Clinical Information

Neuromyelitis optica (NMO), sometimes called Devic disease or opticospinal multiple sclerosis [MS]) is a severe, relapsing, autoimmune, inflammatory and demyelinating central nervous system disease that predominantly affects optic nerves and spinal cord.(1) The disorder is now recognized as a spectrum of autoimmunity (termed NMO spectrum disorders [NMOSD]) targeting the astrocytic water channel aquaporin-4 (AQP4).(1,2) Brain lesions are observed in >60% of patients with NMOSD and approximately 10% will be MS-like.(3) Children tend to have greater brain involvement than adults and brain lesions are more symptomatic than is typical for adult patients.(4) Extensive cerebral white matter signal abnormalities are sometimes encountered, most commonly in children, and are sometimes associated with encephalopathy. Circumventricular organs (CVO; eg, area postrema) are preferentially involved. Symptoms and signs attributable to area postrema involvement include intractable hiccups, nausea and vomiting, and these may occur in isolation, herald the onset of NMO or occur in association with the more classical optic neuritis or Longitudinally Extensive Transverse Myelitis (LETM).(5) Magnetic resonance imaging typically reveals large inflammatory spinal cord lesions involving 3 or more vertebral segments. During acute attacks, the cerebrospinal fluid contains inflammatory cells, but usually lacks evidence of intrathecal IgG synthesis. The clinical course is characterized by relapses of optic neuritis or transverse myelitis, or both. Many patients with NMOSD are misdiagnosed as having MS. Importantly, the prognosis and optimal treatments for the 2 diseases differ. NMOSD typically has a worse natural history than MS, with frequent and early relapses. NMOSD attacks are often severe resulting in a rapid accumulation of disability (blindness and paraplegia). More effective treatments combined with earlier and more accurate diagnosis has led to improved outcomes. Currently, in the AQP4-IgG era, 5 years after onset, approximately 30% of NMO patients will require a cane to walk and 10% will be wheelchair bound. Treatments for NMOSD include corticosteroids and plasmapheresis for acute attacks and mycophenolate mofetil, azathioprine, and rituximab for relapse prevention. Beta-interferon, a treatment promoted for MS, exacerbates NMOSD. Therefore, early diagnosis and initiation of NMO-appropriate immunosuppressant treatment is important to optimize the clinical outcome by preventing further attacks. Skeletal muscle abnormalities with hyperCKemia have been reported in a few NMOSD patients. Recent reports indicate focal retinal vascular attenuation, inner nuclear layer thickening and microcystic edema in some NMO patients. The sensitivity and specificity of Fluorescence-Activated Cell Sorting (FACS) assay for NMO is >80% and >99%, respectively.

Detection of NMO/APQ4-IgG allows distinction of NMOSD from MS and is indicative of a relapsing disease, mandating initiation of immunosuppression, even after the first attack, thereby reducing attack frequency and disability in the future.