Abstract
Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is a severe idiopathic autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS). Most NMO patients are seropositive for the highly specific autoantibody (NMO-IgG), which targets aquaporin-4. In vitro and in vivo studies have shown that NMO-IgG is not just a diagnostic biomarker for NMO; it is an essential component of NMO pathophysiology. In this chapter, we discuss the current status of the diagnosis and treatment of NMO and highlight that the understanding of NMO-IgG-driven mechanisms may lead to specific therapies in the near future.
Original language | English (US) |
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Title of host publication | Multiple Sclerosis and CNS Inflammatory Disorders |
Publisher | Wiley-Blackwell |
Pages | 153-162 |
Number of pages | 10 |
ISBN (Electronic) | 9781118298633 |
ISBN (Print) | 9780470673881 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Aug 25 2014 |
Keywords
- Aquaporin-4
- Devic's disease
- LETM
- NMO-IgG
- Neuromyelitis optica
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Medicine(all)