International consensus diagnostic criteria for neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders
Editors' Note: The international consensus diagnostic criteria for neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) article prompted reactions from our readers. Tan is concerned that the new criteria may include patients without true neuromyelitis optica and may affect treatment funding. Recounting their own experience, Mao et al. caution about overinterpretation of MRI results and suggest that aquaporin 4 antibody (AQP4 Ab) testing be considered in late onset demyelinating disease. In response, Wingerchuk et al. authors of the guidelines, stress that the diagnostic category of NMOSD without AQP4 immunoglobulin G requires exclusion of alternative diagnoses, believe that the new criteria will facilitate rather than hinder insurance coverage for appropriate immunosuppressive treatments, and agree with the observations raised by Mao et al. Chafic Karam, MD, and Robert C. Griggs, MD Wingerchuk et al.1 proposed criteria for neuromyelitis optica (NMO) spectrum disorders (NMOSD) that incorporated unifying the terms NMO and NMOSD, including patients with aquaporin 4 (AQP4) immunoglobulin G (IgG) negative/unknown, thus giving these patients
Neurology