Special Precautions/Comments:

Method: Sent away to: Oxford University Hospital

Interferences: None known

Additional Information:

Indication: Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) or Devic’s syndrome

Background Information: Individuals with NMO develop optic neuritis, which causes pain in the eye and vision loss, and transverse myelitis, which causes weakness, numbness, and sometimes paralysis of the arms and legs, along with sensory disturbances and loss of bladder and bowel control. NMO leads to loss of myelin and can also damage nerve fibres [1]. In the past, NMO was considered to be a severe variant of multiple sclerosis (MS) because both can cause attacks of optic neuritis and myelitis. Recent discoveries, however, suggest it is a separate disease. NMO is different from MS in the severity of its attacks and its tendency to solely strike the optic nerves and spinal cord at the beginning of the disease [1,2]. Symptoms outside of the optic nerves and spinal cord are rare, although certain symptoms, including uncontrollable vomiting and hiccups, are now recognized as relatively specific symptoms of NMO that are due to brainstem involvement [1].

References: Saikali P, Cayrol R, Vincent T. Anti-aquaporin-4 auto-antibodies orchestrate the pathogenesis in neuromyelitis optica. Autoimmunity Reviews. 2009. 9(2):132-135. [Ref 1] Giovannoni G. Neuromyelitis Optica and Clinical Phenotype. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry. 2006. 77:1001-1002. [Ref 2].

See Also: Anti-MOG antibodies

Telephone Gateshead Lab: 0191.4456499 Option 4, Option 1