NMO-IgG is a specific biomarker of neuromyelitis optica (NMO) that targets the aquaporin-4 (AQP4) water channel protein. The current gold standard for NMO-IgG identification is indirect immunofluorescence (IIF).
A 21-year-old right-handed woman suffered cervical myelitis in 1971, followed by two episodes of bilateral optic neuritis and four relapses of thoracic or lumbar myelitis through 1998. Her initial brain MRI in 1989 revealed no abnormality, which met the MRI criteria for multiple sclerosis. In 2009, her serum anti-aquaporin-4 antibody was found to be positive, and a diagnosis of relapsing neuromyelitis optica (NMO) was made on the basis of current diagnostic criteria
An unusual presentation of Devic’s neuromyelitis optica (NMO) disease associated with bilateral internuclear ophthalmoplegia (INO) is described. A 32-year-old pregnant patient was diagnosed with NMO. First symptoms were headache and sudden visual loss in her right eye (RE).
Background: Epidemiological studies have identified ethnicity-based prevalence differences of NMO which is considered to be rare in Caucasians. However, little is actually known about NMO in Caucasians and NMO may be misdiagnosed.
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 describe a patient with neuromyelitis optica (NMO) whose aquaporin 4 (AQP4) antibody levels increased following treatment with interferon beta. DESIGN: Prospective clinical and laboratory case report. SETTING: Institutional referral center for multiple sclerosis (MS)