MR features in patients with residual paralysis following aseptic meningitis.

Poliomyelitislike paralysis can be caused by neurovirulent strains of nonpolioenteroviruses. Enterovirus 71 (EV 71) has been documented as one of the potentially neurovirulent strains and a causative agent of some epidemics [1-7). The clinical manifestations associated with EV 71 infection include aseptic meningitis, hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD), acute respiratory illness, and gastrointestinal disease [6]. Although rarely fatal, flaccid paralysis can be followed by EV 71induced aseptic meningitis. Anterior horn cell necrosis was suggested on MR images in two patients with residual paralysis [7]. We present the findings in three patients with clinical evidence of EV 71-induced aseptic meningitis whose MR studies showed residual changes in the spinal cord.