Document Type

Article

Publication Date

Winter 2-1-2008

Comments

This article has been peer reviewed. It is the authors' final version prior to publication in American Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Volume 87, Issue 2, February 2008, Pages 144-148. The published version is available at . DOI: 10.1097/PHM.0b013e31815b5e1a. Copyright © Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Inc..

Abstract

We describe the inpatient clinical rehabilitation course of three patients with neuromyelitis optica (NMO; Devic’s Syndrome). These patients had varying functional deficits. Each patient improved in several functional independence measures (FIM domains), but had minimal to no progress in other domains after acute rehabilitation stays between 1 to 1.5 months. NMO is a severe central nervous system demyelinating syndrome distinct from MS, characterized by optic neuritis, myelitis, and at least two of three criteria: longitudinally extensive cord lesion, MRI nondiagnostic for multiple sclerosis, or NMO-IgG seropositivity. Persons with NMO may demonstrate improved function with rehabilitation efforts; though gains may be lost to relapse Future immunomodulatory intervention may augment the benefits of rehabilitation.

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