A neurological condition called Transverse Myelitis has been in the news, as at least one coronavirus vaccine volunteer appears to have been diagnosed with it during a promising drug trial. Transverse Myelitis (or TM) can lead to permanent spinal cord injury: but what is Transverse Myelitis and is it linked to the vaccine trial in any way?
What is Transverse Myelitis?
Myelin is an insulating layer that forms around nerves, made of fats and proteins. Myelin helps electrical signals to be transmitted along nerves, including the spinal cord. In Transverse Myelitis, the myelin sheath is damaged by inflammation on a section of the spinal cord. This interrupts the messages that the spinal cord nerves send around the body.
Symptoms and Onset
Transverse Myelitis has many causes, including infections and immune system disorders. Symptoms can develop within hours or over the course of several weeks.
Pain
Pain symptoms depend on which part of the spinal cord is affected – but it has been described as sharp pain shooting down the legs or arms, or around the chest and abdomen.
Unusual sensations
Some people report sensations of numbness, tingling, coldness or burning. Some become extremely sensitive to the light touch of clothing or to heat or cold. It can sometimes feel as if your chest, abdomen or legs are tightly bound.
Muscle weakness
Heaviness in the legs, stumbling or dragging one foot while walking can occur with Transverse Myelitis. Severe weakness or paralysis can be present in more extreme cases.
Bladder, bowel and sexual function
Bladder issues include a frequent need to urinate, urinary incontinence or difficulty urinating. Bowel issues may present as constipation. Sexual function in men and women can also be affected.
If you experience these symptoms in any combination, seek emergency medical attention. While it may not be Transverse Myelitis, there are several neurological conditions with the same hallmarks, all of which require urgent attention.
Treatment and Outlook
Medication and rehabilitation are used to treat Transverse Myelitis. The good news is that most people recover, at least partially – but some severe cases result in spinal cord injury and permanent disability.
Is Coronavirus Vaccine Trial Causing Transverse Myelitis?
The affected volunteer, a previously healthy 37-year-old, experienced confirmed Transverse Myelitis after receiving a second dose of the vaccine. The volunteer experienced pain, muscle weakness and other symptoms. There’s limited information on the subject’s medical history, but they are now reported to be recovering well.
The exact causes of Transverse Myelitis are unknown – sometimes there is no known cause. However, it has been associated with viral, bacterial and fungal infections that affect the spinal cord. In most cases, Transverse Myelitis appears after recovery from the infection.
Viruses associated with Transverse Myelitis include coronaviruses like influenza but with such limited information at this stage, there’s no way to tell if the vaccine is the cause.
Indeed the trial has since resumed in the UK – and this is the only case of Transverse Myelitis confirmed in a trial with 18,000 participants globally. With these numbers, it’s highly unlikely that the vaccine has caused the case of TM in this participant and there’s no proof that the vaccine could do this, but time will tell as the trial continues.
Support for Transverse Myelitis
The Transverse Myelitis Society is a charity that supports anyone who has experienced spinal cord injury as a result of Transverse Myelitis. They offer support for families and patients, and membership is free.
Talk to Aspire Law
Raquel Siganporia is a Senior Solicitor and Director of Business Development at Aspire Law.
Aspire Law specialises in spinal cord injury compensation claims, including those caused by personal injury, medical negligence and in road traffic accidents. Contact Raquel free of charge and in confidence on 0800 030 20 40 or at Raquel.Siganporia@aspirelaw.co.uk.
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