Acute transverse myelitis (ATM) is categorised as a neurological disease.
In this disease, the myelin (which surrounds the nerve fibres) is damaged as a result of ongoing inflammation. Patients develop sensory, motor and autonomic disorders. One cause for the development of ATM is infection (upper respiratory tract), paraneoplastic syndrome, allergic process or demyelination.
Other causes leading to ATM include lupus erythematosus, Sjögren's syndrome, Behçet's disease, spinal cord infarction, multiple sclerosis or sarcoidosis.