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Current Treatment Options in Neurology
Published in: Current Treatment Options in Neurology 8/2017

01-08-2017 | Cerebrovascular Disorders (DG Jamieson, Section Editor)

Spinal Cord Infarcts: Risk Factors, Management, and Prognosis

Authors: Deena M. Nasr, DO, Alejandro Rabinstein, MD

Published in: Current Treatment Options in Neurology | Issue 8/2017

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Opinion statement

There are no standard guidelines for treatment of spinal cord ischemia due to how rare it is and the diverse etiology and presentations involved. In addition, to date, there have been no large clinical trials examining ideal pharmacologic treatment options for spinal cord infarct. In our practice, we rely on hemodynamic augmentation initiated as soon as possible. Otherwise, treatment is usually geared towards the etiology of spinal cord ischemia. For instance, spinal cord ischemia occurring after aortic aneurysmal repair may improve with CSF drainage through a lumbar catheter in the periprocedural setting. Vertebral artery dissection should be treated with antithrombotics. If no clear etiology is found and there is evidence of atherosclerosis in other vascular beds, then management is focused on risk factor modification with blood pressure and glucose control, statins, and antithrombotics.
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Metadata
Title
Spinal Cord Infarcts: Risk Factors, Management, and Prognosis
Authors
Deena M. Nasr, DO
Alejandro Rabinstein, MD
Publication date
01-08-2017
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Current Treatment Options in Neurology / Issue 8/2017
Print ISSN: 1092-8480
Electronic ISSN: 1534-3138
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11940-017-0464-3