BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: It was the aim of this study to determine the prevalence of anti-aquaporin 4 antibody (anti-AQP4 Ab) and long spinal cord lesions in neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and multiple sclerosis (MS) patients in Taiwan. Asia has a relatively high rate of NMO compared with MS patients. Anti-AQP4 Ab is an important marker for NMO worldwide, but serological data and clinical profiles of NMO patients in Taiwan have not been reported. METHODS: This retrospective study compared the clinical symptoms, demographics, spinal cord lesion length and AQP4 Ab status of 34 patients with NMO with 34 patients diagnosed with conventional MS. RESULTS: Our NMO patients were predominantly middle-aged women (median age 45 years), exhibited many relapses (1.0/year) and displayed a higher Expanded Disability Status Scale score (4.75) than conventional MS patients. NMO patients exhibited long spinal cord lesions as detected by MRI. Forty-one percent of the NMO patients had detectable anti-AQP4 Ab. The Expanded Disability Status Scale score was significantly higher in AQP4 Ab- NMO patients. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of AQP4 Ab in a Taiwanese NMO group was 41%. Long spinal cord lesions and detection of AQP4 Ab helped to differentiate NMO patients from MS patients. Long spinal cord lesions with the anti-AQP4 Ab test may allow for an earlier diagnosis of NMO and improve therapeutic decisions.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: It was the aim of this study to determine the prevalence of anti-aquaporin 4 antibody (anti-AQP4 Ab) and long spinal cord lesions in neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and multiple sclerosis (MS) patients in Taiwan. Asia has a relatively high rate of NMO compared with MSpatients. Anti-AQP4 Ab is an important marker for NMO worldwide, but serological data and clinical profiles of NMO patients in Taiwan have not been reported. METHODS: This retrospective study compared the clinical symptoms, demographics, spinal cord lesion length and AQP4 Ab status of 34 patients with NMO with 34 patients diagnosed with conventional MS. RESULTS: Our NMO patients were predominantly middle-aged women (median age 45 years), exhibited many relapses (1.0/year) and displayed a higher Expanded Disability Status Scale score (4.75) than conventional MSpatients. NMO patients exhibited long spinal cord lesions as detected by MRI. Forty-one percent of the NMO patients had detectable anti-AQP4 Ab. The Expanded Disability Status Scale score was significantly higher in AQP4 Ab- NMO patients. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of AQP4 Ab in a Taiwanese NMO group was 41%. Long spinal cord lesions and detection of AQP4 Ab helped to differentiate NMO patients from MSpatients. Long spinal cord lesions with the anti-AQP4 Ab test may allow for an earlier diagnosis of NMO and improve therapeutic decisions.
Authors: Laura Clarke; Simon Arnett; Kate Lilley; Jacky Liao; Sandeep Bhuta; Simon A Broadley Journal: Clin Exp Immunol Date: 2021-07-06 Impact factor: 4.330
Authors: Shanthi Viswanathan; Masita Arip; Norhazlin Mustafa; Jasbir S Dhaliwal; Norzainie Rose; Sobri Muda; Santhi Datuk Puvanarajah; Mohammad Hanip Rafia; Mark Cheong Wing Loong Journal: Mult Scler Int Date: 2014-11-17