Spinal cord infarction secondary to nucleus pulposus embolization in pregnancy

Abstract

Nucleus pulposus (NP) embolism is an extremely rare cause of spinal cord Infarction. To our knowledge, It has not been reported in pregnancy in the English literature. A 41-year-old pregnant woman presented with clinical symptoms initially attributed to a transverse myelitis. After a complicated clinical course, she expired, and was found at autopsy to have NP embolism to the spinal cord. In conclusion NP embolism is a rare cause of spinal cord infarction, and should be considered in the differential of a patient presenting with symptoms compatible with spinal cord infarction in the pregnant as well as nonpregnant state. © 2004 USCAP, Inc. All rights reserved.