视神经脊髓炎脊髓磁共振成像特征

目的 比较视神经脊髓炎(NMO)与多发性硬化(MS)的脊髓MRI特点,从MBI的角度重新认识NMO.方法 对20例MS患者和23例NMO患者的脊髓MRI进行同顾性分析.结果 NMO患者脊髓MRI多表现为线样延髓征、线样延髓脊髓征、线样脊髓征、脊髓横贯性或次横贯性损伤,且常超过3个节段(23例),而MS患者脊髓MRI病变节段短(≥3个节段者8例,χ2=19.142,P<0.01),常呈偏心性分布(17例,与NMO组比较,χ2=25.256,P<0.01).结论 NMO不同于MS,在MRI方面,病灶的分布有其自身特征,而MS的脊髓病灶与髓鞘走向一致.因此,我们从影像学角度进一步证实NMO是有异于MS的一种独立的疾病.     

Anti-aquaporin 4 antibody in Japanese multiple sclerosis with long spinal cord lesions]

Multiple sclerosis (MS) in Asian populations is often characterized by the selective involvement of the optic nerve (ON) and spinal cord (SP) (OSMS) in contrast to classic MS (CMS), where frequent lesions are observed in the cerebrum, cerebellum, or brainstem, as well as in the ON and SP. In Western countries, inflammatory demyelinating disease preferentially involves the ON and SP is called neuromyelitis optica (NMO). Recently, Lennon et al. have reported that NMO-immunoglobulin G (NMO-IgG), which has been shown to bind to aquaporin 4 (AQP4), could be a specific marker of the NMO. To examine the epidemiological and clinical spectra of Japanese MS with this antibody, we established an immunohistochemical detection system for the AQP4-Ab using the AQP4-transfected human embryonic kidney cell line (HEK-293) and confirmed AQP4-Ab positivity together with the immunohistochemical staining pattern of NMO-IgG in approximately 60% of Japanese MS patients with long spinal cord lesions extending over three vertebral segments (LCL (+) MS). Patients with OSMS without LCL and those with classic MS were negative for this antibody. AQP4 is totally lost in the OSMS lesions. The AQP4-Ab titer correlates with the activity of the disease and the symptom improves after plasma exchange. These results suggested the close relation to the pathogenesis of AQP4-Ab to NMO/OSMS.     

Autoimmunity in neuromyelitis optica and opticospinal multiple sclerosis: astrocytopathy as a common denominator in demyelinating disorders

Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) selectively affects the optic nerves and spinal cord. In Asians, multiple sclerosis (MS) is rare; however, when it appears, the selective and severe involvement of the optic nerves and spinal cord is characteristic. This form, termed opticospinal multiple sclerosis (OSMS), has similar features to the relapsing form of NMO in Westerners. The discovery that NMO-IgG, an NMO-specific IgG, targets aquaporin-4 (AQP4), suggested that NMO is a distinct disease entity with a fundamentally different etiology from MS. Because NMO-IgG is present in 30-60% of OSMS patients, OSMS in Asians is suggested to be the same entity as NMO. Pathologically, perivascular immune complex (IgM, IgG and C9neo) deposition and extensive loss of AQP4 in active lesions are reported hallmarks of NMO. However, we found that some autopsied NMO cases showed selective AQP4 loss while others showed preservation of AQP4, despite extensive tissue destruction. Vasculocentric deposition of complement and immunoglobulin was detected only in NMO patients, with less than 30% of actively demyelinating lesions showing AQP4 loss. Such heterogeneity of AQP4 expression and immunoglobulin deposition suggests a heterogeneous disease process in NMO. We recently reported that AQP4 was extensively lost in glial fibrillary acidic protein-positive hypertrophic astrocytes, both in demyelinated and myelinated layers of actively demyelinating lesions in Baló's disease, a variant of MS. We also found that in some acute MS lesions, AQP4 was lost extensively far beyond the areas of myelin loss. Active demyelinating lesions involved perivascular lymphocyte cuffings, consisting mainly of T cells in Baló's disease and MS, while the same was true for approximately half of the active lesions in NMO. This review proposes that anti-AQP4 antibody-dependent AQP4 loss occurs in some NMO patients while antibody-independent AQP4 astrocytopathy can occur in heterogeneous demyelinating conditions, including Baló's disease, NMO and MS. The latter may be mediated by T cells and other cell-mediated mechanisms, and should be tested in future experimental studies.     

