Jameelah Saeedi
King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz University Hospital, Saudi Arabia
Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Neurol Neurophysiol
Neuromyeltis optica (NMO) also known as Devic's disease is an immune-mediated inflammatory disease of the central nervous system (CNS). Immune cells and auto-antibodies primarily attack optic nerves and spinal cord. NMO and multiple sclerosis (MS) are distinct diseases with some similar clinical and radiological features. In 2004, anti-AQP4 antibodies (NMO-IgG) was first reported to be associated with the disease, Since this discovery, the disease spectrum has significantly widened. Patients without the typical spinal cord and optic nerve manifestations have also been diagnosed with NMO. In 2015, new diagnostic criteria were published defining anti-AQP4 positive and negative disease with a new unified term, NMO spectrum disorder (NMOSD) to describe the disease. Although majority of NMO patients are positive for serum AQP-4 antibodies, some can exhibit negative results despite using the most sensitive available technique. The others might have antibodies targeting myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG). In my presentation, I will discuss the new diagnostic criteria for NMO, the differences between anti-MOG NMO and anti�AQP-4 NMO, the radiological features of the disease, as well as some practical points in the diagnosis and management of the disease. I will also present real cases that I have encountered during my clinical practice.
Jameelah Saeedi is a certified Saudi Neurologist who specializes in Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunological Diseases. She received her Medical qualification from King Abdulaziz University in Saudi Arabia in 2001 followed by two-boards in Neurology from Saudi Commission for Health Specialties and the Jordanian Medical Council in 2007. She is a alumni of University of British Columbia where she pursued her fellowship and training in Neuroimmunology and Multiple Sclerosis with Professor Peter Rieckman in 2009. In 2010, she received two more fellowships in Electromyography and Boutlinum Toxin Injection treatment from the University of Toronto. She is one of few leading pioneers who holds vast knowledge, experience, sub-specializes and practices Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunological Diseases in Saudi Arabia. She has been working at King Fahad Medical City as a Subspecialty Consultant and KFMC Comprehensive Neuroimmunology Program Director. She is currently working at King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz University Hospital in Saudi Arabia.
Email:jamysa@hotmail.com
Email:Jsaeedi1@yahoo.com
