Devics

[Juliet232]

My ten your old brother tested positive for devics for his spinal tap came back negative. Is that normal? The doctor is waiting for the genetics results to come back. Is devics something that can be genetic? Do you recommend we get a second opinion?

At the moment the only symptom is that he had optic neuritis. His been taken steroid which has help because his slowly starting to see blurriness.

What do you advice?

[Juliet232]

Do all people who have devics have the same symptoms? So far my brother only has optic neuritis but has not shown any of the other symptoms. Is it possible to have devices and not have all the attacks associated with devices?

Besides devices and MS are there other causes for Optic Neuritis??

[DrNoopurMD]

Hi,

Yes there is a possibility that the spinal tap may be normal in patients with Devics disease. The spinal fliud may show elevated WBC but it is not a consistent finding. A novel antibody has been discovered at Mayo clinic, NMO IgG which is quite specific and sensitive.
http://www.mayoclinic.org/devics-disease/diagnosis.html
There is some evidence that the disease has a genetic basis. The molecular genetic research for devic’s is ongoing.
http://www.mayoclinic.org/devics-disease/research.html