Journal of Neuroinflammation (Jan 2012)

Contrasting disease patterns in seropositive and seronegative neuromyelitis optica: A multicentre study of 175 patients

  • Jarius Sven,
  • Ruprecht Klemens,
  • Wildemann Brigitte,
  • Kuempfel Tania,
  • Ringelstein Marius,
  • Geis Christian,
  • Kleiter Ingo,
  • Kleinschnitz Christoph,
  • Berthele Achim,
  • Brettschneider Johannes,
  • Hellwig Kerstin,
  • Hemmer Bernhard,
  • Linker Ralf A,
  • Lauda Florian,
  • Mayer Christoph A,
  • Tumani Hayrettin,
  • Melms Arthur,
  • Trebst Corinna,
  • Stangel Martin,
  • Marziniak Martin,
  • Hoffmann Frank,
  • Schippling Sven,
  • Faiss Jürgen H,
  • Neuhaus Oliver,
  • Ettrich Barbara,
  • Zentner Christian,
  • Guthke Kersten,
  • Hofstadt-van Oy Ulrich,
  • Reuss Reinhard,
  • Pellkofer Hannah,
  • Ziemann Ulf,
  • Kern Peter,
  • Wandinger Klaus P,
  • Bergh Florian,
  • Boettcher Tobias,
  • Langel Stefan,
  • Liebetrau Martin,
  • Rommer Paulus S,
  • Niehaus Sabine,
  • Münch Christoph,
  • Winkelmann Alexander,
  • Zettl U Uwe K,
  • Metz Imke,
  • Veauthier Christian,
  • Sieb Jörn P,
  • Wilke Christian,
  • Hartung Hans P,
  • Aktas Orhan,
  • Paul Friedemann

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1742-2094-9-14
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 9, no. 1
p. 14

Abstract

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Abstract Background The diagnostic and pathophysiological relevance of antibodies to aquaporin-4 (AQP4-Ab) in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) has been intensively studied. However, little is known so far about the clinical impact of AQP4-Ab seropositivity. Objective To analyse systematically the clinical and paraclinical features associated with NMO spectrum disorders in Caucasians in a stratified fashion according to the patients' AQP4-Ab serostatus. Methods Retrospective study of 175 Caucasian patients (AQP4-Ab positive in 78.3%). Results Seropositive patients were found to be predominantly female (p 1 myelitis attacks in the first year were identified as possible predictors of a worse outcome. Conclusion This study provides an overview of the clinical and paraclinical features of NMOSD in Caucasians and demonstrates a number of distinct disease characteristics in seropositive and seronegative patients.

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