Early intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) may be effective in severe brainstem-spinal encephalo- myelopathy refractory to steroid suggestive of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders

We present fi ve cases of severe brainstem-spinal encephalomyelopathy suggestive of neuromyelitis optica (NMO) spectrum disorders treated with or without intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG). The result shows that early IVIG is probably effective in preserving neurological function in cases with severe brainstem-spinal encephalomyelopathy suggestive of NMO spectrum disorders.