Abstract

BRAVO-LIZCANO, Ruth; SIERRA-SANTOS, Lucía; GIL-GULIAS, Lorraine  and  AGUILAR-SHEA, Antonio L.. Devic neuromyelitis optica. Rev Clin Med Fam [online]. 2016, vol.9, n.2, pp.114-118. ISSN 2386-8201.

Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) or Devic's disease is an autoimmune, inflammatory and demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system that affects mainly the optic nerve and the spinal cord. NMO was first considered a form of multiple sclerosis (MS). However, recent findings have led to the conclusion that NMO is a distinct disorder, presenting important immunopathological, clinical, prognostic and therapeutic differences from MS. The recent discovery and measurement of the anti-aquaporine-4 antibody (anti-AQP4 or NMO-IgG) has revived the scientific interest and has boosted research of new lines of treatment for NMO. We present the clinical case of a ten year-old boy who, after an accidental fall, presents bilateral knee pain, and pain in the upper and lower back, which at first is thought to be a contusion. However, after 48 hours it develops negatively, persisting the pain, loss of strength and lower limb paraesthesia, difficulty in sitting up, inability to walk, and urinary incontinence. Transverse myelitis is suspected and the patient is sent to the hospital emergency service, where after 24 hours he develops a right optic neuritis. Finally, a neuromyelitis optica or Devic's disease is diagnosed.

Keywords : Demyelinating diseases; Devic Disease; Myelitis; Optic neuritis; Neuromyelitis optica.

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