Neuromyelitis optica in the elderly.

Blindness and quadriparesis developed in an elderly woman whose symptoms began at the age of 69 years. Postmortem examination revealed extensive demyelinative lesions in the optic nerves and spinal cord. The clinical and pathologic findings were consistent with the diagnosis of neuromyelitis optica ( NMO ). This case serves to document that NMO and presumably typical multiple sclerosis can occur initially at an advanced age.