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Transverse myelitis
A guide for patients and carers
What causes transverse myelitis?
It is not always possible to tell what triggered the spinal cord inflammation. Virus infections are prime candidates, but only occasionally is it possible to find definite evidence of a virus infection. The spinal cord damage can be due to the spread of a virus infection to the spinal cord or to an autoimmune reaction where immune cells that have been triggered to fight off the virus also attack the spinal cord due to similarity between the virus proteins and proteins making up cells in the spinal cord.
Transverse myelitis can also, very rarely, follow vaccinations against viruses though this was more common when vaccines that contained brain tissue were used. Here inflammation is again caused by the immune system attacking the spinal cord; in this case the immune system is responding to the vaccine. Very rarely, transverse myelitis can be linked with other diseases.
How common is transverse myelitis?
Transverse myelitis is not common. A large, regional neuroscience centre probably sees on average five or six people affected by transverse myelitis each year. Accurate figures are not available, but in the UK there are approximately 300 new cases each year.
Can it be inherited?
No, transverse myelitis is not inherited and no genetic factors which make it more likely that someone will develop the disease have been identified.
How common is transverse myelitis?
Transverse myelitis is not common. A large, regional neuroscience centre probably sees on average five or six people affected by transverse myelitis each year. Accurate figures are not available, but in the UK there are approximately 300 new cases each year.
Can it be inherited?
No, transverse myelitis is not inherited and no genetic factors which make it more likely that someone will develop the disease have been identified.
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