Autoimmune Disorders
Another risk factor for neuromyelitis optica is an autoimmune disorder. This condition can confuse the immune system and make it harder to differentiate between your body’s tissues and cells with foreign invaders. As a result, this defensive mechanism would mistakenly attack your own body’s cells and trigger the condition. Some common autoimmune diseases include type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease, and Addison’s disease. The exact type that people develop would depend on the attacked body parts. In neuromyelitis optica, the affected systems are the spinal cord and optic nerves. You should also know that when an autoimmune disorder occurs, it would increase the risk of other forms. [7]