Interferon beta-1b exacerbates multiple sclerosis with severe optic nerve and spinal cord demyelination

To evaluate the effect of interferon beta-1b (IFNB-1b) on multiple sclerosis (MS) with severe optic nerve and spinal cord demyelination, we examined the relationship between IFNB-1b treatment outcome and the clinical and genetic characteristics of three types of demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system, i.e., neuromyelitis optica (NMO), MS and MS with severe optic-spinal demyelination. Japanese MS frequently carried HLA DPB1*0501, which is associated with NMO. MS with DPB1*0501 showed severe optic-spinal demyelination represented by longitudinally extensive spinal cord lesion, blindness and CSF pleocytosis. IFNB-1b treatment did not succeed in these patients because of the increase of optic nerve and spinal cord relapse and other severe side effects. IFNB-1b should not be administered to demyelinating patients with genetic and clinical characteristics mimicking NMO such as HLA DPB1*0501 allele, longitudinally extensive spinal cord lesion, blindness and CSF pleocytosis even if they have symptomatic cerebral lesions as typically seen in MS. The present study strongly suggests that these patients should be diagnosed as having NMO.     

Disseminated encephalomyelitis in adults

Disseminated encephalomyelitis (DEM) is an inflammatory demyelinating disease that is common in children, but also appears in adults. It is often misdiagnosed as multiple sclerosis (MS) from which it differs in its clinical presentation, course of disease and prognosis. Some aspects of DEM overlap with neuromyelitis optica (NMO), another demyelination disease of CNS that was for a long time regarded as part of the MS spectrum, until discovery of the aquaporin-4 antibodies, claimed to be specific for NMO. The clinical symptoms of both may be similar, and their clinical courses may be monophasic or multiphasic, mild but also very aggressive. Neuroimaging in both diseases is characterized by large demyelinating lesions in the spinal cord extending over several segments, and/or in the brain often involving the locations of astrocytes water channels. Our cases of monophasic, multiphasic and recurrent DEM, invoking possible causative triggers, point to the conclusion that DEM has to be regarded as a separate disease; its similarities with NMO raise the expectations that other specific autoantibodies will be identified to explain DEM and its variations.     

视神经脊髓炎诊断进展

视神经脊髓炎是主要累及视神经和脊髓的中枢神经系统自身免疫性疾病,既往被认为是多发性硬化的一种亚型.自发现NMO-IgG以来,越来越多的证据提示视神经脊髓炎为一独立疾病.脊髓MRI所显示的长节段横贯性脊髓炎是其最具特征性的影像学改变,Wingerchuk诊断标准和美国国立多发性硬化协会推荐的诊断标准为目前常用标准.随着对视神经脊髓炎认识的加深,对视神经炎、脊髓炎及其脑部表现等临床症状的鉴别诊断水平也有所提高.     

Anti-aquaporin 4 antibody in selected Japanese multiple sclerosis patients with long spinal cord lesions

