What is transverse myelitis: Illness that paused Oxford Covid vaccine trials

NEW DELHI: A woman who received an experimental coronavirus vaccine developed severe neurological symptoms that prompted a pause in testing, a spokesman for drugmaker AstraZeneca said Thursday. AstraZeneca, a UK-based pharmaceutical firm had been collaborating with Oxford University for developing Covid-19 vaccine.
The study participant in late-stage testing reported symptoms consistent with transverse myelitis, a rare inflammation of the spinal cord, said company spokesman Matthew Kent. "We don't know if it is (transverse myelitis)," Kent said. "More tests are being done now as part of the follow-up."
What is transverse myelitis?
As per the US-based National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, transverse myelitis is an inflammation of the spinal cord. The spinal cord carries nerve signals to and from the brain through nerves that extend from each side of the spinal cord and connect to nerves elsewhere in the body. The term myelitis refers to inflammation of the spinal cord; transverse refers to the pattern of changes in sensation—there is often a band-like sensation across the trunk of the body, with sensory changes below.
What causes transverse myelitis?
The exact cause of transverse myelitis and the extensive damage caused spinal cord nerve fibers is largely unknown.
The discovery of circulating antibodies to the proteins aquaporin-4 and anti-myelin oligodendrocyte point to a definite cause in some individuals with transverse myelitis.
Antibodies are proteins produced by cells of the immune system that bind to bacteria, viruses, and foreign chemicals to prevent them from harming the body. In autoimmune disorders, antibodies end up binding themselves with normal body proteins instead of the harmful foreign bodies.
Researchers say that it is often difficult to know whether a viral infection can cause the transverse myelitis but some of the viruses (chickenpox and shingles virus, herpes simplex and flaviviruses such as West Nile and Zika; influenza, hepatitis B etc.) along with bacterial infections such as syphilis, tuberculosis, middle-ear infections etc. have been associated with transverse myelitis.
What are the symptoms
Transverse myelitis can develop over hours to several days (acute) or develop over one to four weeks (subacute). The symptoms are weakness of the legs and arms, pain, sensory alterations, bowel and bladder dysfunction. Sensory alterations such as burning, tickling, pricking, numbness, coldness, or tingling in the legs, torso or genital region and sensory loss.
Treatment for transverse myelitis
Intravenous drugs, plasma exchange therapy, pain medication and Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) are common treatments. The IVIG is a treatment which is said to reset the immune system using a highly concentrated injection of antibodies sourced from several healthy donors. The antibodies from healthy individuals bind to the antibodies that may cause the disorder and remove them from circulation.
Can transverse myelitis be cured
Most people with transverse myelitis are said to have at least a partial recovery within the first 3 months of the attack. Recovery could take up to 2 years or longer in some other cases.
Many people with transverse myelitis experience only one episode although recurrent or relapsing transverse myelitis can happen too in case of comorbidities.
For people who don't fully recover in the first three months, physical therapy is said to have shown improved outcomes. Some individuals are left with moderate disability like trouble walking, nerve sensitivity, and bladder and bowel problems while others may have permanent weakness, spasticity, and other complications.
(With inputs from agencies)