Updated Diagnostic Criteria for Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorders

These consensus criteria allow for a broader range of clinical and imaging findings to support the diagnosis.

Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is a neuroinflammatory disorder classically characterized by optic neuritis and myelitis. Most patients with NMO have immunoglobulin G antibodies to the astrocytic aquaporin-4 water channel (AQP4).

Now, the expert International Panel for NMO Diagnosis provides updated consensus recommendations for NMO spectrum disorders (NMOSD). These new criteria collapse everything under the NMOSD heading, because no meaningful biological distinctions exist between NMO and NMOSD.

For adults, diagnosis of NMOSD with AQP4-IgG requires:

Clinical presentation with at least one core syndrome: optic neuritis, acute myelitis, area postrema syndrome (intractable nausea and vomiting, or hiccups), an acute brainstem syndrome, symptomatic nar…

Reviewing Author

Jeffrey M. Gelfand, MS, MAS

Disclosures

12/1/14I recently attended a trial investigator meeting as a sub-investigator for a clinical trial sponsored by Medimmune.

Jeffrey M. Gelfand, MS, MAS

Disclosures

12/1/14I recently attended a trial investigator meeting as a sub-investigator for a clinical trial sponsored by Medimmune.

Updated Diagnostic Criteria for Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorders

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Reviewing Author