Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disease Research Articles

Depression and Anxiety in Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disease (NMOSD): Analysis of a National Dataset (P10-14.007)

Depression and Anxiety in Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disease (NMOSD): Analysis of a National Dataset (P10-14.007)

Comparison of Depression and Anxiety in Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disease and Multiple Sclerosis Patients: Analysis of Two National Datasets (P11-14.002)

Comparison of Depression and Anxiety in Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disease and Multiple Sclerosis Patients: Analysis of Two National Datasets (P11-14.002)

Differential diagnosis of acute flaccid paralysis in children with Guillain—Barré syndrome and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder: Clinical cases

Background. Acute flaccid paralysis is a clinical syndrome characterized by a sudden onset of weakness in one or more limbs with decreased or absent tendon reflexes in the affected limbs. This condition may be a manifestation of such pathologies as Guillain-Barré syndrome and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder. Clinical cases description. We describe two clinical cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome in patient M., 7 years old, and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder in patient D., 3 years old. In both children, the main clinical manifestation was acute flaccid paralysis. Patient M. was admitted to the Neurological Department of the Moscow Regional Center for Maternity and Childhood Protection with complaints of sharp pronounced weakness in the limbs, inability to walk. According to the disease history, the patient had an acute respiratory viral infection in October 2022. The conducted neurologic examination revealed decreased muscle tone and muscle strength in all limbs, absence of reflexes from the lower limbs. A liquor test was conducted, which revealed increased protein contents. Electroneuromyography detected a pronounced axonal lesion of all motor fibers in the arms and legs. The formulated diagnosis was “Guillain-Barré syndrome, variant of acute motor axonal neuropathy.” The treatment with plasmapheresis and intravenous immunoglobulins showed positive dynamics. In the second case, patient D. was admitted to the Pediatric Infectious Disease Department of Naro-Fominsk Hospital with similar complaints of sharp weakness in the limbs. Neurological examination showed a diffuse decrease in muscle tone, absence of reflexes from all limbs. Elevated protein contents were determined in the liquor. MRI of the cervical spinal cord showed myelitis of segments C3–C7. Negative antibodies to aquaporin-4 were found. The patient was treated with ceftriaxone, methylprednisolone, and plasmapheresis. Then he was transferred to the Neurological Department of the Moscow Regional Center for Maternity and Childhood Protection, where a repeated MRI of the cervicothoracic spinal cord revealed, in addition to myelitis at the level of C3–C7, a lesion of segments from the level of C2 to the medulla oblongata. The formulated diagnosis was “Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disease, seronegative form. Flaccid tetraparesis.” The continued treatment with prednisolone and intravenous immunoglobulin produced positive effect. Conclusion. The presented clinical cases will help neurologists to improve timely diagnosis and treatment of causes of acute flaccid paralysis in children, thereby reducing possible complications, disability, and mortality.

[Anti-MOG associated disease].

Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein Antibody Associated Disease (MOGAD) is an autoimmune disease responsible for demyelination of the central nervous system that can occur in adults or children. Overlapping phenotypes between MOGAD, multiple sclerosis (MS) and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disease (NMOSD) have been described. The diagnostic criteria for MOGAD were proposed by a panel of international experts and published in 2023. Defining clinical, biological and imaging characteristics specific to this entity helps to improve diagnostic specificity. In this article, we present the clinical characteristics suggestive of MOGAD and discuss the importance of the antibody detection method and therapeutic management.

Clinical course features of atypical demyelinating optic neuritis: case series

Optic neuritis (ON) can often occur at the onset of a demyelinating autoimmune CNS disease or as one of its clinical manifestations. The introduction of novel laboratory techniques, technical advances in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), electrophysiologic studies, and ocular imaging have significantly expanded the spectrum of autoimmune optic neuropathies. Identification of different forms of ON based on clinical and instrumental data can lead to early diagnosis of the underlying neurologic disorder. According to current guidelines, one can distinguish between typical ON, which are mainly associated with multiple sclerosis (MS), and atypical ON, which are the main clinical manifestation of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) and diseases associated with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibodies (MOGAD). In this paper, we present four clinical cases of atypical ON at the onset of NMOSD and MOGAD and illustrate the high diagnostic value of a multidisciplinary approach.

