[NMO-IgG antibodies in neuromyelitis optica: a report of 2 cases].
BACKGROUND
Neuromyelitis optica is an inflammatory demyelination disease that selectively affects optic nerves and spinal cord. Recently it has been described that the NMO-IgG antibodies, are highly specific for the diagnosis, although they are also present in partial forms of the disease. The antigen responsible for this immune response seems to be aquaporin-4 water channel.


METHODS
We describe the detection in our laboratory of NMO-IgG antibodies in two patients, one of them with a neuromyelitis optica and the other one with a recurrent myelitis and subclinical involvement of the optic nerve.


CONCLUSIONS
By using dual immunostaining, confocal microscopy showed that the antibodies of both patients colocalized with that of an anti-aquaporin-4.
Zuliani
L
L
Servicio de Neurología, Hospital Clínico, Barcelona, Spain.
López de Munain
A
A
Ruiz Martínez
J
J
Olascoaga
J
J
Graus
F
F
Saiz
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D051401:Aquaporin 4 / Q000276:immunology; D002196:Capillaries / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009471:Neuromyelitis Optica / Q000276:immunology*; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats
D051401:Aquaporin 4; D007074:Immunoglobulin G