were increased in the CSF at onset, suggesting a mechanism of autoimmune demyelination for the condition.

Topics: Autoimmune Diseases; Autopsy; Carcinoma, Papillary; Demyelinating Diseases; Female; Humans; Immunoglobulin G; Medulla Oblongata; Middle Aged; Myelin Basic Protein; Necrosis; Optic Chiasm; Paraneoplastic Syndromes; Spinal Cord; Thyroid Neoplasms