Neuromyelitis Optica

Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO) is a potentially devastating, complex autoimmune disease of the central nervous system that differs clinically and pathologically from the more common Multiple Sclerosis (MS). In this paper, we briefly describe our clinical experience with NMO patients treated in an inner city hospital in central Brooklyn, New York, and offer a an up-to-date discussion of diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of this rare condition. Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO) is an autoimmune disorder of the central nervous system usually associated with autoantibodies against Aquaporin 4 water channel (Anti-AQP4 Ab). The disease was traditionally defined as optic neuritis (ON) and longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis (LETM). The worldwide prevalence of NMO varies from 0.52 to 4.4 in 100,000 . It has a female preponderance, ranging from 2:1 to 10:1, depending on the case series. In our case series, all of our patients were women. Meandisease onset is around age 40, as is the case in our series (mean age of 39 years). The frequency of NMO in non-whites is quite high compared to MS. NMO is the cause of nearly 40 percent of the demyelinating diseases in Thailand, 20-30 percent in the Japanese, 27 percent among the West Indian population, and approximately 20 percent among Indians . A journal is a periodical publication intended to further progress of science, usually by reporting new research. Most journals are highly specialized, although some of the oldest journals publish articles, reviews, editorials, short communications, letters, and scientific papers across a wide range of scientific fields. Journals contain articles that peer reviewed, in an attempt to ensure that articles meet the journal's standards of quality, and scientific validity. Each such journal article becomes part of the permanent scientific record.

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Last date updated on December, 2024