Table 1:
Patient characteristics and additional procedures
| No. (%) | |
|---|---|
| No. | 53 |
| Mean (SD) age | 65.0 (10.8) |
| No. (%) male | 43 (81.1) |
| Mean delay in diagnosis (mo) | 9.2 ± 11.1 |
| Symptoms at presentation | |
| Bilateral motor symptoms | 48 (90.6) |
| Sensory symptoms | 20 (37.7) |
| Bowel or bladder symptoms | 13 (24.5) |
| Focal unilateral motor deficit | 3 (5.7) |
| Initial working diagnosis | |
| Spinal stenosis | 13 (24.5) |
| Myelopathy NOS | 10 (18.9) |
| Transverse myelitis | 9 (17.0) |
| Ischemic myelopathy | 4 (7.6) |
| Peripheral neuropathy | 3 (5.7) |
| Myopathy | 2 (3.8) |
| NMO | 2 (3.8) |
| CIDP | 2 (3.8) |
| Other | 8 (15.1) |
| Additional interventions | |
| Systemic steroids | 18 (34.0) |
| IVIG | 5 (9.4) |
| Surgery | 6 (11.3) |
| Biopsy | 2 (3.8) |
| Plasma exchange | 4 (7.6) |
| Rituximab | 2 (3.8) |
| No. of additional spine MRIs or CTs until diagnosis | |
| 1 | 10 (18.9) |
| 2 | 8 (15.1) |
| 3 | 12 (22.6) |
| 4 | 12 (22.6) |
| ≥5 | 11 (20.8) |
Note:—NOS indicates not otherwise specified; NMO, neuromyelitis optica; CIDP, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy.