Non-MS Autoimmune Diseases of the Central Nervous System

The body’s immune system protects it against disease. If you have a neurological autoimmune disease, your immune system may be overly active and mistakenly attack healthy cells. The most common of these is multiple sclerosis (MS). There are several other inflammatory disorders of the nervous system that need specialized care. At Mount Sinai, we have the expertise, experience, and resources to diagnose and treat these conditions. Our specialists can help you to improve your symptoms and quality of life.Mount Sinai diagnoses and treats neurological autoimmune diseases other than MS. The following are the most common:Neuromyelitis opticaIf you have neuromyelitis optica (NMO), you may experience loss of vision in one or both eyes, weakness in the limbs, difficulty walking, and changes in sensation. You may also have a hard time controlling your bladder and bowels.To diagnose NMO, we start with a medical history and physical exam. We also do blood work and a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)...