acute necrotizing myelitis

a·cute nec·ro·tiz·ing my·e·li·tis

a spinal cord disorder, probably a demyelinating disease, that affects people of all ages and both genders. Presents with abrupt or more gradual onset with sensory abnormalities and upper motor neuron weakness; soon a reflexic flaccid motor paralysis and sphincter paralysis supervenes, which become permanent. In some cases, bilateral or unilateral optic neuritis is associated. Protein levels are increased in the cerebrospinal fluid and mononuclear cells are present. At autopsy, the lesion has been identified as a necrotizing hemorrhagic leukomyelitis.