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image: Brian Weinshenker speaking at MS Frontiers 2007
What it was, is , isn't and might be.
An outstanding presentation was given by Brian Weinshenker, professor of neurology at the Mayo Clinic of Medicine in Minnesota in the US on his recent work on Neuromyelitis optica (NMO). NMO is an inflammatory demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system that most commonly targets the optic nerves and spinal cord selectively. Until recently it was a matter of debate whether NMO was a distinct disease or a peculiar variant of MS, however in recent years medical opinion has shifted due to a number of developments. An analysis of the disease course and features of patients with severe optic neuritis and inflammation of the spinal column revealed that, unlike MS, NMO involves severe attacks of optic neuritis and inflammation effecting three or more segments of the spine. Studies have also revealed distinctive immune changes characteristic of NMO which invokes B cell participation in the disease process.image: accessibility options
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