The epidemiology of TM depends on its underlying cause. The annual incidence of idiopathic complete TM is uncertain, but conservative estimates based on studies in US, European, and Israeli populations range from 1 to 4 cases per million, with a bimodal distribution of age presentation, peaking at ages 10 to 19 and 30 to 39 years.[10]Berman M, Feldman S, Alter M, et al. Acute transverse myelitis: incidence and etiologic considerations. Neurology. 1981 Aug;31(8):966-71.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7196523?tool=bestpractice.com
[11]Jeffery DR, Mandler RN, Davis LE. Transverse myelitis. Retrospective analysis of 33 cases, with differentiation of cases associated with multiple sclerosis and parainfectious events. Arch Neurol. 1993 May;50(5):532-5.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8489410?tool=bestpractice.com
[12]Christensen PB, Wermuth L, Hinge HH, et al. Clinical course and long-term prognosis of acute transverse myelopathy. Acta Neurol Scand. 1990 May;81(5):431-5.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2375246?tool=bestpractice.com
[13]Altrocchi PH. Acute transverse myelopathy. Arch Neurol. 1963 Aug;9:111-9.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14048158?tool=bestpractice.com
[14]Farkkila M, Tiainen T, Koskiniemi M. Epidemiology and prognosis of acute myelitis in Southern Finland. J Neurol Sci. 1997 Nov 25;152(2):140-6.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9415534?tool=bestpractice.com
A population-based study estimated a mean annual incidence rate of 0.82 per 100,000 person-years, or 1.2 per 100,000 person-years for adults.[15]Beghi E, Kurland LT, Mulder DW. Incidence of acute transverse myelitis in Rochester, Minnesota, 1970-1980, and implications with respect to influenza vaccine. Neuroepidemiology. 1982;1:176-88. However, these studies preceded the discovery of the aquaporin-4-IgG and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein-IgG auto-antibodies, which have provided a definable aetiology for some TM previously thought to be idiopathic.[16]Sechi E, Shosha E, Williams JP, et al. Aquaporin-4 and MOG autoantibody discovery in idiopathic transverse myelitis epidemiology. Neurology. 2019 Jul 23;93(4):e414-20.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31235660?tool=bestpractice.com
[17]Zalewski NL, Flanagan EP, Keegan BM. Evaluation of idiopathic transverse myelitis revealing specific myelopathy diagnoses. Neurology. 2018 Jan 9;90(2):e96-e102.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29247071?tool=bestpractice.com
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