Devic’s Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO) is an idiopathic, inflammatory, demyelinating disease specific to the spinal cord and optic nerves resulting in acute, severe myelitis and optic neuritis. Unlike “typical” Multiple Sclerosis (MS), the brain is characteristically spared and spinal cord involvement spans at least three vertebral segments. NMO is often misdiagnosed as MS; however, recent research has identified distinguishing pathophysiologic, clinical, neuroimaging, and autoantibody criteria favoring a distinct disease. A characteristic case of NMO is presented with fulminant, severe paraplegia, binocular visual impairment, urinary incontinence and severe paroxysmal tonic muscle spasms. Like many cases of NMO, this patient was initially misdiagnosed with MS early in her disease course.
Read More: Distinguishing Devic’s neuromyelitis optica from multiple sclerosis: a case report