title: Neuromyelitis optica with hypothalamic involvement.
abstract: We describe two cases of neuromyelitis optica (NMO) with clinical and radiographically confirmed features of hypothalamic involvement, in the absence of other parenchymal brain lesions. Their course is otherwise typical of Devic's form of NMO. A review of the literature identifies additional cases of NMO in which clinical features attributable to under-recognized dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis were present. We propose that the currently accepted criteria for the diagnosis of NMO could be revisited to recognize the possibility of lesions developing within hypothalamic structures.
authors.affiliation: McGill University Health Centre, The Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, 3801 University Street, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Alexandre Y
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Poppe
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lapierre
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Melançon
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lowden
authors.forename: Lucy
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wardell
authors.forename: Louise M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Fullerton
authors.forename: Amit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bar-Or
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007027:Hypothalamic Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D009471:Neuromyelitis Optica / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology