Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibodies in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is a severe inflammatory disease of the central nervous system characterized, in particular, by disabling episodes of optic neuritis and longitudinal extensive transverse myelitis. Its main pathogenic characteristic is the presence of anti-aquaporin-4 antibodies (AQP4-Abs) in the serum of affected patients. However, a proportion of patients with the typical NMOSD phenotype are, in fact, negative (seronegative) for AQP4-Abs and, within this category of patients, a proportion of them instead express antibodies to myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG-Abs). The presence of MOG-Abs in the sera of seronegative NMOSD patients is more frequently associated with monophasic disease and moderate symptom severity, and also appears to predict a better outcome. The present report is a review of the clinical and immunological features of MOG-Ab-positive NMOSD.     

Seizure incidence among neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder patients

BackgroundNeuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSDs) are a group of neuroinflammatory diseases, which mainly affect the optic nerve and spinal cord. NMOSD is an astrocytic channelopathy involving the aquaporin-4 (AQP4) water channels in the central nervous system. Patients can present with seizure attacks as a first manifestation or relapse. However, compared with multiple sclerosis (MS) or myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein encephalomyelitis (MOG-EM), seizure attacks are less frequent in NMOSD.MethodsIn this study, we aimed to find out the incidence of seizure attacks during the disease course of 137 NMOSD patients who were registered in our centre from January 2011 till January 2020. Furthermore, we reviewed the literature for NMOSD cases with seizure attacks during their follow-up, in order to investigate the reason for this low incidence of seizures.ResultsOnly one of our patients (0.72%) experienced an episode of generalised tonic-clonic seizure during his follow-up.ConclusionReviewing the literature revealed that although seizures are rare in NMOSD, AQP4 disruption possibly increases the risk of seizure attacks. We therefore concluded that the role of AQP4 in seizures is controversial and needs more investigation.     

Emerging treatments for neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder

Journal of Neurology -     

120例视神经脊髓炎谱系疾病临床特点分析

目的基于2015年诊断标准分析视神经脊髓炎谱系疾病(NMOSD)患者的临床特点和影像学特征。方法回顾性分析120例NMOSD患者的临床特点、影像学特征、以及对比水通道蛋白4(AQP4)抗体阳性和阴性患者的临床异同点。结果女性∶男性=2.75∶1,平均发病年龄37.1岁,平均病程21个月,80%患者为复发病程。起病症状视神经炎和脊髓炎分别占41.7%和40%。15.8%患者伴有自身免疫病;5.8%患者伴有内分泌疾病。78.1%的患者AQP4抗体阳性,抗体阳性组疾病严重程度评分显著高于抗体阴性组(P=0.026)。长节段横贯性脊髓炎占83.7%。头部MRI异常见于36.7%(44/120)患者。28.3%(34/120)患者脑脊液白细胞升高(5×10~6/L),脑脊液蛋白49.5 mg/dl(正常值:15~45 mg/dl);30.8%(37/120)患者寡克隆区带阳性;52.2%(24/46)患者髓鞘碱性蛋白阳性;40%(48/120)患者脑脊液免疫球蛋白G升高。结论 2015年诊断标准有助于NMOSD诊断,NMOSD长节段脊髓炎多见,短节段脊髓炎不能排除NMOSD,AQP4抗体阳性患者病情更重,应重视早期诊断。     

Seropositive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder in Emirati patients: A case series

ObjectiveTo describe clinical and radiological characteristics of seropositive neuromyelitis optica (NMO) in Emirati patients. While epidemiology of seropositive NMO in Abu Dhabi has been reported in a previous paper, its clinical and MRI profiles among Emirati patients have not been previously fully investigated.MethodsIn our case series, we describe clinical and MRI characteristics of 5 Emirati patients with NMO, consecutively admitted at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, a major tertiary hospital in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.ResultsPatients were all females, mean age of onset (SD) was 41 (11) years, and 67% had autoimmune comorbidities. Most patients initially presented with acute myelitis (80%) while 20% got optic neuritis. Mean (SD) number of further relapses after onset was 3 (1) and mean (SD) disease duration was 12 (11) years. At MRI, apparent longitudinal extensive transverse myelitis was present in all patients affecting mostly the central gray matter of the cervical cord but extending as well to the thoracic portion. Furthermore, seropositive NMO related brain lesions were also observed.ConclusionsOur work provides valuable information regarding seropositive NMO with the potential to increase recognition of this disorder in Abu Dhabi and confirms NMO findings described in the other populations with this disorder. Further research is needed to advance clinical and MRI characterization of seronegative NMO in the region.     

