TM 的脱髓鞘原因包括多发性硬化 (MS) 和视神经脊髓炎。MS 是公认的中枢神经系统自身免疫性疾病:未知抗原激活 T 细胞,导致一系列的炎症、脱髓鞘和轴突缺失。[15]Compston A, Coles A. Multiple sclerosis. Lancet. 2008;372:1501-1517.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18970977?tool=bestpractice.com[22]Frohman EM, Racke MK, Raine CS. Multiple sclerosis - the plaque and its pathogenesis. N Engl J Med. 2006;354:942-955.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16510748?tool=bestpractice.com 视神经脊髓炎被认为是一种独立的疾病:B 细胞产生的抗水通道蛋白-4 抗体激活补体并触发脱髓鞘。[8]Wingerchuk DM, Lennon VA, Lucchinetti CF, et al. The spectrum of neuromyelitis optica. Lancet Neurol. 2007;6:805-815.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17706564?tool=bestpractice.com[23]Lennon VA, Wingerchuk DM, Kryzer TJ, et al. A serum autoantibody marker of neuromyelitis optica: distinction from multiple sclerosis. Lancet. 2004;364:2106-2112.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15589308?tool=bestpractice.com[24]Lennon VA, Kryzer TJ, Pittock SJ, et al. IgG marker of optic-spinal multiple sclerosis binds to the aquaporin-4 water channel. J Exp Med. 2005;202:473-477.http://jem.rupress.org/content/202/4/473.fullhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16087714?tool=bestpractice.com[25]Hinson SR, Pittock SJ, Lucchinetti CF, et al. Pathogenic potential of IgG binding to water channel extracellular domain in neuromyelitis optica. Neurology. 2007;69:2221-2231.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17928579?tool=bestpractice.com[26]Lucchinetti CF, Mandler RN, McGavern D, et al. A role for humoral mechanisms in the pathogenesis of Devic's neuromyelitis optica. Brain. 2002;125:1450-1461.http://brain.oxfordjournals.org/content/125/7/1450.fullhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12076996?tool=bestpractice.com
特发性完全性 TM 通常是副感染性的,因而推测是病原体激发免疫反应,导致了针对髓鞘或脊髓内其他抗原的自身免疫攻击。[27]Krishnan C, Kaplin AI, Deshpande DM, et al. Transverse myelitis: pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment. Front Biosci. 2004;9:1483-1499.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14977560?tool=bestpractice.com可能机制包括分子拟态,其中T细胞或针对感染原抗原表位的抗体与中枢神经系统发生交叉反应,或病原体诱发超级抗原反应。许多病毒、细菌(包括一些分枝杆菌)、真菌和寄生虫都与 TM 相关。