Article

Objective: To describe motor and functional recovery in 4
patients with acute flaccid paralysis associated with West Nile
virus (WNV) infection.
Design: A case series describing patient clinical features at
admission to rehabilitation through 6-month follow-up.
Setting: Academic acute free-standing inpatient rehabilitation
hospital.
Participants: The patients (3 men, 1 woman; age range,
29­72y) with central nervous system WNV infection presented
on rehabilitation admission, 18 to 112 days after onset of
symptoms, with severe flaccid asymmetric weakness without
sensory loss, and decreased functional independence. Electrodiagnostic
studies demonstrated a severe diffuse motor axonopathy
consistent with an anterior myelitis.
Intervention: Acute inpatient rehabilitation program over a
period of 35 to 106 days.
Main Outcome Measures: Motor and FIM instrument
scores at admission to rehabilitation, discharge, and 6-month
follow-up.
Results: All patients showed modest improvements in
strength and function; no patient made full recovery of strength
or became ambulatory by 6-month follow-up.
Conclusions: Little is known about recovery in patients with
WNV-associated anterior myelitis. It will be important to document
any further improvements in strength and function in
such patients over a longer follow-up period

Langue : ANGLAIS