Acute Transverse Myelitis after COVID-19 Vaccination

Medicina (Kaunas). 2021 Sep 25;57(10):1010. doi: 10.3390/medicina57101010.

Abstract

The adverse effects of the COVID-19 vaccine have been discovered as the rapid application of the vaccines continues. Neurological complications such as transverse myelitis raise concerns as cases were observed in clinical trials. Transverse myelitis is a rare immune-mediated disease with spinal cord neural injury, resulting in neurological deficits in the motor, sensory, and autonomic system. Vaccine-related transverse myelitis is even rarer. We present a case of acute transverse myelitis after vaccination against COVID-19 with the ChAdOx1 nCOV-19 vaccine (AZD1222), which was the first case reported in Taiwan. Although it rarely occurs, post-vaccination neurological complications should not be ignored. As the pandemic of SARS-CoV-2 continues to spread and concern about vaccination efficacy and safety rises, heterologous vaccination were implemented in health public policy in several countries. A literature review of several clinical trials shows promising effects of mix-and-match vaccination. Further study on different combinations of vaccines can be expected.

Keywords: COVID-19; transverse myelitis; vaccine.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19 Vaccines
  • COVID-19*
  • ChAdOx1 nCoV-19
  • Humans
  • Myelitis, Transverse* / chemically induced
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Vaccination / adverse effects

Substances

  • COVID-19 Vaccines
  • ChAdOx1 nCoV-19