Neuromyelitis optica initially treated as multiple sclerosis: A propos a case

Background: Devic’s syndrome or neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is an autoimmune, inflammatory and demyelinating uncommon clinical entity characterized by the presence of clinical, imagining and laboratory evidence of optic neuritis, acute myelitis with longitudinal injury in more than three spinal segments and finally, NMO IgG seropositive for antibodies specific for the aquaporin channel 4. Case: We report a 28 years old woman diagnosed with multiple sclerosis 14 months ago, who consulted to emergency of Hospital Universitario San Jorge from Pereira by progressive reduction of strength in lower extremities and unrinary retention with duration of five days. She had a history of bilateral optic neuritis in treatment with interferon Beta 1-B, with poor clinical improvement, and parenteral corticosteroid for acute symptoms. Is performed a spinal Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) reported a lumbar spine without changes and a dorsal spine with myelopathy in segments T5-T8, possible demyelinitation. Blood count, blood chemistry, C Reactive Protein, complement C3 and C4 within normal ranges. Discussion: The presentation of isolated optic neuritis as a clinical debut leads us to suspect initially in a demyelinating disease, multiple sclerosis type which can alter the initial management of patients with NMO.