[Spinal cord ischemia indicating aneurysm of the abdominal aorta. Report of three cases]

We report 3 cases of dorsal ischemic myelopathy indicative of aneurysm of the abdominal aorta. In 2 cases the aneurysm was dissecting and in all patients medullary symptoms were preceded by sudden lumbar or abdominal pain. Neurological symptoms were slightly different in each case. One patient experienced 3 episodes of acute paraparesis and rapid regression evoking transitory medullary ischemic accidents (intermittent medullary claudication). Another patient suffered progressive asymmetric paraparesis which first stabilized and later improved partially after surgical treatment of the aneurysm. The third suffered acute paraplegia related to irreversible ischemia of the anterior 2/3 of the medulla. The great variety of clinical manifestations of spinal cord ischemia related to aneurysms of the descending aorta can be explained by the topography of the aneurysm, pecularities of medullary vascularization and, especially, by the diversity of etiopathogenetic mechanisms that give rise to ischemia. We conclude that in the face of symptoms suggesting dorsal ischemic myelopathy, the possibility that an aneurysm of the abdominal aorta may be the cause must be considered, whether or not pain has been experienced prior to signs of medullary involvement.