血清抗核抗体在视神经脊髓炎谱系疾病和多发性硬化中的分布

目的 研究血清抗核抗体(ANAs)在视神经脊髓炎谱系疾病(NMOSDs)和多发性硬化(MS)中的分布.方法 收集2009-01-2011-03间在作者医院神经内科门诊和住院诊治并行血清ANAs筛查的NMOSDs患者74例,包括视神经脊髓炎(NMO)53例、复发长节段横贯性脊髓炎(rLETM)20例和复发性视神经炎(RON)1例,以及MS患者49例,统计其血清ANAs阳性率并进行分析.结果 NMOSDs患者血清ANAs阳性率为45.9%(34/74),其中ANA(本文中特指用间接免疫荧光法检测的抗核抗体)、抗dsDNA、抗着丝粒抗体(ACA)、抗SSA抗体、抗SSB抗体阳性率分别为36.5%(27/74)、5.4%(4/74)、1.4%(1/74)、27.0%(20/74)、9.5%(7/74),MS组仅1例ANAs阳性,阳性率为2.0%(1/49),两组间差异有统计学意义(P<0.01).血清ANAs诊断NMOSDs的灵敏度为45.9%,特异度达98.0%;NMO和rLETM患者血清ANAs阳性率分别为47.2%和40.0%,两者无统计学差异(P=0.635).结论 NMO和rLETM患者血清ANAs阳性率高于MS组,支持NMO和rLETM同属于NMOSDs的观点.ANAs有可能是NMOSDs和MS两组疾病的鉴别指标之一.     

Prevalence of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder and phenotype distribution

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOsd) is a group of demyelinating disorders recently redefined and associated with NMO-IgG/anti-aquaporin 4 antibodies. Because NMOsd is of unknown prevalence worldwide, we conducted a retrospective, cross-sectional study of 850 patients with demyelinating disorders hospitalized in North East Tuscany from 1998 to 2006 to examine the prevalence of NMO and related disorders among unselected consecutive neurological patients with inflammatory CNS diseases and to evaluate the clinical phenotype spectrum of identified cases. Clinical data were updated after at least 2 years of follow-up. An immunofluorescence technique was used to detect NMO-IgG on rat brain tissue. Sera from other 828 neurological patients, 65 non-neurological patients and 50 healthy donors served as controls. The prevalence of NMOsd was 1.5%, with a MS:NMOsd ratio of 42.7. Among 13 NMOsd patients, 77% had long spinal cord lesions, 38% had severe optic neuritis and 23% had brain or brainstem lesions. Only 56% had clinically definite NMO at follow-up. The final EDSS score ranged from 1 to 10, mainly depending on brainstem involvement occurrence. Our findings confirm a low prevalence of NMO and related disorders among demyelinating inflammatory diseases in a Caucasian population. Moreover, this study demonstrates an unexpectedly high prevalence of limited and atypical variants of this disease, not previously documented.     

视神经脊髓炎谱系疾病在长期免疫抑制治疗前的病程特点及预后分析

目的了解中国视神经脊髓炎谱系疾病(NMOSD)患者有效免疫抑制治疗前的病程特点和预后。方法对122例中国NMOSD患者的首次发病症状、复发情况和神经功能障碍情况进行回顾性分析,应用KaplanMeier方法分析预后。结果 122例NMOSD患者(女性占86%)的首次发病症状,41例有视神经炎表现,43例累及脊髓,41例累及延髓最后区,累及脑部其他位置的15例,视神经和脊髓同时受累的仅2例。122例中116例(95%)病程中有复发,78例(67%)在发病1年内、94例(77%)在发病2年内复发,年复发率中位数(最小值~最大值)1.30(0.05~10.00)次/年。首次发作后,3个月后恢复期扩展残疾状态量表(EDSS)评分中位数(最小值~最大值)为0(0~7),仅6例(5%)不能独立行走(EDSS评分≥6);第2次临床发作后恢复期,99例(81%)无或仅有很轻微神经功能障碍(EDSS评分≤3),8例(7%)EDSS评分≥6。预后分析结果显示发病10年后约20%患者不能独立行走,25%至少单眼盲。结论此组中国NMOSD绝大多数呈复发性病程,虽有较明显的致残性,但前两次发作后仅有小部分患者遗留神经功能障碍。     

Increased frequency and severity of restless legs syndrome in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder

ObjectivesTo investigate the comorbidity of restless legs syndrome (RLS) and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD).MethodsThis study enrolled 159 NMOSD patients and 153 age- and gender-matched healthy controls. All participants completed a questionnaire based on the updated International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group consensus criteria, the International RLS Severity scale, Epworth Sleepiness Scale, Fatigue Severity Scale, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and were subsequently interviewed by a neurologist. The frequency and features of RLS were compared between NMOSD patients and healthy controls. The clinical and radiological characteristics of the NMOSD patients with and without RLS were also compared.ResultsThe frequency and severity of RLS were significantly higher in NMOSD patients than in healthy controls (p = 0.015 for both) and NMOSD patients with RLS had a longer disease duration and more severe disability than those without RLS.ConclusionsThis study indicated importance of considering RLS in NMOSD patients.     

Temporal dynamics of cerebrospinal fluid anti-aquaporin-4 antibodies in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) are associated with anti-aquaporin-4 autoantibodies (AQP4-IgG). Limited data is available on longitudinal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) AQP4-IgG and their relation to disease activity and inflammatory parameters. AQP4-IgG titers were measured in matched longitudinal serum and CSF samples of 12 patients with NMOSD by an immunofluorescence assay and correlated with clinical parameters. CSF AQP4-IgG were present in patients with high serum titers and correlated with spinal MRI lesion length and CSF parameters. Clinical improvement was associated with a decrease in CSF, but not serum, AQP4-IgG titers. Thus, CSF AQP4-IgG were associated with clinical activity and neuroinflammation.