Very Interesting! I've only included the beginning of the article since it is long. Please click the link for further information.

http://www.businesswire.com/portal/s...60&newsLang=en

November 11, 2009 09:00 AM Eastern Time
Mayo Clinic Neurologist Reports: “Thousands of NMO Patients are Misdiagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis”

Groundbreaking Conference for Rare Neurological Disease – Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO) – Brings Together World’s Top Doctors, Medical Researchers and Patients in Pursuit of a Cure

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Thousands of Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO) patients are potentially being misdiagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), according to Mayo Clinic Neurologist Sean Pittock, M.D., largely due to lack of awareness of NMO within the medical community. Dr. Pittock shared this finding with more than 50 of the world’s leading doctors and medical researchers – from Harvard to Oxford – who gathered at the 2009 NMO Roundtable Conference, sponsored by the Guthy-Jackson Charitable Foundation.

NMO is a rare and debilitating disease that attacks the optic nerves and spinal cord, often causing vision loss, paralysis of legs and arms, and sensory disturbances. The Guthy-Jackson Charitable Foundation has brought together these researchers to help find a cure for this rare disease.

Dr. Pittock came to his conclusion based on ongoing research at the Mayo Clinic. Of the 1,200 blood samples that are sent to Mayo Clinic’s neuroimmunology laboratory for NMO antibody (NMO-IgG) testing each month, approximately 70 new patients test positive for NMO, which is surprisingly high considering it is believed to be a rare disease. Of the 70 patients who have the NMO antibody, Dr. Pittock has found that a majority were previously thought to have MS.

Making the distinction between MS and NMO has been greatly assisted by Mayo Clinic’s recent discovery of this NMO antibody. In fact, this is the first biomarker that has shown to be sensitive and specific for any central nervous system (CNS), inflammatory demyelinating disease.
“It’s important to differentiate NMO from MS as these disorders are treated differently,” says Dr. Pittock. “The identification of this novel antibody marker will hopefully assist neurologists in making a correct diagnosis of NMO, rather than MS.” ...