Bruce Cree, MD, PhD, MAS, Associate Professor of Clinical Neurology in the Department of Neurology at the University of California San Francisco, discusses which healthcare professional is most likely to diagnose patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD).
NMOSD is a rare central nervous disorder that primarily affects the spinal cord and optic nerves. Symptoms of NMOSD may include blindness in one or both eyes, weakness or paralysis of arms or legs, spasming, loss of sensation, uncontrollable vomiting and hiccups, and bladder/bowel problems due to spinal cord damage.
As Dr. Cree explains, neurologists often make the diagnosis. However, as optic neuritis can be an early sign of NMOSD, ophthalmologists and optometrists are sometimes the first to diagnose these patients. ER doctors may also see and diagnose NMOSD patients in some situations.
To learn more about NMOSD and other neurological disorders, visit https://checkrare.com/diseases/neurology-nervous-system-diseases/