Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2007 Nov;18(6):459-62.
doi: 10.1097/ICU.0b013e3282f0b3bf.

Expanding the spectrum of neuromyelitis optica: friend or foe?

Raed Behbehani  1
Affiliations
Review

Expanding the spectrum of neuromyelitis optica: friend or foe?

Raed Behbehani. Curr Opin Ophthalmol. 2007 Nov.

Abstract

Purpose of review: Neuromyelitis optica is a severe inflammatory disease with selective involvement of the optic nerve and spinal cord and relative sparing of the brain. This paper will review the recent literature on neuromyelitis optica with special reference to the recently proposed changes in the diagnostic criteria and the broadening clinical spectrum of the disease.

Recent findings: The revised proposed diagnostic criteria of neuromyelitis optica allow incorporation of the status of the recently discovered autoantibody, NMO-IgG, and the presence of brain abnormalities shown by magnetic resonance imaging. NMO-IgG has been found to have good sensitivity and specificity in distinguishing neuromyelitis optica from multiple sclerosis. About 60% of neuromyelitis optica patients can develop such brain abnormalities not typical of multiple sclerosis. The visual prognosis and ambulatory outcome of neuromyelitis optica is poor, and early, aggressive treatment may be warranted to prevent relapses resulting in severe disability.

Summary: The clinical spectrum of neuromyelitis optica has expanded since the original description of the disease. Clinicians need to be aware of the recent developments in the diagnostic approach to neuromyelitis optica.

PubMed Disclaimer

Similar articles

  • [Diagnostic criteria in acute neuromyelitis].
    Panea C, Petrescu S, Monica P, Voinea L, Dascălu AM, Nicolae M, Ungureanu E, Panca A, Grădinaru S. Panea C, et al. Oftalmologia. 2007;51(4):116-20. Oftalmologia. 2007. PMID: 18543687 Review. Romanian.
  • Brain abnormalities in neuromyelitis optica.
    Pittock SJ, Lennon VA, Krecke K, Wingerchuk DM, Lucchinetti CF, Weinshenker BG. Pittock SJ, et al. Arch Neurol. 2006 Mar;63(3):390-6. doi: 10.1001/archneur.63.3.390. Arch Neurol. 2006. PMID: 16533966
  • Devic's neuromyelitis optica: clinical and imaging findings.
    Vandevyver V, Lemmerling M, De Potter R, Verstraete K. Vandevyver V, et al. JBR-BTR. 2007 Jul-Aug;90(4):284-7. JBR-BTR. 2007. PMID: 17966247
  • Spectrum of pediatric neuromyelitis optica.
    Lotze TE, Northrop JL, Hutton GJ, Ross B, Schiffman JS, Hunter JV. Lotze TE, et al. Pediatrics. 2008 Nov;122(5):e1039-47. doi: 10.1542/peds.2007-2758. Epub 2008 Oct 6. Pediatrics. 2008. PMID: 18838462
  • Neuromyelitis optica.
    Matiello M, Jacob A, Wingerchuk DM, Weinshenker BG. Matiello M, et al. Curr Opin Neurol. 2007 Jun;20(3):255-60. doi: 10.1097/WCO.0b013e32814f1c6b. Curr Opin Neurol. 2007. PMID: 17495617 Review.
See all similar articles

LinkOut - more resources