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Occurrence of ankylosing spondylitis and multiple sclerosis-like syndrome in a HLA-B27 positive patient

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Abstract

Occurrence of multiple sclerosis (MS) in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) has been reported in isolated cases. We describe a white 33-year-old male with a definite familial HLAB27 positive AS and MS-like syndrome. The patient developed acute onset of gait difficulty, postural unsteadiness, dysarthria and right side weakness that resolved within 1 month; after 6 months he presented right-sided face sensory loss, disappeared after 2 weeks. Brain and cervical MRI was performed twice and showed disseminated lesions in space (multiple foci of increased signal intensity in the periventricular white matter, in the corpus callosum, in the hypothalamus, in the brainstem and in the cervical spinal cord) and in time (a new enhancing lesion >3 months after the onset of the clinical event). Visual evoked potentials were markedly altered. Cerebrospinal fluid examination was negative for intrathecal production of oligoclonal bands. Differential diagnosis was considered and other pathologies were excluded.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurological, Behavioural and Neurosurgical Sciences, Section of Neurological Sciences, University of Siena, Viale Bracci 2, 53100, Siena, Italy

    Andrea Mignarri, Maria Teresa Dotti, Carla Battisti & Antonio Federico

  2. Unit of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Neuroradiology, “Santa Maria alle Scotte” Hospital, Siena, Italy

    Ignazio Vallone

Authors
  1. Andrea Mignarri
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  2. Maria Teresa Dotti
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  3. Carla Battisti
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  4. Ignazio Vallone
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  5. Antonio Federico
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Antonio Federico.

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Mignarri, A., Dotti, M.T., Battisti, C. et al. Occurrence of ankylosing spondylitis and multiple sclerosis-like syndrome in a HLA-B27 positive patient. Neurol Sci 30, 329–332 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-009-0092-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-009-0092-0

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