title: An unusual case with relapsing neuromyelitis optica associated with undifferentiated connective tissue disease.
abstract: A case is presented with attacks of optic neuritis followed by severe myelitis 15 years later, in coincidence with a severe stressful life event. This female patient was also affected by undifferentiated connective tissue disease. This case presents some unusual and atypical findings such as: the association of a relapsing neuromyelitis optica with an undifferentiated connective tissue disease, a very long interval between optic neuritis and myelitis, and the important role of a stressful event in developing a relapse.
authors.affiliation: Unità Operativa Neurologia, Ospedale di Niguarda, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Protti
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Erminio
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Piccolo
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Spreafico
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Colombo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ghezzi
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D008947:Mixed Connective Tissue Disease / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D009471:Neuromyelitis Optica / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000473:pathology