title: Seropositive neuromyelitis optica: a pediatric case report and 6-year follow-up.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Neuromyelitis optica is an autoimmune demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system. Although it has some features in common with multiple sclerosis, it has different clinical features, prognosis, and treatment. We describe a boy with seropositive neuromyelitis optica and his 6-year follow-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  A boy aged 5 years 8 months presented with relapsing optic neuritis, short segment transverse myelitis, and brain involvement. He met the diagnostic criteria for multiple sclerosis fulfilling the McDonald 2010 criteria; however, neuromyelitis optica immunoglobulin-G was detected, and the patient was diagnosed with neuromyelitis optica. He had frequent relapses until immunosuppressive treatment with azathioprine and low-dose prednisone was started. After he was asymptomatic for 2.5 years, prednisone was withdrawn, but he had a new attack soon after withdrawal of the steroid.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is important to differentiate neuromyelitis optica from multiple sclerosis because early immunosuppressive treatment prevents further disability, and longer periods of immunosuppressive treatment should be planned to prevent relapses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Division of Child Neurology, Kocaeli University Medical Faculty, Umuttepe, Turkey. hulyamaras@gmail.com
authors.forename: Hülya
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Maraş
authors.forename: Bülent
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kara
authors.forename: Yonca
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Anık
mesh_terms: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009471:Neuromyelitis Optica / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000473:pathology; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D001379:Azathioprine; D011241:Prednisone