Abstract
Neuromyelitis optica (NMO), also known as Devic's disease, is a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system. NMO affects optic nerves and spinal cord of patients causing visual loss and myelopathy. Until recently, this disease had a poor prognosis and presented a number of clinical, diagnostic, and management challenges. Over the last decade NMO became a focus of intense research, which led to identification of a disease biomarker and introduction of novel diagnostic criteria. In this review, we discuss the most important clinical and management aspects of the disease. In addition, we analyze the current hypotheses related to the etiology and pathogenesis of NMO. In the conclusion of the review we outline several research directions that may be of future interest.
Original language | English (US) |
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Title of host publication | Encephalitis, Encephalomyelitis and Encephalopathies |
Subtitle of host publication | Symptoms, Causes and Potential Complications |
Publisher | Nova Science Publishers, Inc. |
Pages | 131-145 |
Number of pages | 15 |
ISBN (Print) | 9781622577668 |
State | Published - Jan 1 2013 |
Keywords
- Antiaquaporin-4 antibody
- Aquaporin-4
- CNS inflammation
- Devic's disease
- Myelitis
- Neuromyelitis optica
- Optic neuritis
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Medicine
- General Neuroscience