Transverse myelitis is an inflammatory demyelinating attack on the spinal cord. Symptoms include back pain, leg weakness and bowel and bladder dysfunction. Transverse myelitis can occur in MS patients, or can occur in isolation.
The initial treatment for transverse myelitis is intravenous steroids, however other immunodulatory agents such as plasmapheresis or IVIG may be used in refractory cases.
Some cases of optic neuritis may develop MS, NMO-SD or MOG antibody associated disease recurrent disease, and may require disease modifying treatment.