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Devic's neuromyelitis optica and HIV-1 infection
  1. P BLANCHE,
  2. E DIAZ,
  3. B GOMBERT,
  4. D SICARD
  1. Service of Internal Medicine 2, Cochin Hospital, René Descartes University, 27 rue du Faubourg Saint-Jacques, 75679 Paris, Cedex 14, France
  2. Service of Ophthalmology
  1. Dr P Blanche, René Descartes University, 27 Rue du Faubourg Saint- Jacques 75679 Paris, Cedex 14, France didiex.sicard{at}cch.ap-hop-paris.fr
  1. O RIVOAL,
  2. A BREZIN
  1. Service of Internal Medicine 2, Cochin Hospital, René Descartes University, 27 rue du Faubourg Saint-Jacques, 75679 Paris, Cedex 14, France
  2. Service of Ophthalmology
  1. Dr P Blanche, René Descartes University, 27 Rue du Faubourg Saint- Jacques 75679 Paris, Cedex 14, France didiex.sicard{at}cch.ap-hop-paris.fr

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Neuromyelitis optica (Devic's syndrome) can be defined as a severe transverse myelitis, an acute unilateral or bilateral optic neuropathy, no clinical involvement beyond the spinal cord or optic nerves, and a monophasic or, rarely, a multiphasic illness.1 Optic neuritis precedes transverse myelitis in 80% of cases, by less than 3 months in most cases. Neuromyelitis optica may occur as a result of demyelination from multiple sclerosis, but many differences have to be noted between neuromyelitis optica and multiple sclerosis. Neuromyelitis optica is not predominantly seen in the white ethnic group. Severe deficits after the acute episode are more frequent in neuromyelitis optica. Multiple sclerosis presenting as transverse myelitis is rare.2 Oligoclonal bands in the CSF and white matter lesions on brain MRI are rare in neuromyelitis optica compared with over 90% of patients with definite multiple sclerosis. These two abnormalities can resolve in neuromyelitis optica but very rarely in multiple sclerosis. The high CSF protein concentration and …

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