Abstract: In 19th century, neuromyelitis optica (NMO) indicated optic neuritis and myelitis with simultaneous onset of both sides. Later studies proposed that the onset of right or left side optic neuritis could be separated by weeks, months even years. The revolutionary discovery of aquaporin 4 (AQP4) antibody in 2004 by Vanda A Lennon challenged and changed the old concept of NMO. The concept of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSDs) was proposed in 2007. Since then, a series of different terms have been proposed, including opticospinal multiple sclerosis (OSMS), NMOSDs, spectrum of NMO, expanded spectrum of NMO, etc. Through a summary of different concepts of NMO, this paper will make a comprehensive review on the evolution history of NMO study from 19th to 21st century, and the prospective targets of study will also be proposed.

Key words: Neuromyelitis optica, Aquaporin 4, Review

摘要： 19 世纪中叶对视神经脊髓炎的认识是双侧同时发病的视神经炎和脊髓炎，而后续研究则发现两侧视神经炎呈先后发病，一般相隔数周、数月甚至数年。自2004 年水通道蛋白4 抗体被发现以来，“视神经脊髓炎”的概念遇到挑战并被修改。因此，2007 年提出“视神经脊髓炎谱系疾病”的概念，并由此产生一系列不同命名，包括视神经脊髓型多发性硬化、视神经脊髓炎谱系疾病、视神经脊髓炎疾病谱系、视神经脊髓炎谱系、视神经脊髓炎扩展谱系等。笔者拟通过对不同时期“视神经脊髓炎”概念的回顾，对19 ~ 21世纪有关视神经脊髓炎研究的历史沿革进行全面复习，前瞻未来研究方向。

关键词: 视神经脊髓炎, 水通道蛋白质4, 综述