Recent Update of Neuromyelitis Optica

Park, Min Su

J Mult Scler > Volume 1(1); 2010 > Article

Review Article

Journal of Multiple Sclerosis 2010;1(1):1-5.
Published online March 1, 2010.

시신경척수염에 대한 최신지견

박민수

영남대학교 의과대학 신경과학교실

Recent Update of Neuromyelitis Optica

Min Su Park

Department of Neurology, Yeungnam University College of Medicine, Daegu, Korea

Abstract

"Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is an idiopathic, inflammatory, demyelinating disease of the central nervous system that preferentially affects optic nerves and spinal cord. It is originally described as a monophasic disorder, but most of patients with NMO experience recurrent attacks with severe attack-related disability. The recently identified serum immunoglobulin marker, NMO-IgG binds selectively to the aquaporin-4 water channel and appears to be specific for NMO. The seropositivity of NMO-IgG predicts frequent relapse and is now incorporated into new diagnostic criteria for NMO. Because this highly specific autoantibody marker is also found in patients with a limited form of NMO such as recurrent optic neuritis, longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis, and optic neuritis or myelitis associated with brain lesions typical of NMO, the concept of NMO has been broadened to NMO spectrum disorders. Clinical, laboratory, and immunologic features provide convincing evidence that NMO is a humorally mediated disease distinguished from prototypic multiple sclerosis(MS). Therefore, proper distinction of NMO from MS is important because the two diseases respond differentially to immunomodulatory therapy. In NMO, immunosuppressive agents are used for re-lapse prevention rather than MS immunomodulatory drugs. This short review summarizes the changing concepts of NMO.
Journal of Multiple Sclerosis 1(1):1-5, 2010"

Key Words: Neuromyelitis optica, NMO-IgG, Multiple sclerosis