Simultaneous Presentation of High Risk Neuromyelitis Optica Syndrome and Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy

High-risk Neuromyelitis Optica syndrome is an inflammatory demyelinating disease characterized by the occurrence of bilateral, simultaneous optic neuritis or   by an isolated episode of transverse myelitis accompanied by longitudinally extensive spinal cord lesions. On the other hand, Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy is a primarily hereditary disorder that affects all tissues of the body and its clinical presentation is tissue-specific for the optic nerve and, eventually, it might reach spinal cord. Overlapping clinical features suggest Neuromyelitis Optica and Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy target the same organs. The case report described herein emphasizes the coexistence of both diseases, and suggests that further investigation of this challenging clinical presentation is warranted to confirm or rule out this association.