Neuromyelitis optica.
BACKGROUND: Recently, a highly specific serum autoantibody was discovered in patients with neuromyelitis optica, called NMO-IgG, and aquaporin-4, the most abundant water channel in the CNS, was identified as the target antigen.
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).
Neuromyelitis optica is a severe, inflammatory, demyelinating disease of the central nervous system characterized by attacks of myelitis and optic neuritis.