Features |
Neuromyelitis Optica |
Multiple Sclerosis |
Attacks are bilateral |
Usually [8,9] |
Rarely [8] |
Visual loss severity |
More, with less improvement [8,10,14,22] |
Less, with more improvement [9,22] |
White matter lesions on brain MRI |
Rarely and usually resolving [8,9] |
Usually [8,22] |
Transverse myelitis |
TM in spinal MRI often spanning ≥3 spinal cord
segments (in 20%) [2,8,9,22] |
Rarely [8] |
Clinical involvement beyond spinal cord and optic
nerve |
Rarely [8] |
Usually [8] |
Tissue destruction and cavitations |
More than MS [8] |
Less than NMO [8] |
CSF Analysis |
Oligoclonal bands |
Rarely [2,8,9] |
Frequently [8,22] |
Protein contents |
Higher than MS [8] |
Lower than NMO [8] |
Treatment |
DMDs |
Ineffective even worsening [8,9] |
Effective [8,9,23] |
Immunosuppressive (corticosteroids) |
First line of treatment [8,9] |
First line of treatment [24] |