Intervertebral disc calcification in childhood: Case report and review of relevant literature

Abstract

The authors report the case of a 10-year-old girl with intervertebral disc calcifications from the levels C6/C7 to Th1/Th2, presenting with a herniated calcified intervertebral disc at the C7/Th1 level, causing spinal cord compression with subsequent progressive paresis and sensory loss of her left leg. After anterior cervical discectomy and fusion the neurological deficits completely resolved within 2 weeks. It can be concluded that calcification of an intervertebral disc is a rare syndrome in childhood, causing progressive neurological deficit only in a few reported cases. Although the treatment of choice is conservative, surgery is required in patients who develop progressive neurological deficit

Hypoxia Regulates the Extracellular Matrix via Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases Pathway in Cells Retrieved from the Human Intervertebral Disc

“…In vitro, the oxygen consumption rate is regulated by the oxygen content and pH of the culture medium. 9 10 There are steep gradients in O 2 concentration over the avascular disc, with pO 2 falling to as low as 1% within the center of a large disc, and it is possible for the NP cells to be adjusted to the metabolism under low O 2 concentrations. 25 The steep gradient of oxygen concentration between the NP and outer AF promotes cell differentiation.…”

“…Oxygen plays a key role in the metabolism of cells of IVD or those present in cartilage tissues. 9 10 As the oxygen concentration decreases from 21% to 5%, the oxygen consumption rate reduces, and lactate production increases in vivo or in vitro. This causes the inhibition of ECM synthesis and interrupts the incorporation of sulfate and proline.…”