- Autoimmune disorder affecting the spinal cord, optic nerve, brainstem (doesnt have to affect all)
- Antibodies against aquaphorin-4 protein
- Other autoimmune disorder: SLE, Sjogrens, RA
- Sub-acute onset weakness, numbness below level of cord that's affected
- Optic neuritis, with visual loss (painful), typically unilateral
- In comparison with transverse myelitis, NMO affects longer segments (i.e. > 3 spinal levels)
- Sometimes incontinence
- Symptoms are severe (i.e. profound extremity weakness, numbness)
- Sometimes intractable hiccoughs, N, V, dizziness (brainstem related)
- Visual loss w/evidence optic nerve inflammation on ophthalmosocopy
- Sensory level below affected area of cords
- Weakness to flaccid paralysis at and below affected level
- Loss of reflexes
- MRI spine, brain
- + AQP4 IgG