title: Neuromyelitis optica with onset in childhood and adolescence.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Neuromyelitis optica with onset before the age of 18 years is a relatively rare, yet potentially devastating condition. The objective of the present study was to contribute to the study of early-onset neuromyelitis optica with a case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected from medical records of Brazilian neurologists caring for patients with neuromyelitis optica occurring in childhood and adolescence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-nine patients with neuromyelitis optica occurring before the age of 18 years and fulfilling the diagnostic criteria were identified. The average age at disease onset was 13 years and the patients had had an average disease duration of 6 years. The expanded disability scale score at the latest consultation was, on average, 4.7, and one patient had died from the disease. The 29 patients had had an average 4.5 relapses during the disease, accounting for 0.75 relapses per year, irrespective of the medication used. All patients were using one or more of the following medications: azathioprine, prednisone, immunoglobulin, and glatiramer acetate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Neuromyelitis optica with onset in childhood and adolescence is a poorly understood condition that is often disabling and difficult to manage.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Metropolitana de Santos, Santos, Brazil. Electronic address: yara@bsnet.com.br.
authors.forename: Yara Dadalti
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Fragoso
authors.affiliation: Hospital da Restauracao, Recife, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria L B
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Estado de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Enedina M L
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Ciencias da Saude, Santa Casa de Vitoria, Vitoria, Brazil.
authors.forename: Renan B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Domingues
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Goias, Goiania, Brazil.
authors.forename: Taysa A G J
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.affiliation: Universidade Metropolitana de Santos, Santos, Brazil.
authors.forename: Joseph B B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Brooks
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rinaldo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Claudino
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Macae, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jussara M K
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Netto
authors.affiliation: Hospital Beneficencia Portuguesa and Hospital Paulistano, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sidney
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.affiliation: Hospital Sirio Libanes, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Tarso
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Adoni
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Goias, Goiania, Brazil.
authors.forename: Denise S D
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Carneiro
authors.affiliation: Hospital da Restauracao, Recife, Brazil.
authors.forename: Daiana R P
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Fonseca
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Estado de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Manuela O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Fragomeni
authors.affiliation: Hospital Beneficencia Portuguesa and Hospital Paulistano, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Francisco T M
authors.initials: FT
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Universidade Metropolitana de Santos, Santos, Brazil.
authors.forename: Celso L S
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Ciencias da Saude, Santa Casa de Vitoria, Vitoria, Brazil.
authors.forename: Patricia C O
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Saldanha
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jorge M B
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Souza
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017668:Age of Onset; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009471:Neuromyelitis Optica / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*
keywords: Devic; adolescents; children; demyelinating diseases; multiple sclerosis; neuromyelitis optica