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Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is an inflammatory/demyelinating disorder predominantly affecting the optic nerves and spinal cord. Recent findings showed an underlying humoral abnormality in NMO, characterized by a serum antibody against aquaporin-4 (Aqp-4-Ab). In this study, we evaluated the Aqp-4-Ab status among Turkish patients with NMO to determine the clinical and prognostic relevance. Serum samples from 35 consecutive patients with NMO followed at a single center and diagnosed according to the 2006 revised criteria, were evaluated for Aqp-4-Ab. All samples were obtained during a relapse prior to any immunosuppressive treatment. Aqp-4-Ab was positive in 21/35 (60%) patients. Among these cases, 11 had an EDSS of 6.0 or more, whereas only two patients in the seronegative group had such severe disability (p < 0.05). Overall, seropositive cases had a mean EDSS score of 5.1 ± 2.2 compared with 3.5 ± 1.7 in seronegative cases (p < 0.01). There were trends towards female predominance in seropositive cases and a monophasic course predominance in seronegative cases. Disease duration, age at onset, number of attacks and time to definite NMO did not differ between groups. Our findings in this single-center cohort suggest that the presence of Aqp-4-Ab might have a prognostic significance indicating a more severe disease course.

Original publication

DOI

10.1007/s00415-010-5780-4

Type

Journal article

Journal

J Neurol

Publication Date

03/2011

Volume

258

Pages

464 - 470

Keywords

Adolescent, Adult, Aquaporin 4, Autoantibodies, Biomarkers, Child, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Middle Aged, Neuromyelitis Optica, Prognosis, Turkey, Young Adult