Patients with transverse myelitis who developed venous thromboembolism while hospitalized have increased rate for inpatient mortality.

The rate of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients with transverse myelitis (TM) is not known. Using the National Inpatient Sample database (NIS), from 2006-2010, the rate of VTE in TM patients was 1.3%, which included patients with both deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). The in-hospital mortality was higher in this group compared to TM patients without DVT and PE (11% and 0.5% respectively), and after adjusting for age, sex, presence of DVT and/or PE (odds ratio [OR], 21; 95% CI (2.2-207.0); p<0.008). The data supports the prompt initiation of VTE prophylaxis in patients hospitalized with TM.