TY - JOUR
T1 - Viral lumbosacral radiculitis (Elsberg syndrome) in Denmark
AU - Petersen, Pelle Trier
AU - Bodilsen, Jacob
AU - Jepsen, Micha Phill Grønholm
AU - Larsen, Lykke
AU - Storgaard, Merete
AU - Hansen, Birgitte Rønde
AU - Lüttichau, Hans Rudolf
AU - Helweg-Larsen, Jannik
AU - Wiese, Lothar
AU - Andersen, Christian Østergaard
AU - Nielsen, Henrik
AU - Brandt, Christian Thomas
AU - Danish Study Group of Infections of the Brain (DASGIB)
N1 - © 2023. The Author(s).
PY - 2024/6
Y1 - 2024/6
N2 - PURPOSE: To describe clinical features and outcomes of viral lumbosacral radiculitis (Elsberg syndrome).METHODS: Nationwide population-based cohort study of all adults hospitalised for viral lumbosacral radiculitis at departments of infectious diseases in Denmark from 2015 to 2020.RESULTS: Twenty-eight patients with viral lumbosacral radiculitis were included (mean annual incidence: 1.2/1,000,000 adults). The median age was 35 years (IQR 27-43), and 22/28 (79%) were female. All patients had urinary retention, with 17/28 (61%) needing a catheter. On admission, at least one sign or symptom of meningitis (headache, neck stiffness, photophobia/hyperacusis) was present in 18/22 (82%). Concurrent genital herpetic lesions were present in 11/24 (46%). The median cerebrospinal fluid leukocyte count was 153 cells/µL (IQR 31-514). Magnetic resonance imaging showed radiculitis/myelitis in 5/19 (26%). The microbiological diagnosis was herpes simplex virus type 2 in 19/28 (68%), varicella-zoster virus in 2/28 (7%), and unidentified in 7/28 (25%). Aciclovir/valaciclovir was administered in 27/28 (96%). At 30 days after discharge, 3/27 (11%) had persistent urinary retention with need of catheter. At 180 days after discharge, moderate disabilities (Glasgow Outcome Scale score of 4) were observed in 5/25 (20%).CONCLUSIONS: Urinary retention resolved within weeks in most patients with viral lumbosacral radiculitis, but moderate disabilities according to the Glasgow Outcome Scale were common at the end of follow-up.
AB - PURPOSE: To describe clinical features and outcomes of viral lumbosacral radiculitis (Elsberg syndrome).METHODS: Nationwide population-based cohort study of all adults hospitalised for viral lumbosacral radiculitis at departments of infectious diseases in Denmark from 2015 to 2020.RESULTS: Twenty-eight patients with viral lumbosacral radiculitis were included (mean annual incidence: 1.2/1,000,000 adults). The median age was 35 years (IQR 27-43), and 22/28 (79%) were female. All patients had urinary retention, with 17/28 (61%) needing a catheter. On admission, at least one sign or symptom of meningitis (headache, neck stiffness, photophobia/hyperacusis) was present in 18/22 (82%). Concurrent genital herpetic lesions were present in 11/24 (46%). The median cerebrospinal fluid leukocyte count was 153 cells/µL (IQR 31-514). Magnetic resonance imaging showed radiculitis/myelitis in 5/19 (26%). The microbiological diagnosis was herpes simplex virus type 2 in 19/28 (68%), varicella-zoster virus in 2/28 (7%), and unidentified in 7/28 (25%). Aciclovir/valaciclovir was administered in 27/28 (96%). At 30 days after discharge, 3/27 (11%) had persistent urinary retention with need of catheter. At 180 days after discharge, moderate disabilities (Glasgow Outcome Scale score of 4) were observed in 5/25 (20%).CONCLUSIONS: Urinary retention resolved within weeks in most patients with viral lumbosacral radiculitis, but moderate disabilities according to the Glasgow Outcome Scale were common at the end of follow-up.
KW - Adult
KW - Cohort Studies
KW - Denmark/epidemiology
KW - Female
KW - Herpes Zoster/epidemiology
KW - Herpesvirus 2, Human/isolation & purification
KW - Herpesvirus 3, Human/isolation & purification
KW - Humans
KW - Lumbosacral Region
KW - Male
KW - Middle Aged
KW - Radiculopathy/virology
KW - Urinary Retention/virology
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85175633619&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s15010-023-02113-9
DO - 10.1007/s15010-023-02113-9
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 37917395
SN - 0300-8126
VL - 52
SP - 839
EP - 846
JO - Infection
JF - Infection
IS - 3
ER -