What is neuromyelitis optica?

Neuromyelitis optica (NMO), also known as Devic's disease, is an autoimmune, inflammatory disorder in which a person's own immune system attacks the optic nerves and spinal cord. This produces an inflammation of the optic nerve (optic neuritis) and the spinal cord (myelitis).

How do members experience neuromyelitis optica?

Top 5 symptoms reported by people with neuromyelitis optica*

*Reports may be affected by other conditions and/or medication side effects. We ask about general symptoms (anxious mood, depressed mood, fatigue, pain, and stress) regardless of condition.

Top treatments taken by people for neuromyelitis optica*

*Data from patients with neuromyelitis optica, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.

Compare treatments taken by people with neuromyelitis optica*

Treatment
Perceived effectiveness
Side effects
Total evaluations
Tried for
Treatment

(Rituxan)
Perceived effectiveness
No evaluations
Side effects
No evaluations
Total evaluations
0
Tried for
neuromyelitis optica (2)

*Data from patients with neuromyelitis optica, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.

Who has neuromyelitis optica on PatientsLikeMe?

Age

Age Proportion # of patients
<20 5
20s 25
30s 66
40s 151
50s 187
60s 128
70+ 82

Distribution of sex

Sex

Sex Proportion # of patients
Male 129
Female 518

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What is neuromyelitis optica?

Neuromyelitis optica (NMO), also known as Devic's disease, is an autoimmune, inflammatory disorder in which a person's own immune system attacks the optic nerves and spinal cord. This produces an inflammation of the optic nerve (optic neuritis) and the spinal cord (myelitis).



Common symptoms reported by people with neuromyelitis optica

Common symptoms
How bad it is
What people are taking for it

Reports may be affected by other conditions and/or medication side effects. We ask about general symptoms (anxious mood, depressed mood, fatigue, pain, and stress) regardless of condition.
Last updated:



Treatments taken by people for neuromyelitis optica

Treatment name(s)
Type
How many have tried
Tried for
Treatment name(s)

(Rituxan)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
186
Tried for
neuromyelitis optica (2)

Data from patients with neuromyelitis optica, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.
Last updated:


Compare treatments taken by people with neuromyelitis optica

Treatment name(s)
Perceived effectiveness
Side effects
Total evaluations
Tried for
Treatment name(s)

(Rituxan)
Perceived effectiveness
No evaluations
Side effects
No evaluations
Total evaluations
0
Tried for
neuromyelitis optica (2)
  • Major
  • Moderate
  • Slight
  • None
  • Can't tell
  • Severe
  • Moderate
  • Mild
  • None

Data from patients with neuromyelitis optica, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.
Last updated:



Who has neuromyelitis optica on PatientsLikeMe?

  • 1 new patients joined this month
  • 771 say NMO is their primary condition

Age
Age Proportion # of patients
<20 5
20s 25
30s 66
40s 151
50s 187
60s 128
70+ 82
Age at first symptom
Age at first symptom Proportion # of patients
0-19 years 25
20-29 years 59
30-39 years 91
40-49 years 58
50-59 years 38
60-69 years 12
70+ years 2

Distribution of sex

Sex
Sex Proportion # of patients
Male 129
Female 518

Types
Condition Types Proportion # of patients
Asian optic-spinal MS 9
Monophasic NMO 13
NMO spectrum disorder 98
Relapsing NMO 155
Diagnosis status
Diagnosis status Proportion # of patients
Diagnosed 293
Not Diagnosed 51

These charts show data from NMO patients who have completed their condition history
Last updated: