Background: Association of the haplotype including DRB1*1501 with multiple sclerosis (MS) is well established. Recent studies have suggested lack of association of this haplotype with neuromyelitis optica (NMO) (Z?phir et al
Background: Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is a neurological disease characterized by optic neuritis and transverse myelitis with long spinal cord lesion. Recently, NMO-IgG, which recognizes the aquaporin-4 (AQP-4), was identified in sera from patients with NMO. AQP-4 is a water channel expressed in astrocytes and ependymal cells throughout the brain and spinal cord
Objectives: Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is an uncommon but life-threatening demyelinating disorder. With the discovery of the NMO antibody in 2004, diagnostic criteria have been revised
In a subgroup of patients with neuromyelitis optica (NMO), a severe inflammatory demyelinating disorder of autoimmune origin characterized by recurrent attacks of optic neuritis and longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis, a parainfectious pathogenesis may play a central role.
OBJECTIVE: To characterize factors that contribute to symptomatic narcolepsy and excessive daytime sleepiness in neuromyelitis optica and multiple sclerosis. SETTING: Japanese university hospitals.
Abstract: Neuromyelitis optica (NMO), or Devic disease, has been distinguished from multiple sclerosis (MS) by the presence of optic neuritis that is usually bilateral, simultaneous, and often severe, myelopathic findings accompanied by longitudinally extensive spinal cord imaging abnormalities, no brain imaging abnormalities typical of MS, and often rapid progression to debility and even death. Researchers at the Mayo Clinic have identified an immunoglobulin marker of NMO (the NMO antibody) that binds selectively to the aquaphorin-4 water channel and may play a causative role
OBJECTIVE:To investigate the characteristics of the linear lesions and longitudinally extensive spinal cord (LESC) lesions in Chinese patients with neuromyelitis optica (NMO).
BACKGROUND: In 70-80% of cases, neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is associated with highly specific serum auto-antibodies to aquaporin-4 (termed AQP4-Ab or NMO-IgG).
OBJECTIVE: To analyze treatment response in Brazilian patients with neuromyelitis optica. DESIGN: Retrospective review. SETTING: Neuroimmunology Clinic of the Federal University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
PURPOSE: Recent immunopathologic and MRI findings suggest that tissue damage in neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is not limited to spinal cord and optic nerve, but also in brain.
Background: Although neuromyelitis optica has been traditionally regarded as a disease without brain involvement, brain abnormalities are not uncommon in patients with neuromyelitis optica-related disorders.Methods: We aimed to characterize the brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) abnormalities in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder patients who are seropositive for anti-aquaporin-4 autoantibody (AQP4 Ab). Of 236 consecutive patients with inflammatory demyelinating central nervous system diseases, we retrospectively analyzed MRI characteristics of 78 patients who were seropositive for AQP4 Ab.Results: For an average observational period of 6.3 years, 62 patients (79%) had brain lesions on MRI