2014-12-04 07:32
When clinicians are considering a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, one of the other diseases that may be on their radar is neuromyelitis optica. That’s because neuromyelitis optica and multiple sclerosis share some critical characteristics.
Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is about one hundred times less common than multiple sclerosis, with an estimated 4,000 individuals having the diagnosis in the United States, according to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, compared with more than 400,000 cases of multiple sclerosis. In both disorders, damage occurs to the myelin cells:
- In NMO, the optic nerve cells and spinal cord cells are typically the only ones affected during the early stages of the disease. However, lesions may be seen in some areas of the brain. Symptoms of neuromyelitis optica include rapid onset of eye pain, loss of vision, lack of sensation, bowel and bladder problems, and weakness or paralysis of the arms or legs.
- In multiple sclerosis, lesions typically affect the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerve.
- In neuromyelitis optica, the body usually develops antibodies (NMO-IgG) to attack the aquaporin 4 antigen. These antibodies often, but not always, can be detected in the blood of individuals with the disorder. That is, you could have a false negative NMO-IgG test result.
- In multiple sclerosis, no specific antigen has been found, although countless studies have been performed in attempts to definitively identify them.
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