Key result
High-dose corticosteroids restore bowel function and ambulation in a case of MRI-negative acute viral myelitis.
Why the study?
Acute viral myelitis is a rare inflammatory disorder of the spinal cord that can present without radiological abnormalities.
Case Report (n=1)
This case highlights the diagnostic difficulty of MRI-negative myelitis and emphasizes the importance of clinical evaluation and early immunotherapy.
Normal MRI does not exclude myelitis in acute paraplegia; leaves open need for CSF analysis in suspected cases.
Acute viral myelitis is a rare inflammatory disorder of the spinal cord that can present without radiological abnormalities.We describe a 25-yearold woman with rapidly progressive paraplegia, and bowel and bladder dysfunction following a recent urinary tract infection (UTI).Despite typical clinical features of myelitis, her spinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was normal, except for mild cauda equina root enhancement.The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) showed lymphocytic pleocytosis and elevated protein levels.Infectious and autoimmune panels were negative.She improved with high-dose corticosteroids, regaining bowel function by day 3 and ambulation with support by discharge.This case highlights the diagnostic difficulty of MRI-negative myelitis and emphasises the importance of clinical evaluation and early immunotherapy.
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Shah et al. (2026) conducted a case report in Acute viral myelitis (n=1). High-dose corticosteroids was evaluated on Clinical improvement (regaining bowel function and ambulation). High-dose corticosteroids led to clinical improvement in a 25-year-old woman with MRI-negative acute viral myelitis, allowing her to regain bowel function by day 3 and ambulate by discharge.
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