a little hope? for all who are awaiting the results of NMO-IgG (me included)

[doublevision1]

"Autoimmune Disease May Be Triggered By Neurotransmitter Defect
07 Oct 2008

A potentially blinding neurological disorder, often confused with multiple sclerosis (MS), has now become a little less mysterious. A new study by researchers at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, may have uncovered the cause of Devic's disease. Their new study, which appeared online on October 6th in the Journal of Experimental Medicine, could result in new treatment options for this devastating disease.

Devic's disease, also known as neuromyelitis optica (NMO), results in MS-like demyelinating lesions along the optic nerves and spine. Affected individuals often experience rapid visual loss, paralysis, and loss of leg, bladder, and bowel sensation. Some lose their sight permanently. Unlike MS, Devic's disease can be diagnosed by the presence of a specific self-attacking immune protein - an autoantibody referred to as NMO-IgG - in the blood. Until now, however, clinicians didn't know how that protein damaged nerves and contributed to disease symptoms.

The Mayo team, lead by Dr. Vanda Lennon, now show that NMO-IgG sets off a chain of events that leads to a toxic build-up of a neurotransmitter called glutamate. NMO-IgG binds to a protein that normally sops up excess glutamate from the space between brain cells. When NMO-IgG is around, this sponge-like action is blocked, allowing glutamate to accumulate. And too much glutamate can kill the cells that produce myelin - the protein that coats and protects neurons. The authors suggest that glutamate-induced damage to nerve cells and their insulating myelin coats might account for the neurological symptoms associated with Devic's disease.

If the groups' results - generated using nerve cell cultures - are confirmed in vivo, drug development could be very straightforward. Therapeutic trials for glutamate blockers, created to treat other neurodegenerative diseases like Lou Gehrig's disease (or ALS), are already underway."

www. medicalnewstoday. com/articles/124477. php

[sllowe]

I'm going to go read the full article NOW!!!!!!!

I don't even know if I was checked for Devics!

Thank you so much for this! I think since it's such a mimic, this should be a health page.  You can include the source/link in it, etc.  

If need be, I can do it for you if you like.

You haven't given us an update on your vision lately.  How's it been?

Thanks again,
shell

[4happygnomes]

I know this is an old thread, just got results back from my naturopathic doctor and I have elevated,  normal results for Glutamate.  I'm also reading online that high levels of glutamate has been found in patients with MS.  Anyone else have similar results or have had their glutamate levels tested?  

Karen

[rendean]

Very interesting article! It appears to offer up a "simple" solution to treating this disease. At least IF you have it, there is a light at the end of the tunnel.  

The process that causes this disease is extremely interesting  and differs from MS in its eitology. Wonder how easily the trials will go to find an expedient cure for this disease since the eitology has been discovered?

Good luck you and the others awaiting test results!

Rendean

[Udkas]

Thanks so much for sharing this information on the forum.  

They used to think that Devic's was a form of MS but latest research has lead the specialists to class it as a separate disease and now this information really does change the way that neuro's and Drs will think about Devic's and MS.

It is positive that they might be able to now look at therapies that can help people with the disease.

On this note I agree with you DB if doctor's suspect spinal cord or optic nerve involvement they should just blood test for Devic's as if they were to make the wrong diagnosis and  treating someone with DMD for MS this would be of no use for Devic's.  I think the blood test is very expensive to perform and only a few pathology labs actually can perform the test, so cost could be a factor when making the decision if patients should be tested.  I guess if you fit the criteria with suspected spinal involvement or ON any good neuro would run the test anyway.

Thanks again sharing this info.
Cheers,
udkas

[Quixotic1]

Wow, wow, wow!!!  This really does differentiate it from MS.

I have read other stuff - that I really didn't tke note of - about the toxicity of glutamate.

Thanks!  and it does give them a specific place to look for therapies.

Soooo interesting.

Quix