• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.658-667
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• 2017

Objectives: This is a case report regarding the effect of Korean traditional medicine on vision disorder and quadriplegia in a patient with neuromyelitis optica. Methods: We treated a patient who was diagnosed with neuromyelitis optica with Korean traditional medicine, including acupuncture, moxibustion, and herbal medicine (Gigugyanghyeol-tang gamibang) for 106 days. We evaluated the patient with the International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury (ISNCSCI), Modified Barthel Index (MBI), Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) Grade, and Numeric Rating Scale-11 (NRS-11). Results: After treatment, the patient's symptoms were improved. The ISNCSCI scores increased from 42 to 66 in motor score, from 152 to 196 in sensory score, and from A to D in the ASIA impairment scale; the MBI score increased from 9 to 33, while the score of the MAS Grade decreased from I+ to I, and the NRS-11 scores of vision disorder, spasticity, and tingling decreased from 10 to 7, 3, and 2-3, respectively. Conclusions: Korean traditional medicine may be effective for treatment of vision disorder and quadriplegia in patients with neuromyelitis optica.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.77-80
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• 2014

Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is an inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system associated with longitudinally extensive myelitis and optic neuritis. It is characterized by relapses that lead to blindness and paralysis sequelaes. But, this is rare disease; therefore high clinical suspicion for a correct diagnosis and proper examinations are not easy. However, early diagnosis is essential to prevent sequelae. We report the case of NMO with headache. A 30-year male patient who suffered headache visited our pain clinic because of aggravated pain despite treatment. The cause of the pain was revealed as NMO by more detailed previous history and examination.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.316-319
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• 2013

Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is considered to be a rarer autoimmune disease than multiple sclerosis. It is very difficult to make a diagnosis of MNO for doctors who are not familiar with its clinical features and diagnostic criteria. We report a case of a young female patient who had been suffering motor weakness and radiating pain in both upper extremities. Cervical MRI showed tumorous lesion in spinal cord and performed surgery to remove lesion. We could not find a tumor mass in operation field and final diagnosis was NMO. NMO must be included in the differential diagnosis of lesions to rescue the patient from invasive surgical interventions. More specific diagnostic tools may be necessary for early diagnosis and proper treatment.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.19-26
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• 2023

Autonomic dysfunction occurs frequently in multiple sclerosis (MS) and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). Patients with either condition may present with autonomic symptoms such as bladder, sexual, cardiovascular, thermoregulatory, and gastrointestinal dysfunction, and fatigue, but autonomic symptoms that affect quality of life are underrecognized in clinical practice. The immunopathogenesis of MS has been considered to be associated with autonomic dysfunction. Applying appropriate treatment strategies for autonomic dysfunction is important to improve the quality of life of patients. Here we review autonomic dysfunction and how this is managed in patients with MS and NMOSD.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.130-138
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• 2018

Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is an autoimmune inflammatory disorder of the central nervous system characterized by optic neuritis and longitudinally extensive myelitis. Painful tonic spasm is a common complication of NMO, but there have been no reports about it in Korean medicine studies. In this case, we treated a 53-year-old woman diagnosed with NMO with paraplegia, painful tonic spasm, and decreased visual acuity using Korean medicine treatment, including acupuncture, herbal medicine, cupping, and moxibustion. We measured changes in clinical symptoms using the manual muscle testing (MMT), the numeric rating scale (NRS), the modified Barthel Index (MBI), and the Functional Independence Measure (FIM). After treatment, clinical symptoms were improved. The results indicate that Korean medicine treatment may be effective in the treatment of an NMO patient with paraplegia and painful tonic spasm.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.46-52
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• 2021

Background: We aimed to investigate candidates for serological biomarkers of neuropathic pain in individuals with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). Methods: We analyzed 38 sera samples from 38 participants with NMOSD in National Cancer Center. Neuropathic pain was evaluated using the painDETECT questionnaire. Pain with neuropathic components (painDETECT score ≥ 13) was observed in 22 participants, among whom 17 had definite neuropathic pain (painDETECT score ≥ 19). The remaining 16 participants had non-neuropathic pain (painDETECT score < 13). Serum glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) levels were assessed using a single-molecule array assay. Several cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, and IL-17A, were measured by a multiplex bead-based immunoassay. Results: In comparison of NMOSD participants with neuropathic pain components (or definite neuropathic pain) and those with non-neuropathic pain, the absolute values of serum GFAP, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10 levels were higher in participants with neuropathic pain components (or definite neuropathic pain), but these findings did not reach statistical significance. Conclusions: Further larger-scale investigations to find reliable serological biomarkers for neuropathic pain in NMOSD are warranted.

• Journal of Medicine and Life Science
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.130-133
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• 2022

Several studies have reported a possible link between anti-aquaporin-4 antibody and vitamin B12 deficiency in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). Bilaterally symmetric hyperintense signals on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the posterior columns, called the inverted V sign, are a characteristic feature of subacute combined degeneration associated with vitamin B12 deficiency. We report a patient with anti-aquaporin-4 antibody-positive NMOSD and an inverted V sign on MRI of the spinal cord and address the association between anti-aquaporin-4 antibody and functional vitamin B12 deficiency.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.24 no.12
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• pp.1260-1283
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• 2023

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been extensively applied in the study of multiple sclerosis (MS), substantially contributing to diagnosis, differential diagnosis, and disease monitoring. MRI studies have significantly contributed to the understanding of MS through the characterization of typical radiological features and their clinical or prognostic implications using conventional MRI pulse sequences and further with the application of advanced imaging techniques sensitive to microstructural damage. Interpretation of results has often been validated by MRI-pathology studies. However, the application of MRI techniques in the study of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) remains an emerging field, and MRI studies have focused on radiological correlates of NMOSD and its pathophysiology to aid in diagnosis, improve monitoring, and identify relevant prognostic factors. In this review, we discuss the main contributions of MRI to the understanding of MS and NMOSD, focusing on the most novel discoveries to clarify differences in the pathophysiology of focal inflammation initiation and perpetuation, involvement of normal-appearing tissue, potential entry routes of pathogenic elements into the CNS, and existence of primary or secondary mechanisms of neurodegeneration.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.114-116
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• 2011

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.64 no.3
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• pp.103-110
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• 2021

Inflammatory or immune-mediated demyelinating central nervous system (CNS) syndromes include a broad spectrum of clinical phenotype and different overlapping diseases. Antibodies against myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG-Ab) have been found in some cases of these demyelinating diseases, particularly in children. MOG-Ab is associated with a wider clinical phenotype not limited to neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder, with most patients presenting with optic neuritis, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) or ADEM-like encephalitis with brain demyelinating lesions, and/or myelitis. Using specific cell-based assays, MOG-Ab is becoming a potential biomarker of inflammatory demyelinating disorders of the CNS. A humoral immune reaction against MOG was recently found in monophasic diseases and recurrent/multiphasic clinical progression, particularly in pediatric patients. This review summarizes the data regarding MOG-Ab as an impending biological marker for discriminating between these diverse demyelinating CNS diseases and discusses recent developments, clinical applications, and findings regarding the immunopathogenesis of MOG-Ab-associated disorders.