Clinical Characteristics Associated with Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO) Antibody Seropositivity

Although clinical features of neuromyelitis optica (NMO) classically involve optic neuritis and acute myelitis, this disorder may be difficult to distinguish from multiple sclerosis (MS) in many cases. NMO-IgG antibody testing has a high degree of reported sensitivity (76%), but clinical experience suggests that such testing may be positive most often among older patients who have greater disease duration and severity. We sought to identify clinical characteristics associated with NMO antibody seropositivity in a cohort of patients from two academic centers.