Keywords: Neuromyelitis optica; Systemic lupus erythematosus; Systemic Sjogren’s; Myelitis; Autoantibody Abstract Objective: To identify the presence of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) in patients with acute myelitis and suspected connective tissue disease (CTD), and to discuss the utility of this distinction in establishing a diagnostic and therapeutic plan. Methods: Seventeen patients with myelitis were identified from a single university-based rheumatology clinic and prospectively followed. Clinical data and serologic profile were used to determine the presence of neuromyelitis optica (NMO) or NMOSD according to established criteria
Increased blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption can be found in patients with neuromyelitis optica (NMO); however, its clinical implication and association with disability at acute attack remains obscure. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the clinical significance of BBB disruption and the subsequent cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)/serum IgG gradient in NMO.
Neuromyelitis optica (NMO or Devic’s syndrome) is a rare autoimmune disease, previously considered a multiple sclerosis variant. The most important laboratory and clinical features are optic myelitis and transverse myelitis, associated with neuromyelitis optica-IgG antibody (NMO-IgG) positivity. Subsequent to this immunological test being available, different groups have described the not-so-rare comorbidity of neuromyelitis optica with other systemic autoimmune diseases, systemic lupus erythematosus with secondary anti-phospholipid syndrome (APS) in particular.
Interferon (IFN)-β is the treatment most often prescribed for relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). 30–50% of MS patients, however, do not respond to IFN-β
The authors report a case of a 16-year-old girl with a history of systemic lupus erythematosus who developed bilateral acute optic neuritis.