New advancements in the management of Neuromyelitis Optica spectrum disease: literature review

Neuromyelitis Optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is a relapsing autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS) where aquaporin-4 water channels are the antigenic target of the disease. The spectrum of the disease involves regions of the CNS where the water channel is widely expressed including the spinal cord, the optic nerve, dorsal medulla, brainstem, and thalamus/hypothalamus. Management of NMOSD includes acute as well as long term treatment. Acute symptoms are typically treated with intravenous corticosteroids and/or plasma exchange while long-term treatment involves the use of immunosuppression/immune modulation. The year 2019 is thought to be the “year of the NMOSD” as three new medications became available for this devastating disease. In this review, FDA approved NMOSD medications are discussed.

Misdiagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis in Neuromyelitis Optica: Results from multi-institutional database analysis from the United States (P13-5.004)

<h3>Objective:</h3> To ascertain the frequency of Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disease (NMOSD) misdiagnosis as Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and thus related use of FDA-approved disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) for MS, in a national cohort. <h3>Background:</h3> NMOSD is an antibody-mediated inflammatory disease of the central nervous system (CNS) that targets the optic nerves, spinal cord, and certain brain regions. NMOSD patients may be misdiagnosed with the more common condition of MS, given some shared signs and symptoms. Misdiagnosed NMOSD patients may be exposed to certain MS DMTs that could potentially worsen the morbidity associated with NMOSD. <h3>Design/Methods:</h3> Preliminary de-identified aggregate data was obtained utilizing TriNetX, a federated health research network providing access to statistics on electronic medical records that included sixty-one health care organizations (HCOs) within the United States. Patients with the ICD-10 code of NMO (G36.0) were queried within the database from 2008 to 2022. <h3>Results:</h3> Of the 7768 NMO patients were identified from the TriNETX database, 75.0% were female (n=5826), the mean age (SD) was 49.1 (18.1) years, 53.0% were white (n=4,117), 27.0% (n=2097) were black, 3.0% were Asian (n=223), and the remain are unknown 17.0% (n= 1331). In the four Census Regions, we included 1750 patients from the Northeast, 1012 patients from the Midwest, 4048 from the South, and 872 from the West. Of all NMO patients, 44% (n=3,421) were diagnosed with MS at some point during their course, and 853 NMOSD patients received at least one FDA-approved MS therapy. Sensitive analysis will be completed on geographic variance based on the four censuses of misdiagnosis and prescribed FDA-approved MS DMTs. <h3>Conclusions:</h3> Many NMOSD patients were misdiagnosed with MS in this national population, and almost one-quarter of misdiagnosed patients were prescribed an FDA-approved MS DMT. An understanding of the specific characteristics of misdiagnosed NMOSD patients is warranted to better understand the factors increasing the risk of misdiagnosis. <b>Disclosure:</b> Mr. Wong has nothing to disclose. Dr. Noroozi Gilandehi has nothing to disclose. Miss Francis has nothing to disclose. Alen Delic has nothing to disclose. Dr. Germaine has nothing to disclose. Dr. Wright has nothing to disclose. Dr. Galli has nothing to disclose. Dr. Kadish has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Scientific Advisory or Data Safety Monitoring board for Genentech. The institution of Dr. Kadish has received research support from Alexion Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Paz Soldan has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant for TG Therapeutics. The institution of Dr. Paz Soldan has received research support from National Institutes of Health. The institution of Dr. Paz Soldan has received research support from National Multiple Sclerosis Society. The institution of Dr. Paz Soldan has received research support from Western Institute for Biomedical Research. The institution of Dr. Paz Soldan has received research support from Biogen. The institution of Dr. Paz Soldan has received research support from Novartis. The institution of Dr. Paz Soldan has received research support from Clene Nanomedicine. An immediate family member of Ms. Klein has received personal compensation for serving as an employee of Amgen. An immediate family member of Ms. Klein has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for Amgen. Dr. Greenlee has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as an Editor, Associate Editor, or Editorial Advisory Board Member for Medlink. Dr. Greenlee has received personal compensation in the range of $5,000-$9,999 for serving as an Expert Witness for Sommers Schwartz Law Offices. Dr. Greenlee has received publishing royalties from a publication relating to health care. Dr. Greenlee has received publishing royalties from a publication relating to health care. The institution of Dr. Rose has received research support from National Multiple Sclerosis Society. The institution of Dr. Rose has received research support from Guthy Jackson Charitable Foundation. The institution of Dr. Rose has received research support from NIH . The institution of Dr. Rose has received research support from VA. The institution of Dr. Rose has received research support from Biogen. The institution of Dr. Rose has received research support from Friends of MS. Dr. Rose has received intellectual property interests from a discovery or technology relating to health care. Dr. Smith has nothing to disclose. Dr. Clardy has received personal compensation for serving as an employee of Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Dr. Clardy has received personal compensation for serving as an employee of University of Utah Health. Dr. Clardy has received personal compensation in the range of $10,000-$49,999 for serving as an Editor, Associate Editor, or Editorial Advisory Board Member for Neurology/AAN Publications. The institution of Dr. Clardy has received research support from Sumaira Foundation for NMO. The institution of Dr. Clardy has received research support from Western Institute for Veteran Research. The institution of Dr. Clardy has received research support from NIH/NINDS. Dr. Clardy has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a AAN Summer Meeting CoDirector Travel and Lodging with AAN. Dr. Clardy has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Grand Rounds Travel and Lodging with U of Iowa. Dr. Clardy has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Speaker Honoraria for Grand Rounds with Barrow Neurological Institute. Dr. Clardy has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Speaker Honoraria for Grand Rounds with Beaumont Health.

