Neuromyelitis optica (NMO), also known as Devic's disease or Devic's syndrome, is a heterogeneous condition consisting of the simultaneous inflammation and demyelination of the optic nerve (optic neuritis) and the spinal cord (myelitis). It can be monophasic or recurrent. Currently at least two different causes are proposed based on the presence of autoantibodies against AQP4.
AQP4+ NMO is currently considered an autoimmune disease (autoimmune astrocytopathy or autoimmune astrocytic channelopathy) in which a person's own immune system attacks the astrocytes of the optic nerves and spinal cord. The cause of the AQP4− variants is unknown. Although inflammation may also affect the brain, the lesions are different from those observed in the related condition that is multiple sclerosis The Colorado scientists made monoclonal recombinant antibodies (rAbs) from antibodies found in the…
