Abstract
Neuromyelitis optica (NMO, also eponymously known as Devic's disease) is an immune‐mediated
demyelinating disease of the central nervous system that can lead to significant disability.
Pediatric NMO is a rare disorder often reported after an infection. The authors report
a 16 year-old female patient with pemphigus foliaceus who developed subacute optic neuritis
followed by cervical transverse myelitis. Restricted distribution of the lesions in
the optic nerve and spinal cord was confirmed by ophthalmological evaluation and magnetic
resonance imaging of the brain and spinal cord. She was started on intravenous methylprednisolone
and then given a maintenance oral prednisone. Subsequently, she was treated with a
nonsteroidal immunosuppressant, mycophenolate mofetil, with a target dose of 1000 mg twice a day. Over the course of months, patient noted significant recovery of previous
deficits and resolution of the cervical cord enhancement, expansion and cystic dilatation
that was previously seen. This case is noteworthy for being the first patient reported
with neuromyelitis optica associated with pemphigus foliaceus.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: May 28, 2012
Accepted:
May 3,
2012
Received in revised form:
April 18,
2012
Received:
February 17,
2012
Identification
Copyright
© 2012 Elsevier B.V. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
