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This was a retrospective review of 47 patients with childhood-onset (before age 18) transverse myelitis (TM) admitted to a single academic medical center within a 4-year period. Researchers examined detailed clinical and MRI data and disability scores that were assigned to the acute presentation retrospectively. Functional independence was evaluated at a mean follow-up period of 8 years.
Onset age had a bimodal distribution, with predominances both before age 3 and after age 11, with equal gender ratios. Antecedent infections were noted in 47%, and antecedent vaccinations in 28%; however, the authors deemed the latter to be noncausal. Most patients presented with a combination of sensory symptoms, motor weakness, and urinary dysfunction. Acu…