Med. praxi. 2016;13(1):43-46 | DOI: 10.36290/med.2016.009

Neuromyelitis optica (Devic’s disease) - a rare demyelinating disease

MUDr.Petra Nytrová, MUDr.Jana Kopecká, MUDr.Dana Horáková

Neurologická klinika a Centrum klinických neurověd, Univerzita Karlova v Praze,

¹ . lékařská fakulta a Všeobecná fakultní nemocnice v Praze

Neuromyelitis optica, also known as Devic‘s disease is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system characterized by attacks

of optic neuritis and myelitis. After the discovery of disease specific antibodies against aquaporin 4 (AQP4-IgG/NMO-IgG)

the spectrum of clinical symptoms of this disease was broadened. In particular, these symptoms include singultus, vomiting,

cranial nerve palsy and disorders of osmotic balance in hypothalamus involvement. Determination of AQP4-IgG in serum along

with magnetic resonance imaging of the brain and spinal cord are indispensable in diagnosis of this disease at the time of the

first manifestation of the disease. On the other hand, AQP4 negativity does not exclude the diagnosis of NMO-IgG, which then

requires a broader differential diagnosis in clinical practice.

Keywords: neuromyelitis optica, AQP4-IgG, longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis

Published: March 1, 2016  Show citation