Devic’s Disease (MS)

Devic’s disease, also known as Devic’s syndrome, neuromyelitis optica (NMO), or optic-spinal MS, is an autoimmune, inflammatory disorder in which a person’s own immune system attacks myelin of the neurons of the optic nerves and spinal cord. This produces an inflammation of the optic nerve and the spinal cord. Normally, brain neurons are spared but optic nerve lesions cause temporary blindness, occasionally permanent, in one or both eyes. Spinal cord lesions lead to varying degrees of weakness or paralysis in the legs or arms, loss of sensation, and/or bladder and bowel dysfunction.