Abstract
The clinical features of two recent cases of neuromyelitis optica are reviewed, along with 43 cases from the literature. Severe bilateral visual impairment, thoracic myelitis, prodromal symptoms suggesting a viral syndrome, and moderate pleocytosis of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were characteristic. Respiratory failure developed in 22% of the cases. Seventy percent of patients improved neurologically, 14% had a poor neurological outcome, and 16% died in the acute stages. Predictors of a poor outcome were older age, marked CSF pleocytosis, and severe myelitis. Forty-two percent of patients had a recurrence of demyelinating disease after initial recovery, suggesting a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. Fifty-eight percent of patients had a self-limited monophasic illness, consistent with a post-infectious encephalomyelitis. No clear predictors of patients at risk for recurrence were identified. CSF oligoclonal bands were absent in three patients with information available.
Original language | English (US) |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 263-269 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Journal of Clinical Neuro-Ophthalmology |
Volume | 5 |
Issue number | 4 |
State | Published - Dec 1985 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Ophthalmology
- Clinical Neurology