[Clinical profile and criteria for the diagnosis of schistosomal myeloradiculopathy].

During 20 year period (1972-1992) 56 patients with a diagnosis of schistosomal myeloradiculopathy were admitted in three hospitals of Belo Horizonte-Minas Gerais. Data from patients were collected retrospectively from their medical records. In all cases, the diagnosis was inferred in a presumably way and was based on the following considerations: 1) the finding of low thoracic/upper lumbar neurological symptoms; 2) positive epidemiology for schistosomiasis; 3) demonstration of exposure to schistosomiasis through parasitologic or serologic techniques; and 4) the exclusion of other known causes of transverse myelitis and myeloradiculitis. Several clinical and epidemiological aspects were studied to determine the diagnosis profiles of the schistosomal myeloradiculopathy in this sample and are presented in this paper. In recognizing the many problems in diagnosis of schistosomal myeloradiculopathy we emphasize how important is thinking about this entity and criteria to improve diagnostic evaluation are suggested.