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Edward R. Hammond, MD, MPH; Douglas A. Kerr, MD, PhD

Arch Neurol. 2009;66(7):894-897.

Background  Transverse myelitis is an autoimmune neurological disorder of the spinal cord that affects individuals of all age groups, including infants.

Objective  To report priapism as a unique clinical manifestation of infantile transverse myelitis.

Design  Case series.

Setting  Transverse Myelitis Center at Johns Hopkins, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland.

Patients  Three infants younger than 12 months.

Interventions  Intravenous corticosteroids, intravenous immunoglobulin, physical therapy, and rehabilitation.

Main Outcome Measure  Clinical outcomes in infants with priapism and transverse myelitis.

Results  All 3 infants demonstrated rapidly progressive quadriplegia that resulted in substantial disability and proved fatal for 1 infant.

Conclusion  Priapism in infants with transverse myelitis may be an indication of severe inflammation and neural injury that necessitates immediate and aggressive treatment.

Author Affiliations: Department of Neurology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.

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