Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder (NMOSD)

Excerpt

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), previously called neuromyelitis optica or Devic disease, was first described by Dr. Eugene Devic in 1894 while evaluating a patient with optic neuritis with accompanying neuromuscular manifestations (see Image 1. Neuromyelitis Optica). That same year, Fernand Gault, Dr. Devic’s student, published his doctoral thesis presenting a literature review of previous medical cases, including the clinicopathological findings of Dr. Devic’s case. Multiple sclerosis (MS) was the most prevalent identifiable autoimmune disease causing optic neuritis for many years. Recent discoveries have highlighted rarer, more sinister autoimmune diseases manifesting with optic neuritis, such as neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody disease (MOGAD).

In recent years, the definition of neuromyelitis optica has been expanded as a specific antibody was discovered in the serum of affected patients, and various manifestations have been recognized in a spectrum of diseases. Because of this, the term neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder is now used to include optic neuritis with spinal cord manifestations and other neurologic disorders associated with the serum aquaporin-4 immunoglobulin G antibodies (AQP4-IgG).