Acute Flaccid Paralysis and West Nile Virus Infection

Details

• Alternative Title:
  Emerg Infect Dis
• Personal Author:
  Sejvar, James J. ; Leis, A. Arturo ; Stokic, Dobrivoje S. ; Van Gerpen, Jay A. ; Marfin, Anthony A. ; Webb, Risa ; Haddad, Maryam B. ; Tierney, Bruce C. ; Slavinski, Sally A. ; Polk, Jo Lynn ; Dostrow, Victor ; Winkelmann, Michael ; Petersen, Lyle R.
• Description:
  Acute weakness associated with West Nile virus (WNV) infection has previously been attributed to a peripheral demyelinating process (Guillain-Barré syndrome); however, the exact etiology of this acute flaccid paralysis has not been systematically assessed. To thoroughly describe the clinical, laboratory, and electrodiagnostic features of this paralysis syndrome, we evaluated acute flaccid paralysis that developed in seven patients in the setting of acute WNV infection, consecutively identified in four hospitals in St. Tammany Parish and New Orleans, Louisiana, and Jackson, Mississippi. All patients had acute onset of asymmetric weakness and areflexia but no sensory abnormalities. Clinical and electrodiagnostic data suggested the involvement of spinal anterior horn cells, resulting in a poliomyelitis-like syndrome. In areas in which transmission is occurring, WNV infection should be considered in patients with acute flaccid paralysis. Recognition that such weakness may be of spinal origin may prevent inappropriate treatment and diagnostic testing.
• Subjects:
  Adult Aged Female Humans Male Middle Aged Quadriplegia Research Spinal Cord Diseases West Nile Fever
• Source:
  Emerg Infect Dis. 9(7):788-793.
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Volume:
  9
• Issue:
  7
• Collection(s):
  Emerging Infectious Diseases
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:c4db36d22bf2507bab95855a9e9b8b5e9a1351b7e653d6b6484fc5d8b1409a89
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/3152/cdc_3152_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 187.51 KB ]