A Rare Case of Longitudinally Extensive Transverse Myelitis Following Febrile Illness: A Case Report

Longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis (LETM) is a rapidly progressing demyelinating disease affecting the spinal cord over three or more vertebral segments. Most causes are idiopathic, while others include infections, autoimmune causes, central nervous system demyelinating diseases, and post vaccination. Here, we report a 37-year-old male who presented with a fever for six days with no source of infection and complained of pain and weakness in the bilateral lower limbs eight hours after admission. Though the neurological examination of the lower limbs was normal at that time, reduced power was detected 16 hours later, with loss of proprioception and sensation of pain with a sensory level at T4 vertebrae. Then, the patient became unable to vocalize, and the chest X-ray showed an elevated left hemidiaphragm. Thirty hours after admission, the patient went into type 2 respiratory arrest and was intubated. The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis extending from the C2 vertebrae to the conus medullaris. Febrile illness is common in the medical setting in Sri Lanka, but its association with LETM is unusual. Since LETM is very rare and is a rapidly progressive disease, a high degree of clinical suspicion is crucial for early diagnosis and the initiation of treatment. This case underscores the importance of early diagnosis, which would require timely MRI, and prompt treatment with intravenous (IV) glucocorticoids or plasma exchange to reduce morbidity and mortality.