Multiple sclerosis (MS) in Asian populations is often characterized by the selective involvement of the optic nerve (ON) and spinal cord (SP) (OSMS) in contrast to classic MS (CMS), where frequent lesions are observed in the cerebrum, cerebellum or brainstem. In Western countries, inflammatory demyelinating disease preferentially involving the ON and SP is called neuromyelitis optica (NMO). Recently, Lennon et al. discovered that NMO-IgG, shown to bind to aquaporin 4 (AQP4), could be a specific marker of NMO and also of Japanese OSMS whose clinical features were identical to NMO having long spinal cord lesions extending over three vertebral segments (LCL). To examine this antibody in larger populations of Japanese OSMS patients in order to know its epidemiological and clinical spectra, we established an immunohistochemical detection system for the anti-AQP4 antibody (AQP4-Ab) using the AQP4-transfected human embryonic kidney cell line (HEK-293) and confirmed AQP4-Ab positivity together with the immunohistochemical staining pattern of NMO-IgG in approximately 60% of Japanese OSMS patients with LCL. Patients with OSMS without LCL and those with CMS were negative for this antibody. Our results accorded with those of Lennon et al. suggest that Japanese OSMS with LCL may have an underlying pathogenesis in common with NMO.     

视神经脊髓炎与多发性硬化的临床表现和视神经脊髓炎IgG抗体阳性率的对比

目的 比较视神经脊髓炎(NMO)和多发性硬化(MS)在临床表现、辅助检查等方面的不同;比较NMO和MS等脱髓鞘疾病患者血清NMO-IgG抗体的阳性率,判断该抗体能否作为鉴别诊断的一项实验室依据.方法 对34例NMO、22例MS、24例高危综合征、5例临床孤立综合征以及35例其他神经科疾病患者进行NMO-IgG检测,并对其中NMO、MS患者的人口学、临床表现、免疫学指标、脑脊液、头颅MRI等资料进行对比.结果 NMO的起病年龄较MS大且年龄跨度更广;从年复发率和进展指数来看,NMO更为严重,预后更差;NMO长节段脊髓损害者比MS多.NMO-IgG在NMO组和高危综合征组的阳性率分别为58.8%(20/34)和45.8%(11/24),高于MS组(1/22)、临床孤立综合征组(1/5)和其他疾病组(1/35;X2=37.2,P<0.01).NMO-IgG阳性率与脊髓病变长度相关.结论 NMO和MS在临床表现、辅助检查等方面都有所不同,提示NMO与MS可能是2种不同的疾病.NMO-IgG在NMO患者中的阳性率高于MS患者,可以作为鉴别诊断的一项实验室依据.     

视神经脊髓炎与多发性硬化的临床表现和视神经脊髓炎IgG抗体阳性率的对比

目的 比较视神经脊髓炎(NMO)和多发性硬化(MS)在临床表现、辅助检查等方面的不同;比较NMO和MS等脱髓鞘疾病患者血清NMO-IgG抗体的阳性率,判断该抗体能否作为鉴别诊断的一项实验室依据.方法 对34例NMO、22例MS、24例高危综合征、5例临床孤立综合征以及35例其他神经科疾病患者进行NMO-IgG检测,并对其中NMO、MS患者的人口学、临床表现、免疫学指标、脑脊液、头颅MRI等资料进行对比.结果 NMO的起病年龄较MS大且年龄跨度更广;从年复发率和进展指数来看,NMO更为严重,预后更差;NMO长节段脊髓损害者比MS多.NMO-IgG在NMO组和高危综合征组的阳性率分别为58.8%(20/34)和45.8%(11/24),高于MS组(1/22)、临床孤立综合征组(1/5)和其他疾病组(1/35;X2=37.2,P<0.01).NMO-IgG阳性率与脊髓病变长度相关.结论 NMO和MS在临床表现、辅助检查等方面都有所不同,提示NMO与MS可能是2种不同的疾病.NMO-IgG在NMO患者中的阳性率高于MS患者,可以作为鉴别诊断的一项实验室依据.     

视神经脊髓炎与多发性硬化的临床症状、脊髓MRI表现的对比分析

目的 结合视神经脊髓炎(NMO)与多发性硬化(MS)患者的临床症状和脊髓MRI特点探讨两者之间差异发生的机制.方法 回顾性分析中山大学附属第三医院自2004年1月至2007年1月收治的23例NMO患者及21例MS患者的临床资料,比较其临床症状及脊髓MRI上受损部位MRI上的差异.结果 NMO患者多为女性,且首次发病年龄、扩展病残状况评分(EDSS)评分均高于MS患者;双侧深感觉障碍、束带感、直肠或膀胱括约肌功能障碍3种临床症状在NMO、MS患者中的发生率不同,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05);上述各临床症状基本能在脊髓MRI找到相应受损病灶.结论 NMO是不同于MS的脱髓鞘疾病,其特殊的发病机制导致其临床症状与脊髓MRI均有自己的特点.     

