ArticleNeurology(R) neuroimmunology & neuroinflammation2017
Elsberg syndrome: A rarely recognized cause of cauda equina syndrome and lower thoracic myelitis.
Article in Neurology(R) neuroimmunology & neuroinflammation, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 27 papers.
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Who cites it
27 citing papers in PubMed, 67 citations in OpenAlex.
- Rashless varicella-zoster virus encephalitis diagnosed by metagenomic next-generation sequencing: two case reports.BMC neurology · 2026Article
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- Article
- Sacral Herpes Zoster Mimicking Pressure Ulcers and Causing Elsberg Syndrome.Clinical case reports · 2026Article
- Short-term spinal cord stimulation for refractory Elsberg syndrome in diabetic neuropathy: A case report.World journal of clinical cases · 2025Article
- Spinal Cord Infarction: Clinical and Neuroradiological Clues of a Rare Stroke Subtype.Journal of clinical medicine · 2025Review
- Ten Years ofNeurology(R) neuroimmunology & neuroinflammation · 2025Article
- Elsberg syndrome - A systematic review of existing scientific literature from 2000 - 2023.Pakistan journal of medical sciences · 2024Review
- [Pathogen-induced diseases of the spinal cord and adjacent structures].Der Nervenarzt · 2024Article
- Elsberg Syndrome: A Case Report of a Novel Radiographic Presentation.The Neurohospitalist · 2024Article
- Elsberg Syndrome With Albuminocytologic Dissociation - A Guillain-Barré Syndrome Mimic or Guillain-Barré Syndrome Variant?The Neurohospitalist · 2024Article
- Lyme radiculopathy in a septuagenarian.BMJ case reports · 2023Article
- Elsberg Syndrome with Mixed Presentation as Meningitis Retention Syndrome: A Pediatric Case Report and Comprehensive Review of the Literature.Children (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Article
- [Infections of the spinal cord and adjacent structures].Der Nervenarzt · 2023Review
- Elsberg Syndrome Secondary to Cytomegalovirus Infection in an Immunocompetent Patient: A Case Report.Neurology(R) neuroimmunology & neuroinflammation · 2023Article
- Elsberg syndrome in HSV-2 infection.IDCases · 2023Article
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- A 52-Year-Old Man With Progressive Weakness and Incontinence.The Neurohospitalist · 2022Article
- Neuromuscular Complications of SARS-CoV-2 and Other Viral Infections.Frontiers in neurology · 2022Review
- Treatment of Elsberg Syndrome Causes Fever of Unknown Origin Attributable to Drug Reaction.Cureus · 2021Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectiveElsberg syndrome (ES) is an established but often unrecognized cause of acute lumbosacral radiculitis with myelitis related to recent herpes virus infection. We defined ES, determined its frequency in patients with cauda equina syndrome (CES) with myelitis, and evaluated its clinical, radiologic, and microbiologic features and outcomes.
methodsWe searched the Mayo Clinic medical records for ES and subsequently for combinations of index terms to identify patients with suspected CES and myelitis.
resultsOur search yielded 30 patients, 2 diagnosed with ES and an additional 28 with clinical or radiologic evidence of CES retrospectively suspected of having ES. We classified patients in 5 groups according to diagnostic certainty. MRI and EMG confirmed that 2 had only myelitis, 5 only radiculitis, and 16 both. Two had preceding sacral herpes infection and 1 oral herpes simplex. Spinal cord lesions were commonly multiple, discontinuous, not expansile, and centrally or ventrally positioned. Lesions generally spared the distal conus. Nerve root enhancement was occasionally prominent and was smooth rather than nodular. Lymphocytic CSF pleocytosis was common. Thirteen patients (43%) had viral isolation studies, which were commonly delayed; the delay may have accounted for the low rate of viral detection. Acyclovir was administered to 6 patients. Most patients recovered with sequelae; 1 patient experienced encephalomyelitis and died.
conclusionES is a definable condition likely responsible for 10% of patients with combined CES and myelitis. Radiologic findings are not entirely specific but may help in differentiating ES from some competing diagnostic considerations. We propose criteria to facilitate diagnosis.
Identifiers
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Registered trials
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