RT Book, Section
A1 Jameson, J. Larry
A1 Fauci, Anthony S.
A1 Kasper, Dennis L.
A1 Hauser, Stephen L.
A1 Longo, Dan L.
A1 Loscalzo, Joseph
SR Print(0)
ID 1167069227
T1 Neuromyelitis Optica
T2 Harrison's Manual of Medicine, 20e
YR 2020
FD 2020
PB McGraw-Hill Education
PP New York, NY
SN 9781260455342
LK accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1167069227
RD 2023/06/09
AB Neuromyelitis  optica  (NMO;  Devic’s  disease)  is  an  aggressive  inflammatory  disorder  characterized  by  recurrent  attacks  of  optic  neuritis  (ON)  and  myelitis;  the  more  inclusive  term  NMO  Spectrum  Disorders  (NMOSD)  incorporates  pts  with  partial  forms,  and  with  involvement  of  additional  CNS  structures  (Table  193-1).  NMO  is  more  frequent  in  women  than  men  (>3:1),  and  typically  begins  in  adulthood  but  can  arise  at  any  age.  An  important  consideration  is  distinguishing  between  NMO  and  multiple  sclerosis  (MS;  Chap.  192).  In  NMO,  attacks  of  ON  can  be  bilateral  and  produce  severe  visual  loss  (uncommon  in  MS);  myelitis  can  be  severe  and  transverse  (rare  in  MS)  and  is  typically  longitudinally  extensive  (Fig.  193-1)  involving  three  or  more  contiguous  vertebral  segments.  Also  in  contrast  to  MS,  progressive  symptoms  typically  do  not  occur  in  NMO.