Acute transverse myelitis

[Tracie Lynn]

Acute transverse myelitis is inflammation that affects the spinal cord across its entire width (transversely) and thus blocks transmission of nerve impulses traveling up or down the spinal cord.

Acute transverse myelitis may develop in people who have certain disorders, such as multiple sclerosis, neuromyelitis optica, Lyme disease, or lupus, or who take certain drugs.
People have sudden back pain and feel a band of tightness around the affected area, sometimes followed by severe symptoms, such as paralysis.
Magnetic resonance imaging may help doctors make the diagnosis, but a spinal tap may be needed.
About one third of people recover, about one third continue to have some problems, and about one third recover very little.
The cause is treated if possible, or treatment may involve corticosteroids or sometimes plasma exchange.

(See also Overview of Spinal Cord Disorders.)
In the United States, acute transverse myelitis is estimated to occur in about 1,400 people each year. Also, about 33,000 people are thought to have some type of disability due to the disorder.
In acute transverse myelitis, the entire width of one or more areas of the spinal cord, usually in the chest (thoracic area), becomes inflamed.