Transverse myelitis after immunization against SARS-CoV-2: A case report

Abstract

Introduction: Transverse myelitis (TM) is a clinical syndrome of varied etiology, one of its causes being the immune-mediated lesion caused by the COVID-19 vaccine. It causes sensory, motor, and autonomic dysfunctions that can be bilateral, unilateral, or asymmetrical and that can change rapidly. The clinical presentation of TM is mainly represented by bilateral weakening of the lower limbs (LL), but it varies depending on the level of the spinal cord involved. Early diagnosis and treatment can benefit recovery and prevent a recurrence. Case Report: We report the case of a 50-year-old man, an engineer by profession, who reported that in the second dose of immunization against SARS-CoV-2, he began to have a tingling sensation (dysesthesia) in the lower limbs. After four months, between the second and third doses, about five months, a new clinical picture of paresis had erupted, associated with tactile, thermal, and painful hypoesthesia. Conclusion: Due to the significant impact of COVID-19 on health, especially about neurological impacts, disorders associated with the vaccine should always be considered when approaching patients after vaccination. Post-vaccination TM, as it has a difficult diagnosis (excluding other causes) and a variable prognosis (from total recovery without damage to complete paraplegia, respiratory failure, or upper cervical injury), establishing its diagnosis in an early diagnosis is essential for a better prognosis.