Acute combined demyelination of the spinal cord often develops covertly in middle-aged and older adults, with no significant difference between men and women. The disease usually presents as an acute or chronic course, gradually progressing. Before neurological symptoms appear, most patients experience anemia. Some patients with mild or severe anemia due to decreased gastric acid secretion may show symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, palpitations, dizziness, diarrhea, slight glossitis, and edema. In cases with gastrointestinal diseases, patients may experience decreased appetite, constipation or diarrhea, pale lips, and other symptoms.
Neurological symptoms often manifest as symmetrical sensory abnormalities in the fingers and toes, such as tingling, numbness, and burning sensations, which are persistent and more severe in the lower limbs. Sensory abnormalities can extend upwards to the trunk, with objective physical examination showing normal extremity sensation. A few patients may have symmetrical glove or sock-like sensory loss. Damage to the posterior column of the spinal cord gradually leads to clumsy limb movements, a tendency to fall, a sensation of walking on cotton, difficulty walking with eyes closed or in the dark. Motor disorders usually appear later than sensory disorders, with both lower limbs possibly presenting incomplete spastic paraplegia. Physical examination may show weakness in both lower limbs, increased muscle tone, hyperreflexia, and positive pathological signs.
About5About 35% of patients experience optic atrophy and bilateral central scotoma, reduced visual field, decreased vision or blindness. Some patients may show symptoms such as apathy, drowsiness, irritability, suspicion, depression, and unstable emotions. In severe cases, symptoms may include mental confusion, delusions, hallucinations, paranoiac tendencies, cognitive function decline, memory loss, and even dementia.