This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

Has anyone been diagnosed? I realize that NMO is not MS, but like me, probably started down the MS path with it.

I have 10 more days until my neuro appointment. I saw her notes on my MRI paper. She indicated MS vs NMO.

Funny how quickly your priorities can change in an instant. I'm praying for brain lesions - that will make NMO unlikely.

I was hoping someone had information on NMO - what I've read on-line is pretty bad.

Thank-you.

Hi,

I have not been diagnosed with TM or NMO but recurrent ADEM which is considered a part of the same spectrum of diseases (along with MS) by the mainstream medical community.



The Mayo Clinic has identified an antigen that causes NMO and have since developed a blood test that is accurate in diagnosing NMO in patients 75% of the time. You may want to ask your doctor for this blood test to alleviate some of your fears that it is NMO.

I wish the best of luck to you.

The research community has known for some time that brain lesions cannot rule out a diagnosis of NMO, though the initial brain MRI is usually clean. Also, brain lesions in NMO patients are not consistent with MS. This can be found in the scholarly literature. Common areas for brain lesions in NMO patients are the thalamus, hypothalamus, pons, brain-stem, and any other areas of the brain proper that have a high expression of Aquaporin-4. For a good discussion of this subject, view the Dr. Sean Pittock (Mayo) presentation from the 2008 Rare Disease Symposium.

jjyml (NMO+ since 2005)