Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 5, 2025
08:41
Live Imaging and Quantification of Viral Infection in K18 hACE2 Transgenic Mice Using Reporter-Expressing Recombinant SARS-CoV-2
Published on: November 5, 2021
2.8K
Pearls & Oy-sters: Hemorrhagic Myelitis Following SARS-CoV-2 Infection
Karlo Toljan1, Ahmad Mahadeen1, Moein Amin1
1From the Department of Neurology (K.T., M.A.), and Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis Treatment and Research (A.M., M.R., D.O., A.C.K.), Neurological Institute, and Section of Neuroradiology (S.E.J.), Imaging Institute, Cleveland Clinic, OH.
Neurology
|March 29, 2023
Summary
Hemorrhagic myelitis, a rare spinal cord inflammation with bleeding, can occur after SARS-CoV-2 infection. This complication leads to poor neurological recovery, even with treatment.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Infectious Diseases
- Radiology
Background:
- Hemorrhage associated with myelitis is an uncommon clinical presentation.
- Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been linked to various neurological complications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe a series of patients who developed acute hemorrhagic myelitis following SARS-CoV-2 infection.
- To characterize the clinical and radiological features of this rare condition.
Main Methods:
- Case series of three female patients presenting with acute myelitis post-SARS-CoV-2 infection.
- Spinal MRI including precontrast T1-weighted, T2-weighted, postcontrast T1-weighted, susceptibility-weighted, and gradient echo sequences were utilized.
Main Results:
- All three patients presented with acute hemorrhagic myelitis within four weeks of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
- MRI revealed T2 hyperintensity and T1 postcontrast enhancement in the spinal cord, with hemorrhage confirmed on specific sequences.
- Clinical outcomes were poor, with residual paralysis despite immunosuppressive therapy.
Conclusions:
- Acute hemorrhagic myelitis is a rare but potential post-infectious complication of SARS-CoV-2.
- This condition is distinct from typical inflammatory or demyelinating myelitis, characterized by poor prognosis.