Evaluation of Intelligence Quotient (IQ) in Patients with Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disease and Multiple Sclerosis

Evaluation of Intelligence Quotient (IQ) in Patients with Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disease and Multiple Sclerosis

Comments on the article “Consensus opinion on the management of patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum diseases: issues of terminology and therapy”

Comments were provided on the article on the management of patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum diseases (NMOSD), published in the journal "Neurology, Neuropsychiatry, Psychosomatics" No. 6 for 2022. The main comments relate to the management of patients with NMOSD who do not have antibodies to aquaporin-4 (AQP4-Ab), and methods for detecting these antibodies.

Assessment of intelligence quotient in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disease and multiple sclerosis.

Cognitive impairment is common in people living with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disease (NMOSD) and multiple sclerosis (MS). However, there is little published data on intelligence quotient (IQ) in NMOSD patients. Therefore, we performed the present study to compare IQ scores across NMOSD, MS, and control groups. In this cross-sectional study, 49 NMOSD (30 with positive aquaporin4 antibody), 41 MS, and 20 control individuals were recruited. The IQ score for each person was measured using Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised (WAIS-R). Participants were reported on eleven scores of subsets, verbal IQ (VIQ), performance IQ (PIQ), and full score IQ (FSIQ). The scores of FSIQ, VIQ, PIQ, vocabulary, similarities, and digit-symbol in NMOSD and MS individuals were lower than the control group. Relative to control, NMOSD patients reported a lower score of information. We found no difference between NMOSD and MS groups, except in vocabulary and similarities. No significant difference between seropositive and seronegative NMOSD groups was observed except for the information and block design. In NMOSD group, a greater EDSS score was associated with decreased scores of FSIQ, VIQ, and PIQ. Being employed and being married were associated with greater scores of VIQ and PIQ, respectively. In both NMOSD and MS groups, advanced education was associated with increased scores of FSIQ and VIQ. Our study showed decreased IQ scores in NMOSD and MS. Further studies are required to examine intellectual quotient in people with NMOSD and MS.

The Characteristics of Cognitive Proficiency in Patients with Acute Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disease and its Correlation with Serum Aquaporin-4 Antibody Titer.

To explore the characteristics and dynamic evolution of cognitive impairment in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). Twenty-five patients with acute NMOSD and 30 age-matched healthy individuals were consecutively recruited in this study. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Chinese Version of Rey Auditory Vocabulary Learning Test (CRAVLT), Verbal Fluency Test (VFT), Digital Span Test (DST), Paced Auditory Serial Addition Task 3/2s version (PASAT-3/2), Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test (ROCF) and Stroop Color and Word Test (CWT) were used to evaluate cognitive function. The correlations between cognitive function and serum aquaporin-4 (AQP-4) antibody titer were analyzed. Sixty-four percent of patients with acute NMOSD had cognitive dysfunction. MoCA (p &lt; 0.001), CRAVLT-N7 (p = 0.004), CRAVLT-N8 (p = 0.011), ROCF-C (p = 0.005), ROCF-R (p &lt; 0.001), PASAT-3 (p = 0.013), PASAT-2 (p = 0.001) and CWT-A (p = 0.017) were significantly worse in patients with acute NMOSD than those in control group. During follow-up visits, significant differences of serum AQP-4 antibody titers were still noted in NMOSD patients (p &lt; 0.001), while no significant differences were found by MoCA. A high number of patients with acute NMOSD suffer from cognitive dysfunction. Serum AQP-4 antibody titers can decrease during disease remission, while obvious cognitive decline in these patients still exists.