视神经脊髓炎与多发性硬化的临床表现和视神经脊髓炎IgG抗体阳性率的对比

目的 比较视神经脊髓炎(NMO)和多发性硬化(MS)在临床表现、辅助检查等方面的不同;比较NMO和MS等脱髓鞘疾病患者血清NMO-IgG抗体的阳性率,判断该抗体能否作为鉴别诊断的一项实验室依据.方法 对34例NMO、22例MS、24例高危综合征、5例临床孤立综合征以及35例其他神经科疾病患者进行NMO-IgG检测,并对其中NMO、MS患者的人口学、临床表现、免疫学指标、脑脊液、头颅MRI等资料进行对比.结果 NMO的起病年龄较MS大且年龄跨度更广;从年复发率和进展指数来看,NMO更为严重,预后更差;NMO长节段脊髓损害者比MS多.NMO-IgG在NMO组和高危综合征组的阳性率分别为58.8%(20/34)和45.8%(11/24),高于MS组(1/22)、临床孤立综合征组(1/5)和其他疾病组(1/35;X2=37.2,P<0.01).NMO-IgG阳性率与脊髓病变长度相关.结论 NMO和MS在临床表现、辅助检查等方面都有所不同,提示NMO与MS可能是2种不同的疾病.NMO-IgG在NMO患者中的阳性率高于MS患者,可以作为鉴别诊断的一项实验室依据.     

Brain abnormalities in neuromyelitis optica

BACKGROUND: Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is a severe demyelinating disease defined principally by its tendency to selectively affect optic nerves and the spinal cord causing recurrent attacks of blindness and paralysis. Contemporary diagnostic criteria require absence of clinical disease outside the optic nerve or spinal cord. We have, however, frequently encountered patients with a well-established diagnosis of NMO in whom either asymptomatic or symptomatic brain lesions develop suggesting that the diagnostic criteria for NMO should be revised. OBJECTIVE: To describe the magnetic resonance image (MRI) brain findings in NMO. DESIGN: Observational, retrospective case series.Patients We ascertained patients through a clinical biospecimens database of individuals with definite or suspected NMO. We included patients who (1) satisfied the 1999 criteria of Wingerchuk et al for NMO except for the absolute criterion of lacking symptoms beyond the optic nerve and spinal cord and the supportive criterion of having a normal brain MRI at onset; (2) had MRI evidence of a spinal cord lesion extending 3 vertebral segments or more (the most specific nonserological feature to differentiate NMO from MS); and (3) were evaluated neurologically and by brain MRI at the Mayo Clinic. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Magnetic resonance images were classified as normal or as abnormal with either nonspecific, multiple sclerosis-like or atypical abnormalities. We evaluated whether brain lesions were symptomatic and analyzed the neuropathologic features of a single brain biopsy specimen. RESULTS: Sixty patients (53 women [88%]) fulfilled these inclusion criteria. The mean +/- SD age at onset was 37.2 +/- 18.4 years and the mean +/- SD duration of follow-up was 6.0 +/- 5.6 years. Neuromyelitis optica-IgG was detected in 41 patients (68%). Brain MRI lesions were detected in 36 patients (60%). Most were nonspecific, but 6 patients (10%) had multiple sclerosis-like lesions, usually asymptomatic. Another 5 patients (8%), mostly children, had diencephalic, brainstem or cerebral lesions, atypical for multiple sclerosis. When present, symptoms of brain involvement were subtle, except in 1 patient who was comatose and had large cerebral lesions. CONCLUSIONS: Asymptomatic brain lesions are common in NMO, and symptomatic brain lesions do not exclude the diagnosis of NMO. These observations justify revision of diagnostic criteria for NMO to allow for brain involvement.     

