Neuromyelitis Optica

Treatment

Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) resembles multiple sclerosis (MS) in several ways, but requires different types of treatment. Although NMO is relatively uncommon, Mayo Clinic doctors have treated more than 600 people who have NMO, either on-site or through coordination with individuals' physicians at home.

The treatment of NMO involves therapies to reverse recent symptoms and prevent future attacks.

• Care to reverse recent symptoms. In the early stage of an NMO attack, your doctor may give steroid drugs through a vein in your arm.

  If steroids don't help, your doctor may recommend plasma exchange. This treatment involves removing some blood and mechanically separating the blood cells from the fluid (plasma). Doctors mix your blood cells with a replacement solution and return them into your body. You might also receive intravenous immune globulin.

• Preventing future attacks. Doctors usually recommend a combination of steroids taken by mouth and another medication taken by mouth or intravenously that suppresses the immune system to prevent future NMO attacks.