Neuromyelitis Optica and Skin

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder is characterized by attacks of optic neuritis and/or longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis and the presence of anti-aquaporin-4 autoantibodies. Most relapses of neuromyelitis optica worsen over days and then slowly improve in the weeks or months after the maximum clinical deficit has been reached. However, recovery is usually incomplete. The diagnosis of the disease and attacks must be made as early as possible and require emergency treatment. Dermatologists can play a role in achieving this end. Neuropathic pruritus is common and can be used to diagnose neuromyelitis optica. Hence, the association of pruritus with optic neuropathy and some symptoms of transverse myelitis strongly suggest this diagnosis. Many autoimmune diseases can sometimes be associated with neuromyelitis optica. Patients with newly diagnosed skin infections or sexually transmitted diseases need to be informed that these infections could trigger a relapse of neuromyelitis optica.

• Publication year

  2022

• Venue

  Dermatology

• Publication date

  2022-03-04

• Fields of study

  Medicine

• Identifiers
  DOI 10.1159/000522168PMID 35249011
• External record

  Open on Semantic Scholar

• Source metadata

  Semantic Scholar, PubMed

• No claims are published for this paper.

• No concepts are published for this paper.

• Myelin-oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease.

  2021cited by this paper
• Association of CNS demyelination and COVID-19 infection: an updated systematic review

  2021cited by this paper
• Skin aquaporins as druggable targets: Promoting health by addressing the disease.

  2021cited by this paper
• Pruritus in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders and multiple sclerosis.

  2020cited by this paper
• Case of granuloma annulare after using tocilizumab

  2020cited by this paper
• Role of reactive astrocytes in the spinal dorsal horn under chronic itch conditions.

  2020cited by this paper
• Comparison of Characteristics of Neuropathic and Non-neuropathic Pruritus to Develop a Tool for the Diagnosis of Neuropathic Pruritus: The NP5

  2019cited by this paper
• Autoimmune diseases associated with Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorders: A literature review.

  2019cited by this paper
• Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder occurred after interferon alpha therapy in malignant melanoma.

  2019cited by this paper
• Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder: Pathogenesis, treatment, and experimental models.

  2019cited by this paper
• NMOSD triggered by yellow fever vaccination - An unusual clinical presentation with segmental painful erythema.

  2017cited by this paper
• Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorders.

  2017cited by this paper
• Pruritus may be a common symptom related to neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders.

  2017cited by this paper
• Aquaporin-Targeted Therapeutics: State-of-the-Field.

  2017cited by this paper
• Painful tonic spasm in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders: Prevalence, clinical implications and treatment options.

  2017cited by this paper
• Intractable pruritus in neuromyelitis optica

  2016cited by this paper
• Neuromyelitis Optica with Cutaneous Findings: Case Report and Review of the Literature

  2015cited by this paper
• Brainstem manifestations in neuromyelitis optica: a multicenter study of 258 patients

  2014cited by this paper
• Neuropathic pruritus (itch) in neuromyelitis optica

  2013cited by this paper
• The clinical spectrum and immunobiology of parainfectious neuromyelitis optica (Devic) syndromes.

  2010cited by this paper
• Aquaporins: translating bench research to human disease

  2009cited by this paper
• Knock-out models reveal new aquaporin functions.

  2009cited by this paper
• The spectrum of neuromyelitis optica.

  2007cited by this paper
• A serum autoantibody marker of neuromyelitis optica: distinction from multiple sclerosis.

  2004cited by this paper
• A role for humoral mechanisms in the pathogenesis of Devic's neuromyelitis optica.

  2002cited by this paper
• Neuropathic pruritus

  1998cited by this paper

• Prurit

  2026cites this paper
• European Guideline on Chronic Pruritus

  2025cites this paper
• Pruritus in Autoimmune Demyelinating Diseases of the Central Nervous System: A Review

  2025influential citation