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Health Dictionary

Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.

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Tabes Dorsalis differential diagnosis

Introduction

Overview

Overview

Tabes dorsalis must be differentiated from other diseases that cause lightning pains, impaired sensation, ataxia and unsteady gait, such as vitamin B12 deficiency, extrinsic spinal cord compression, vitamin E deficiency and multiple sclerosis.

Differentiating tabes dorsalis from other Diseases

Differentiating tabes dorsalis from other Diseases

Diseases History and symptoms Physical examination Laboratory findings Other findings
Lightning pains Impaired sensation Progressive sensory ataxia Unsteady gait Argyll-Robertson pupils Impaired vibratory and proprioception sense Broad base and sensory ataxic gait Positive Romberg’s test
Tabes dorsalis ++ ++ ++ ++ ++ ++ ++ ++ –
B12 deficiency +/- + + +/- +/- ++ + +/-
Spinal cord compression +/- +/- +/- +/- – +/- +/- – –
Vitamin E deficiency +/- + + +/- – +/- – –
Multiple sclerosis +/- +/- +/- +/- Very rare +/- – +/-
References

References

  1. ↑ Clarke MW, Burnett JR, Croft KD (2008). “Vitamin E in human health and disease”. Crit Rev Clin Lab Sci. 45 (5): 417–50. doi:10.1080/10408360802118625. PMID 18712629.
  2. ↑ Ribas ES, Schiff D (2012). “Spinal cord compression”. Curr Treat Options Neurol. 14 (4): 391–401. doi:10.1007/s11940-012-0176-7. PMID 22547256.
  3. ↑ Oh R, Brown DL (2003). “Vitamin B12 deficiency”. Am Fam Physician. 67 (5): 979–86. PMID 12643357.
  4. ↑ Goldenberg MM (2012). “Multiple sclerosis review”. P T. 37 (3): 175–84. PMC 3351877. PMID 22605909.

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Mohamadmostafa Jahansouz M.D.[2]