Our results show that cell-based IIFA detects AQP4 autoantibodies in 78% of NMO patients and 75% of patients having relapsing myelitis with LETM, while tissue-based IIFA detect NMO-IgG in 61% of NMO patients and 50% of patients having relapsing myelitis with LETM. Here, AQP4 is linked to neuromyelitis optica.