Department of Neurology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea
Atopic myelitis (AM) is one of idiopathic myelitis that has mostly been reported in Far East countries
including Korea and Japan. A significant relationship between AM and both hyperIgEaemia and
specific antibodies to house dust mice has been found. The AM patients show relatively
homogenous clinical manifestations, laboratory findings,and radiological features (1) a preferential
involvement of the cervical or thoracic cord, (2) predominant sensory symptoms, (3) low EDSS
score, (4) relatively long lesion more than 3 vertebral segments with normal CSF findings including
IgG index or oligoclonal band, (5) a negative serum anti-aquaporin 4 antibody, and (6) normal brain
MRI. In addition, they have increased eosinophils in peripheral blood. These findings suggest that
AM might be a distinctive disease entity not associated with multiple sclerosis or neuromyelitis
optica. The exact pathogenetic mechanisms of AM are still unresolved. A recent study reported that
IgG antibody specific to Toxocara canis was frequently positive in the serum of AM patients,
suggesting the possibility that toxocariasis might be another cause of AM. High-dose steroid pulse
therapy and/or plasma exchanges are the mainstay treatment for AM as well as other idiopathic
myelitis.
Journal of Multiple Sclerosis 3(1):1-5, 2012
