BACKGROUND: A polyspecific, intrathecal humoral immune response against neurotropic viruses such as measles, rubella and varicella zoster virus (MRZ reaction, MRZR) is present in 80-100% of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), but has not to date been evaluated in patients with neuromyelitis optica (NMO). AIMS: To evaluate whether MRZR distinguishes NMO and MS. METHODS: 20 patients with NMO and 42 with MS were included. The intrathecal synthesis of antibodies against measles, rubella and varicella zoster virus was detected by calculation of the respective antibody indices (AI). RESULTS: A positive MRZ reaction, as defined by a combination of at least two positive AIs, was found in 37/42 MS, but in only 1/20 NMO patients (p<0.0001). Median AI values differed significantly between the groups (p<0.0005). CONCLUSIONS: The polyspecific antiviral humoral immune response characteristic for MS is widely missing in NMO, irrespective of the NMO-IgG status of the patients. Our findings further strengthen the case for NMO being pathologically distinct from MS.
BACKGROUND: A polyspecific, intrathecal humoral immune response against neurotropic viruses such as measles, rubella and varicella zoster virus (MRZ reaction, MRZR) is present in 80-100% of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), but has not to date been evaluated in patients with neuromyelitis optica (NMO). AIMS: To evaluate whether MRZR distinguishes NMO and MS. METHODS: 20 patients with NMO and 42 with MS were included. The intrathecal synthesis of antibodies against measles, rubella and varicella zoster virus was detected by calculation of the respective antibody indices (AI). RESULTS: A positive MRZ reaction, as defined by a combination of at least two positive AIs, was found in 37/42 MS, but in only 1/20 NMO patients (p<0.0001). Median AI values differed significantly between the groups (p<0.0005). CONCLUSIONS: The polyspecific antiviral humoral immune response characteristic for MS is widely missing in NMO, irrespective of the NMO-IgG status of the patients. Our findings further strengthen the case for NMO being pathologically distinct from MS.
Authors: Martin Stangel; Sten Fredrikson; Edgar Meinl; Axel Petzold; Olaf Stüve; Hayrettin Tumani Journal: Nat Rev Neurol Date: 2013-03-26 Impact factor: 42.937
Authors: M Ringelstein; O Aktas; J Harmel; D Prayer; S Jarius; B Wildemann; H-P Hartung; S Salhofer-Polanyi; F Leutmezer; P S Rommer Journal: Nervenarzt Date: 2014-10 Impact factor: 1.214
Authors: Maximilian Gahr; Florian Lauda; Moritz E Wigand; Bernhard J Connemann; Angela Rosenbohm; Hayrettin Tumani; Markus Reindl; Zeljko Uzelac; Jan Lewerenz Journal: BMJ Case Rep Date: 2015-04-26
Authors: Johannes Brettschneider; Anne Czerwoniak; Makbule Senel; Lubin Fang; Jan Kassubek; Elmar Pinkhardt; Florian Lauda; Tamara Kapfer; Sarah Jesse; Vera Lehmensiek; Albert C Ludolph; Markus Otto; Hayrettin Tumani Journal: PLoS One Date: 2010-08-05 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Johannes Brettschneider; Hayrettin Tumani; Ulrike Kiechle; Rainer Muche; Gayle Richards; Vera Lehmensiek; Albert C Ludolph; Markus Otto Journal: PLoS One Date: 2009-11-05 Impact factor: 3.240