Neuromyelitis optica

Neuromyelitis optica care at Mayo Clinic

• Your Mayo Clinic care team. Mayo Clinic's multidisciplinary approach ensures that you have a team of specialists collaborating on all aspects of your care. Doctors trained in brain and nervous system conditions (neurologists), eye and nervous system conditions (neuro-ophthalmologists), physical medicine and rehabilitation (physiatrists) are part of the care team. They work with health care providers in pain medicine, laboratory medicine, and other areas to work together to evaluate and treat people with NMO and related disorders.
• Advanced care. Mayo Clinic researchers discovered a specific marker of NMO — an autoantibody called NMO-IgG, later known as aquaporin-4 (AQP4) antibody. This antibody helps with the diagnosis of neuromyelitis optica. It also can help distinguish NMO from multiple sclerosis.

Expertise and rankings

• Experience. Each year, Mayo Clinic health care providers diagnose and treat both adults and children with neuromyelitis optica and other central nervous system disorders, including multiple sclerosis, optic neuritis, transverse myelitis and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis. Although NMO is rare, Mayo Clinic health care providers care for more than 180 people with NMO each year. That care is given on-site or through coordination with individuals' health care providers at home.

Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, ranks among the Best Hospitals for neurology and neurosurgery and is ranked high performing for ophthalmology in the U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals rankings.

Learn more about Mayo Clinic's neurology department's expertise and rankings.

Locations, travel and lodging

Mayo Clinic has major campuses in Phoenix and Scottsdale, Arizona; Jacksonville, Florida; and Rochester, Minnesota. The Mayo Clinic Health System has dozens of locations in several states.

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Costs and insurance

Mayo Clinic works with hundreds of insurance companies and is an in-network provider for millions of people.

In most cases, Mayo Clinic doesn't require a physician referral. Some insurers require referrals or may have additional requirements for certain medical care. All appointments are prioritized on the basis of medical need.

Learn more about appointments at Mayo Clinic.

Please contact your insurance company to verify medical coverage and to obtain any needed authorization prior to your visit. Often, your insurer's customer service number is printed on the back of your insurance card.