NMO and MS – The Key Differences
In the past, Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO) was considered to be a severe variant of multiple sclerosis (MS). That’s because both can cause attacks of optic neuritis and myelitis.
Unfortunately, that mix-up can cause you to get the wrong kind of Neuromyelitis Optica treatment.
However, recent discoveries suggest that NMO is different from MS in the severity of its attacks. As opposed to MS, it solely strikes the optic nerves and spinal cord at the beginning of the disease.
Also, the antibody in the blood of individuals with NMO gives doctors a reliable biomarker to distinguish NMO from MS.
The antibody, known as NMO-IgG, seems to be present in about 70% of clients with NMO and is not found in people with MS or other similar conditions.
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