Uploaded August 2024 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
During the 2024 TM Together online event, Krissy Dilger of SRNA was joined by Dr. Paula Barreras of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and Dr. Hamza Coban of University of Connecticut Health Center. Dr. Barreras and Dr. Coban answered questions from the audience about transverse myelitis (TM), managing relapsing TM, diagnostic tests, and medications [00:07:15]. The doctors also delved into symptom management strategies for neuropathic pain, fatigue, and bladder and bowel dysfunction, emphasizing the importance of personalized treatment plans and ongoing care [00:23:40]. They concluded by highlighting the relevance of new research, particularly in stem cell treatments, and offered encouragement for people living with TM [00:48:05]. Please note that the information shared during this session is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice.
Paula Barreras, MD is a board-certified neurologist with expertise in neuroimmunology. She is an assistant professor of neurology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, CA. Dr. Barreras specializes in immune mediated conditions affecting the brain and spinal cord, including neurosarcoidosis and spinal cord disorders such as neuromyelitis optica, MOG associated disease, transverse myelitis, and their mimics.
Dr. Barreras completed her medical school at the University of the Andes, followed by a postdoctoral research fellowship in neuroimmunology at Johns Hopkins University. She completed her neurology residency and clinical neuroimmunology fellowship also at Johns Hopkins before joining the team at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Her research focuses on identifying predictors of final diagnosis after the initial diagnosis of myelopathy, as well as predictors of outcomes in myelitis and neurosarcoidosis.
Hamza Coban, MD is an assistant professor of neurology at University of Connecticut in Farmington, CT. He is a neurologist specializing in neuroimmunology disorders including multiple sclerosis, neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD), and other rare autoimmune conditions affecting the central nervous system in adults and children. Dr. Coban received his medical degree from Hacettepe University School of Medicine in Ankara, Turkey. After medical school, he did a post-doctoral research fellowship at University of California Los Angeles and University of California San Diego, where he studied neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation in the setting of Alzheimer’s disease and HIV-associated dementia.
He completed his neurology residency at University of Connecticut in Farmington, CT, and served as Chief Resident in his last year of residency. After residency, he completed his fellowship training in neuroimmunology at University of Pennsylvania and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Dr. Coban’s research focuses on the aging and transitional care of neuroinflammatory disorders from pediatrics to adulthood and adulthood to the elderly.
00:00 Introduction and Guest Introductions
01:29 Understanding Relapsing Transverse Myelitis
06:37 Recovery After Transverse Myelitis
12:07 Transverse Myelopathy vs. Transverse Myelitis
16:03 Symptom Management: Neuropathic Pain
22:55 Symptom Management: Fatigue
29:12 Symptom Management: Bowel Dysfunction
35:10 Aging with Transverse Myelitis
41:02 Current Research and Future Directions
53:28 Final Thoughts and Closing Remarks
During the 2024 TM Together online event, Krissy Dilger of SRNA was joined by Dr. Paula Barreras of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and Dr. Hamza Coban of University of Connecticut Health Center. Dr. Barreras and Dr. Coban answered questions from the audience about transverse myelitis (TM), managing relapsing TM, diagnostic tests, and medications [00:07:15]. The doctors also delved into symptom management strategies for neuropathic pain, fatigue, and bladder and bowel dysfunction, emphasizing the importance of personalized treatment plans and ongoing care [00:23:40]. They concluded by highlighting the relevance of new research, particularly in stem cell treatments, and offered encouragement for people living with TM [00:48:05]. Please note that the information shared during this session is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice.
Paula Barreras, MD is a board-certified neurologist with expertise in neuroimmunology. She is an assistant professor of neurology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, CA. Dr. Barreras specializes in immune mediated conditions affecting the brain and spinal cord, including neurosarcoidosis and spinal cord disorders such as neuromyelitis optica, MOG associated disease, transverse myelitis, and their mimics.
Dr. Barreras completed her medical school at the University of the Andes, followed by a postdoctoral research fellowship in neuroimmunology at Johns Hopkins University. She completed her neurology residency and clinical neuroimmunology fellowship also at Johns Hopkins before joining the team at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Her research focuses on identifying predictors of final diagnosis after the initial diagnosis of myelopathy, as well as predictors of outcomes in myelitis and neurosarcoidosis.
Hamza Coban, MD is an assistant professor of neurology at University of Connecticut in Farmington, CT. He is a neurologist specializing in neuroimmunology disorders including multiple sclerosis, neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD), and other rare autoimmune conditions affecting the central nervous system in adults and children. Dr. Coban received his medical degree from Hacettepe University School of Medicine in Ankara, Turkey. After medical school, he did a post-doctoral research fellowship at University of California Los Angeles and University of California San Diego, where he studied neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation in the setting of Alzheimer’s disease and HIV-associated dementia.
He completed his neurology residency at University of Connecticut in Farmington, CT, and served as Chief Resident in his last year of residency. After residency, he completed his fellowship training in neuroimmunology at University of Pennsylvania and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Dr. Coban’s research focuses on the aging and transitional care of neuroinflammatory disorders from pediatrics to adulthood and adulthood to the elderly.
00:00 Introduction and Guest Introductions
01:29 Understanding Relapsing Transverse Myelitis
06:37 Recovery After Transverse Myelitis
12:07 Transverse Myelopathy vs. Transverse Myelitis
16:03 Symptom Management: Neuropathic Pain
22:55 Symptom Management: Fatigue
29:12 Symptom Management: Bowel Dysfunction
35:10 Aging with Transverse Myelitis
41:02 Current Research and Future Directions
53:28 Final Thoughts and Closing Remarks