Preferential spinal central gray matter involvement in neuromyelitis optica

Objective To delineate the MRI features that distinguish neuromyelitis optica (NMO) from multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods We compared the distribution of the spinal cord lesions by analyzing 1) lesion area, 2) lesion density (by superimposing the lesions onto the standard sections of the cervical and thoracic cord with appropriate transparencies using computer software), and 3) T1-hypointensity in axial sections of MRI in NMO and MS. Results In NMO, 60–70% of the cervical and thoracic cord MRI lesions occupied more than half of the cord area and mainly involved the central gray matter in the acute stage. In the chronic stage, half or more of the lesions were localized at the central gray matter region. The lesion superimposition analysis also revealed much higher densities in the central gray matter region than in the peripheral white matter regions. Two patients with NMO had T1-hypointense lesions in the central region. In contrast, over 80% of the lesions in MS were localized in the lateral and posterior white matter regions of the cord in the chronic as well as acute stage. Lesion densities were much higher in the lateral and posterior white matter regions than in the central gray matter region. None of the lesions in MS were T1-hypointense. Conclusions These MRI findings strongly suggest a preferential involvement in the spinal central gray matter in NMO which is distinct from MS.     

Treatment of multiple sclerosis and neuromyelitis optica in children and adolescents

Paediatric multiple sclerosis (MS) accounts for up to 5% of all MS cases. No therapies have been formally approved for paediatric patients with MS. However, there is published experience on the use of disease modifying therapies in children and adolescents with MS.Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is an autoimmune inflammatory disease preferentially targeting the optic nerves and spinal cord. This devastating disease usually requires preventive therapy with a range of immunosuppressive medications. There are limited studies informing the use of these medications in children with NMO. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the published literature on therapeutic interventions in children and adolescents with MS and NMO.     

Detection of mumps virus RNA in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with neuromyelitis optica

Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is an acute inflammatory disease that preferentially involves the optic nerves and spinal cord. Although many infectious agents, including mumps virus, are postulated to have a role in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS), the relationship between NMO and infectious agents remains uncertain. To investigate the relationship between NMO and viruses that have special affinity for the central nervous system, we performed a nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect mumps virus or enterovirus RNA in cerebrospinal fluid samples from 13 patients with MS, 8 with NMO and 20 with other neurological diseases (ONDs). Nested PCR was positive for mumps virus in 2 (25%) of NMO patients, but in none of those with MS and ONDs. Moreover, nested PCR results became negative in the remission phase in the two PCR-positive NMO patients. Mumps virus may have some role in the pathogenesis of NMO.     

The spectrum of neuromyelitis optica: a case of NMO with extensive brain stem involvement

Neuromyelitis optica (NMO), regarded as a distinct clinical entity from multiple sclerosis (MS), is generally characterized by demyelinating lesions involving optic nerves and spinal cord with sparing of the brain. We report a case with initial clinical, radiological and serological features consistent with NMO, but with concomitant extensively clinical and radiological involvement of the brain stem. Although there are well defined criteria for NMO that restricts the lesions to optic nerves and spinal cord, the case presented here and the review of literature support the idea that NMO may present as a spectrum of clinical and radiological entities rather than the confining clinical criteria that has been hitherto applied.     

