- Author:
Jae Won HYUN
1
;
Su Hyun KIM
;
Ho Jin KIM
Author Information
- Publication Type:Review
- Keywords: Systemic rheumatologic disease; Neuromyelitis optica; Comorbidity; Complication
- MeSH: Autoantibodies; Autoimmunity; Central Nervous System; Comorbidity; Humans; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic; Myelitis, Transverse; Neuromyelitis Optica*; Optic Neuritis; Sjogren's Syndrome; Water
- From:Journal of Rheumatic Diseases 2014;21(1):4-8
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
- Abstract: Neuromyelitis optica (NMO), an autoimmune inflammatory disease of the central nervous system (CNS), is related with autoantibodies for aquaporin-4, which is the most abundant water channel in CNS. The clinical syndromes of NMO, such as longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis and optic neuritis, can occur in the context of systemic rheumatologic diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus and Sjogren syndrome. It is debatable as to whether NMO is a feature of genetic tendency toward humoral autoimmunity or a CNS complication of systemic rheumatologic diseases. Current evidence suggests that NMO coexists with systemic rheumatologic diseases rather than a complication from them. Early immunosuppressive therapies should be considered in these patients since just one or two attacks can cause severe neurological disability.