Serum Positivity of NMO IgG May Predict Eventual Conversion to Neuromyelitis Oprica in Patients Presenting with Isolated Atypical Optic Neuritis

Neuromyelitis aprica (NMO) is a disease characterized by severe, recurrent episodes of myelitis and optic neuritis (ON). Because of the attack severity and resulting disability, early diagnosis and appropriate treatment of this disorder is of paramount importance. Unfortunately, by the time the criteria are met for clinically definite NMO, the patient may already have significant disability. The diagnostic criteria for NMO have been updated to reflect the discovery of NMO IgG antibodies. These antibodies have also broadened our understanding of the clinical spectrum of NMO. ON is often the: presenting clinical event and may be very different from 'typical' demyelinating ON such as seen in multiple sclerosis (MS). The objective of this study is to formulate and discuss the hypochesis that in patients with isolated, atypical ON, seropositivity of NMO IgG is predictive of eventual conversion to clinically definite NMO.