What is NMO?
Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) as the name implies (neuros-to do with the nervous system, myelos- spinal cord, optica- related to vision) is a disease of the nervous system, which affects mainly the spinal cord and the optic nerves (the nerves that connect the eye to the brain). It is a type of demyelinating disease. 2. Who is Devic? Eugene Devic was a French neurologist who summarised the features of the condition in 18941 2. It had been described earlier by Albutt (1870) and Erb (1880)3-5. Fig 1. Eugne Devic (18581930). Image courtesy of Professor Christian Confavreux , Hpital Neurologique Pierre Wertheimer, Lyon, France. Features of NMO 3. What does demyelinating mean? Myelin is the protective covering of nerves, like the insulation on an electric wire. The cells of the bodys immune system sometimes attacks myelin covering the nerves of the central nervous system (CNS). The CNS includes the brain including the optic nerves and spinal cord, but not peripheral nerves (like those in the ar