Report of a case of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disease with symptomatic epilepsy

Report of a case of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disease with symptomatic epilepsy

Clinical analysis of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disease with area postrema syndrome as the initial symptom

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to report and discuss clinical analysis, including the diagnosis and treatment of 4 cases of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disease (NMOSD) with area postrema syndrome (APS) as the first symptom.MethodsFour patients with intractable nausea, vomiting, and confirmed NMOSD were included in the final analysis. All of these patients were initially misdiagnosed and mismanaged.ResultsAmong the 4 patients, 3 were admitted to the department of gastroenterology at the onset of the disease, and 2 were not correctly diagnosed and treated promptly due to misdiagnosis. Therefore, their symptoms worsened, and they were transferred to Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for life support. No obvious early medulla lesions were found in one patient. One patient was treated with intravenous immunoglobulin, methylprednisolone, and plasma exchange, but there was no significant clinical improvement, after which the disease relapsed during the treatment with low-dose rituximab.ConclusionThe clinical manifestations of NMOSD are complex and diverse, and the initial symptoms, onset age of the patient, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings can influence the final diagnosis. Early identification of the APS and timely therapy can prevent visual and physical disabilities, even respiratory failure, coma, and cardiac arrest. Therefore, it is necessary to identify specific and sensitive serum and imaging markers for predicting the prognosis and recurrence of the disease.

Consensus opinion on the management of patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum diseases: issues of terminology and therapy

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) are a group of inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system characterized by episodes of immune-mediated astrocytopathy, inflammatory demyelination and axonal damage, predominantly affecting the optic nerves and spinal cord. Currently, there are several unresolved issues that make it difficult to provide medical care to patients with NMOSD. The objective of this publication is to present the results of the work of the Russian experts panel, held in September 2022. The consensus council of experts adopted the main definitions and terms for NMOSD, proposed a therapeutic algorithm to prevent exacerbations in patients with NMOSD with serum IgG antibodies to aquaporin-4 (AQP4-IgG). The experts formulated profiles of patients with NMOSD to whom eculizumab may be recommended, and proposed a risk management plan during the treatment with this drug. The experts worked out the next steps, which are necessary for the improvement of medical care for these patients: development of unified electronic register of patients with NMOSD in the Russian Federation, development and approval of clinical guidelines.

Intravenous ofatumumab treatment of multiple sclerosis and related disorders: An observational study

BackgroundOfatumumab is an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody approved for subcutaneous administration for the treatment of relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS), but intravenously administered ofatumumab has been investigated in a phase 2 trial and used off-label. The objective of the present study was to assess disease activity and side effects in relation to longer-term intravenous ofatumumab treatment of MS and related disorders. MethodsWe conducted a retrospective study of patients treated off-label with intravenous ofatumumab for MS, neuromyelitis optica spectrum disease (NMOSD) and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD) at the Danish Multiple Sclerosis Center. Data was retrieved from the Danish Multiple Sclerosis Registry and through medical chart review. ResultsFifty patients were identified with a median treatment duration of 2.2 years. Annualized relapse rate decreased from 1.03 at baseline to 0.38 during ofatumumab treatment. At 24 months, the probability of having experienced a relapse was 55% and confirmed disability worsening 7%. Frequency of infusion-related reactions was 86% during the first infusion and 42% during the last infusion. Six experienced infections requiring hospitalization. ConclusionOur data indicate a reduction of relapse frequency, stabilization of disability worsening and an acceptable safety profile, although we observed a higher frequency of infusion reactions compared to data from other intravenously administered anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies. The study supports a class effect of anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies and the hypothesis that complement activation may be associated to a higher frequency of infusion related reactions.

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disease coexisting with subacute combined degeneration: a case report

BackgroundSubacute combined degeneration (SCD) is a demyelinating disease characterized by vitamin B12 deficiency related segmental degeneration of the dorsal or lateral columns of the spinal cord. However, few cases have been reported as a comorbidity of SCD and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disease (NMOSD).Case presentationHerein, we describe a female patient (61-year-old) who had sensory deficits, paresthesia, and weakness of the distal extremities for over 2 months. She then received an initial diagnosis of SCD with typical inverted “V-sigh” hyperintensities over the posterior aspect of the spinal cord in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI - T2-weighted imaging), as well as megaloblastic anaemia in blood examinations. From the past history, there was no evidence of a dietary deficiency or gastric abnormalities. However, traditional treatment with vitamin B12 supplementation was ineffective. Hence, a demyelinating antibody examination showed that she had antibodies targeting aquaporin 4 (AQP4) in both the cerebrospinal fluid and serum, leading to the diagnosis of NMOSD. Her clinical symptoms were obviously improved after treatment with intravenous glucocorticoids.ConclusionPeople who have nutritional deficiency or altered gastrointestinal function are more likely to develop SCD. This case raises the awareness that the poor therapeutic effects of simple vitamin B12 supplementation could be explained by immunoreactions against AQP4. A better recognition will be of great importance for the correct diagnosis of the comorbidity, as well as for essential treatment and even a better prognosis.

