A case of spinal cord infarction caused by polycythemia vera.

Lee, J; Lim, Y-M; Kim, K-K · Spinal Cord · 2015

case_report · Level V

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Abstract

This is a case report. The objective of this study was to report on a 66-year-old woman with a confirmed diagnosis of polycythemia vera who presented with acute spinal cord infarction. A 66-year-old woman was previously diagnosed with polycythemia vera and presented with acute paraparesis and urinary retention. The patient's platelet count was 847,000 platelets per μl. T2- and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging revealed hyperintensity at the T12-L1 spinal cord. Computed tomography of the abdominal aorta further revealed multiple thrombi filling the aortic lumen. Polycythemia vera creates a high risk of systemic thrombosis due to hyperviscosity and platelet activation. Although acute infarction in the spinal cord is a rare complication of this myeloproliferative disease, it should be considered in all affected patients.

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