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Neuromyelitis optica

Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is a rare autoimmune condition that affects the nerves in your eyes and your spinal cord. There's no cure, but treatments can help manage the symptoms. It's also called neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) or Devic's disease.

Symptoms of neuromyelitis optica (NMO)

Symptoms of neuromyelitis optica (NMO) can include:

  • eye pain and problems with your eyesight or colour vision, in one or both eyes
  • sharp, burning or shooting pain (nerve pain) in your back, neck, arms or legs
  • weakness, numbness or paralysis in your arms or legs
  • muscle spasms, where your muscles suddenly tighten
  • problems with your bladder and bowels, such as incontinence, constipation or not being able to pee
  • sexual problems, such as not being able to get an erection
  • vomiting and hiccoughs

The symptoms vary between people. They can range from mild to severe.

Some people only have symptoms affecting their eyes (called optic neuritis), or only affecting their spinal cord (called transverse myelitis).

Longer-term symptoms

Symptoms may last a few days or weeks. Some people then recover fully, while others have longer lasting problems.

It's common for symptoms to come back, known as relapses. This can happen after a few weeks, months or years. In some people relapses lead to permanent problems such as sight loss or mobility problems.

Non-urgent advice: See a GP if:

  • you think you could have neuromyelitis optica

How neuromyelitis optica is diagnosed

If a GP thinks you could have neuromyelitis optica (NMO) they'll refer you to a specialist (neurologist) for tests and treatment.

NMO can be hard to diagnose because the symptoms vary and are similar to other conditions, such as multiple sclerosis.

You may have tests such as:

  • blood tests
  • an MRI scan to check your brain and spinal cord
  • a lumbar puncture to take a sample of fluid from your spinal cord
  • examinations and tests to check your eyes and your vision

Treatments for neuromyelitis optica (NMO)

Treatment for neuromyelitis optica (NMO) depends on your symptoms and how severe they are.

Treatment for relapses

When your symptoms first start or if you're having a relapse, where symptoms come back, the main treatments are:

  • high dose steroid injections
  • plasma exchange, where some of your blood is removed, treated and then returned to your body

Treatment for symptoms

You may also be offered medicines to help with symptoms, such as:

To help with symptoms such as muscle weakness and mobility problems you may be offered:

Treatment to help prevent relapses

You'll usually also need to take medicines long term to help prevent relapses, where your symptoms come back. These may include:

Causes of neuromyelitis optica (NMO)

Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is an autoimmune condition. It happens when your immune system attacks nerves in your eyes or your spinal cord.

It's not known what causes this. Sometimes it happens after a virus or infection.

NMO is not an inherited condition. But it's more common in people with other autoimmune conditions, and those with close relatives who have autoimmune conditions.

It's more common in women and people of Asian or Black African origin.

Help and support for neuromyelitis optica (NMO)

If you or someone in your family lives with neuromyelitis optica (NMO) you can get support from charities including:

Recording information about you and your condition

If you have NMO, your care team will pass information on to the National Congenital Anomaly and Rare Disease Registration Service (NCARDRS).

This helps scientists look for better ways to prevent and treat this condition. You can opt out of the register at any time.

Page last reviewed: 16 December 2020
Next review due: 16 December 2023