A meta-analysis on efficacy and safety of rituximab for neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders.

To assess the efficacy and safety of rituximab (RTX) in the treatment of neuromyelitis optica spectrum diseases (NMOSDs), and give a guideline on clinical medication. The databases of Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane Library, CNKI, and Wan fang were systematically searched by computer, and the search period was from the establishment of the databases until January 2022. To collect the trials of RTX in the treatment of NMOSDs, two researchers completed literature screening, quality assessment, and data extraction independently. Statistical analysis was performed using Review Manager 5.3 and Stata 15.1 software. There were 37 studies in the meta-analysis, including 5 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and 32 observational studies. Meta-analysis results revealed that NMOSDs patients treated with RTX significantly reduced the annualized relapse rate (ARR) (weighted mean difference [WMD] = 1.45, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.24-1.66, P < .01) and the Expanded disability status scale (EDSS) scores (WMD = 1.34, 95%CI: 1.25-1.44, P < .01). RTX is more effective than azathioprine (AZA) in the treatment of NMOSDs (ARR: WMD = -0.54, 95% CI: -0.75 to -0.33; EDSS: WMD = -0.65, 95% CI: -0.83 to -0.48; P < .0001).There was no difference in ARR and EDSS scores between anti-aquapor in-4-antibody seropositive NMOSD and seronegative NMOSD patients treated with RTX (ARR: WMD = -0.01, 95% CI: -0.25 to 0.24, P = .96 > 0.05; EDSS: WMD = 0, 95% CI: -0.30 to 0.31, P = .99 > 0.05). In this study, 681 patients were recorded safety data of RTX therapy, 23% (156 patients) had adverse events, and 0.7% (5 patients) of NMOSDs discontinued due to severe adverse reactions. NMOSDs patients treated with RTX can significantly reduce the relapse frequency and EDSS scores, and also improve neurological dysfunction, besides the efficacy is better than azathioprine. RTX has a high incidence of adverse reactions, which are mild and with certain self limited, it should be cautious in clinical medication.

The Pediatric Optic Neuritis Prospective Outcomes Study: Two-Year Results

Pediatric optic neuritis (ON) is a rare disease that has not been well characterized. The Pediatric ON Prospective Outcomes Study (PON1) was the first prospective study to our knowledge aiming to evaluate visual acuity (VA) outcomes, including VA, recurrence risk, and final diagnosis 2 years after enrollment. Nonrandomized observational study at 23 pediatric ophthalmology or neuro-ophthalmology clinics in the United States and Canada. A total of 28 (64%) of 44 children initially enrolled in PON1 (age 3-<16 years) who completed their 2-year study visit. Participants were treated at the investigator's discretion. Age-normal monocular high-contrast VA (HCVA). Secondary outcomes included low-contrast VA (LCVA), neuroimaging findings, and final diagnoses. A total of 28 participants completed the 2-year outcome with a median enrollment age of 10.3 years (range, 5-15); 46% were female, and 68% had unilateral ON at presentation. Final 2-year diagnoses included isolated ON (n= 11, 39%), myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein-associated demyelination (n= 8, 29%), multiple sclerosis (MS) (n= 4,14%), neuromyelitis optica spectrum disease (NMOSD) (n= 3, 11%), and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (n= 2, 7%). Two participants (7%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1-24) had subsequent recurrent ON (plus 1 participant who did not complete the 2-year visit); all had MS. Two other participants (7%) had a new episode in their unaffected eye. Mean presenting HCVA was 0.81 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) (∼20/125), improving to 0.14 logMAR (∼20/25-2) at 6 months, 0.12 logMAR (∼20/25-2) at 1 year, and 0.11 logMAR (20/25-1) at 2 years (95% CI,-0.08 to 0.3 [20/20+1-20/40-1]). Twenty-four participants (79%) had age-normal VA at 2 years (95% CI, 60-90); 21 participants (66%) had 20/20 vision or better. The 6 participants without age-normal VA had 2-year diagnoses of NMOSD (n= 2 participants, 3 eyes), MS (n= 2 participants, 2 eyes), and isolated ON (n= 2 participants, 3 eyes). Mean presenting LCVA was 1.45 logMAR (∼20/500-2), improving to 0.78 logMAR (∼20/125+2) at 6 months, 0.69 logMAR (∼20/100+1) at 1 year, and 0.68 logMAR (∼20/100+2) at 2 years (95% CI, 0.48-0.88 [20/50+1-20/150-1]). Despite poor VA at presentation, most children had marked improvement in VA by 6 months that was maintained over 2 years. Associated neurologic autoimmune diagnoses were common. Additional episodes of ON occurred in 5 (18%) of the participants (3 relapses and 2 new episodes).

