Dermatomyositis as a presentation of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder

Importance: This is the first report of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) associated with dermatomyositis (DM). Report: A 40 year-old Caucasian female presented with 6 months of worsening fatigue, rash, acute weakness worse in her lower extremities, and urinary retention. She was found to have both NMOSD and anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene (MDA)5 positive DM with interstitial lung disease (ILD). She was treated aggressively and she regained her ability to ambulate. Conclusion: We recommend considering NMOSD in the differential diagnosis of patients with DM and other autoimmune disorders that also present with clinical signs of myelopathy. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.