Abstract:
Background. Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorders
(NMOSD) are antibody-mediated diseases against aquaporin-4 (AQP-4) that result in autoimmune disorders of
the central nervous system. The main clinical findings in
NMSOD+AQP-4 include optic neuritis and myelitis. To support these clinical presentations, we look for MRI findings
of lesions, inflammations, and edema in the optic nerve, spinal cord, brainstem, etc. Purpose of study. To understand
the correlations between clinical manifestations in patients
with NMSOD and cerebral and spinal cord MRI. Material
and methods. This literature review uses relevant articles
from the National Library of Medicine, PubMed, and Neural
Regeneration Research. Results. The most frequent symptom, optic neuritis, involves different severity levels of loss
of vision, pain due to eye movement, dyschromatopsia that
can be explained by the bilateral lesion, and atrophy of the
optic nerve along with the optic chiasm. Acute myelitis is
identified by the presence of motor and sensory es like numbness, spasms in the limbs, loss of bladder control, sexual dysfunctions, etc. This is influenced by lesions
that descend from the corticospinal tract in the white matter towards the midbrain and damage the pyramidal tracts.
Area postrema near the 4th ventricle is believed to be the
crucial point of attack in NMOSD and a portal for entry for
the circulation of the antibodies, which manifest clinically
as persistent hiccups, nausea, and vomiting. The presence
of a brain stem lesion seen in the MRI causes damage to the
cranial nerve plexuses, leading to muscle numbness and
ataxia. Conclusion. The crucial factor in identifying NMOSD
clinically is to understand the symptoms, signs, and MRI
that frequently show bilateral and longitudinal injury of the
optic nerve, optic chiasm, area postrema, and injury of the
spinal cord, with the lesions involving multiple vertebral
segments.