Devic's neuromyelitis optica: a critical review

Devic's neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is an idiopathic inflammatory demyelinating and necrotizing disease characterized by predominant involvement of the optic nerves and spinal cord. In Asian countries relapsing NMO has been known as opticospinal multiple sclerosis. It has long been debated if NMO is a variant of multiple sclerosis (MS) or a distinct disease. Recent studies have shown that NMO has more frequently a relapsing course, and results from attack to aquaporin-4 which is the dominant water channel in the central nervous system, located in foot processes of the astrocytes. Distinctive pathological features of NMO include perivascular deposition of IgG and complement in the perivascular space, granulocyte and eosinophil infiltrates and hyalinization of the vascular walls. These features distinguish NMO from other demyelinating diseases such as MS and acute demyelinating encephalomyelopathy. An IgG-antibody that binds to aquaporin-4, named NMO-IgG has high sensitivity and specificity. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies have revealed that more frequently there is a long spinal cord lesion that extends through three or more vertebral segments in length. Brain MRI lesions atypical for MS are found in the majority of cases. Treatment in the acute phase includes intravenous steroids and plasma exchange therapy. Immunosupressive agents are recommended for prophylaxis of relapses.     

视神经脊髓炎临床与病理

目的：分析视神经脊髓炎（NMO）的特征。方法：对114例NMO患者的临床资料,3例尸检结果,28例随访情况进行研究。结果：该病患者男女之比为1：2．5,发病年龄以12－50岁居多（85％）,急性和亚急性起病占大多数（74．84％）,视神经症状为首发占58．77％,视神经与脊髓症状的间隔时间在1年内者60例,占52．33％。脊髓以横贯性损害为主,有95例（83．33％）,以胸段损害最多（64．33％）,尸体解剖例2、3为NMO;病程中有缓解－复发者65例,其中有14例发展为多发性硬化,包括尸体解剖例1。结论：NMO有两种类型;复发型中有一小部分可发展成为MS,MRI,脑干视觉诱发电位和长期随访有利于NMO和MS的鉴别。     

Devic's neuromyelitis optica: clinical, laboratory, MRI and outcome profile

Devic's neuromyelitis optica (NMO) associates optic neuritis and myelitis without any other neurological signs. Many patients with NMO may be diagnosed as having multiple sclerosis (MS), optic neuritis and myelitis being the inaugural symptom in 20% and 5% of MS cases, respectively. The aim of our study was to compare a new NMO cohort with recent studies and to try to determine the place of NMO in the spectrum of MS. We retrospectively studied 13 patients with a complete diagnostic workup for NMO. We compared our data with the most recent studies on NMO and with the criteria proposed by Wingerchuck et al. [Neurology 53 (1999) 1107]. We also determined whether these patients fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for MS. Thirteen patients (10 women and three men, with a mean age of 37.4 years) were included in the study. We found similar results to previously published data, except for an association with vasculitis in 38% of our cases. All but three of the patients fulfilled the clinical criteria for MS and two patients fulfilled both clinical and MRI criteria for MS. However, if we applied more restrictive criteria concerning spinal cord and brain MRI and CSF, none of our NMO patients fulfilled the MS diagnostic criteria. NMO might therefore be differentiated from MS by the application of more stringent criteria. Furthermore, all NMO patients should be investigated for vasculitis, even those with no history of systemic disease.     

A central demyelinating disease with atypical features

There are clinical, laboratory and imaging criteria to distinguish multiple sclerosis (MS) from neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM). While MS has unknown aetiology, NMO is commonly associated with vasculitis and ADEM is supposed to be parainfectious in origin. In the present study, six patients are described from a group of 67 with a central demyelinating disorder whose clinical presentation did not conform to existing diagnostic criteria for ADEM, NMO or MS. Their clinical, laboratory and imaging characteristics were studied and analysed. Some features suggested a particular diagnosis but some other features favoured another diagnosis. The features included spinal cord involvement in a large vertical segment with cord swelling, optic neuritis, no lesions in the cerebral cortex, paraplegia with urinary retention during the acute phase, no oligoclonal band in cerebrospinal fluid, absence of any evidence of vasculitis, wide time-gap between spinal cord and optic nerve involvement, good recovery from acute phase of disease and a relatively benign course. We conclude that there exists a subpopulation of patients with central demyelinating disease in this region with mixed clinical features. Overall features suggested either a widened clinical spectrum of MS, NMO or ADEM or a possible overlap between them.