Treatment and Rehabilitation of a Patient with Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder-Induced Complete Spinal Cord Injury Following COVID-19 Vaccination: A Case Report

Abstract

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disease (NMOSD) is a rare autoimmune disorder of the central nervous system characterized by optic neuritis, myelitis, or brain lesions. Its symptoms overlap with those of multiple sclerosis (MS), making a diagnosis of NMOSD challenging. Here, we report a rare case of NMOSD-induced complete spinal cord injury following COVID-19 vaccination. A 52-year-old female patient developed NMOSD-induced complete spinal cord injury after receiving their third dose of the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine (BNT162b2). Despite the initial diagnosis of complete spinal cord injury, the patient underwent intensive treatment, including rituximab therapy and rehabilitation. As a result, she made a full recovery and transitioned from the ASIA Impairment Scale(AIS)-A to AIS-E. The remarkable neurological recovery from complete spinal cord injury to functional independence highlights the efficacy of a comprehensive treatment approach. In addition, this case emphasizes the need to recognize NMOSD as a potential adverse outcome of COVID-19 vaccination and emphasizes the importance of early diagnosis, timely intervention, and thorough rehabilitation for optimizing patient results. Further case reports and studies are needed to investigate the association between COVID-19 vaccination and the occurrence of NMOSD.

Keywords

• autoimmune disorders
• neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder
• COVID-19 vaccination
• spinal cord injury
• rehabilitation