NEUROMYELITIS OPTICA IN PREGNANCY: A RARE CASE REPORT

Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) a neuroinflammatory autoimmune disease causing destruction of the Central Nervous System, Here a 31 year old female patient visited SSG OPD with pain in the left upper back and shoulder along with lower extremities weakness. The patient was 17 weeks pregnant. Temperature, blood pressure, pulse rate was normal. General condition was fair. Later on many blood tests were carried out to check for auto immunity including ANA titer, Anti SSA; everything came positive. Suspicion arose over NMO, Anmo ab titer test was done; the test came positive. Hence the diagnosis of NMO. Biggest challenge included that the patient was pregnant and many drugs would have been contraindicated in such case. Too much caution was advised. The disease was treated with Plasma exchange therapy, steroids followed by CNS pain relievers. The patient was stable at the time of discharge but there was a high chance of recurrence