title: [A concept of neuromyelitis optica in Japan].
abstract: Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is an inflammatory disease of the central nervous system characterized by relapses of optic neuritis and acute myelitis. The disease was referred to as the optic-spinal form of multiple sclerosis (OSMS) in Japan for a long period. A specific auto-antibody, NMO-IgG, was detected in the serum of NMO patients, and aquaporin-4 water channel protein was detected as its target antigen; aquaporin-4 water channel protein is localized at the end-feet of astrocytes. Because of the presence of this specific serum auto-antibody, most OSMS patients in Japan were found to exhibit a disease that was identical to NMO that affects individuals of the Western countries. Since the discovery of NMO-IgG, various clinical and histopathological features of this condition have been recognized; in addition the concept of NMO has been established in Japan as well as in many other countries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan.
authors.forename: Ichiro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nakashima
authors.forename: Kazuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fujihara
authors.forename: Yasuto
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Itoyama
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D051401:Aquaporin 4 / Q000276:immunology; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000145:classification; D009471:Neuromyelitis Optica / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: C496030:AQP4 protein, human; D051401:Aquaporin 4; D001323:Autoantibodies