Internuclear Ophthalmoplegia Characterizes Multiple Sclerosis Rather Than Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disease.

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disease (NMOSD) and multiple sclerosis (MS) share clinical presentations including optic neuritis and brainstem syndromes. Internuclear ophthalmoplegia (INO) is characterized by slowed ipsilateral adduction saccades and results from a lesion in the medial longitudinal fasciculus (MLF). Although INO is a common clinical finding in MS, its prevalence in NMOSD is unknown. The objective of this work is to determine the comparative frequencies of INO in patients with NMOSD and MS and compare clinical features of both disease processes. This is a retrospective study of patients 18 years and older who have an established diagnosis of NMOSD or MS and were evaluated by both neuro-ophthalmology and neuro-immunology specialists between 2014 and 2020. Electronic medical records were screened for documentation of an acute INO at any time during follow-up. Incidence rates were calculated from number of cases of new-onset INO and patient years observed. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the likelihood of developing an INO at any time point for NMOSD vs MS patients. Multivariable analysis was performed by adjusting for age, race, gender, and length of follow-up. Two hundred eighty patients (80 NMOSD, 200 MS) were included. Age range was 18-79 years with a mean age of 35.14 (SD ± 12.41 years). Average length of follow-up in MS and NMOSD patients was 4.18 years vs 3.79 years, respectively (P > 0.05), and disease duration before the start of the study in MS and NMOSD was 8.76 years vs 4.65 years, respectively (P < 0.01). Mean disease duration and follow-up time of both groups was 7.58 years and 4.07 ± 2.51 years, respectively. NMOSD patients were predominantly seropositive for AQP4 antibody (61.25%, n = 49). Individuals who had MOG antibody but also met NMOSD criteria were also included (18.75%, n = 15). The frequency of INO at any time point was 1.25% (n = 1) in NMOSD compared with 16% (n = 32) in MS. The incidence rate of new-onset INO in NMOSD (excluding MOGAD) was 3.8/1,000 person years and 23.9/1,000 person years in MS. Adjusted analysis showed that NMOSD patients were 13.89 times (odds ratio [OR] 0.07, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.01-0.598, P = 0.015) less likely to develop an INO compared with those with MS when including MOGAD patients, 12.5 times less likely (OR 0.08, 95% CI: 0.10-0.67, P = 0.02) when excluding MOGAD patients and 9.62 times less likely (OR 0.10, 95% CI: 0.01-0.87, P = 0.036) for AQP4+ patients. Our study shows that the incidence of new INO (3.8 vs 23.9 per 1,000 person years), and the odds of having INO at any time point are significantly lower in NMOSD than MS. This suggests that INO and consequently MLF lesions are less common in NMOSD. The presence of an INO may help in the differentiation of NMOSD from MS and may aid in earlier implementation of disease appropriate therapy.

Optic Neuritis in the Era of NMOSD and MOGAD: A Survey of Practice Patterns in Singapore.

The Optic Neuritis Treatment Trial was a landmark study with implications worldwide. In the advent of antibody testing for neuromyelitis optica spectrum disease (NMOSD) and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD), emerging concepts, such as routine antibody testing and management, remain controversial, resulting mostly from studies in White populations. We evaluate the practice patterns of optic neuritis investigation and management by neuro-ophthalmologists and neurologists in Singapore. 21-question online survey consisting of 4 clinical vignettes. The survey was sent to all Singapore Medical Council- registered ophthalmologists and neurologists who regularly manage patients with optic neuritis. Forty-two recipients (17 formally trained neuro-ophthalmol-ogists [100% response rate] and 25 neurologists) responded. Participants opted for routine testing of anti-aquaporin-4 antibodies (88.1% in mild optic neuritis and 97.6% in severe optic neuritis). Anti-MOG antibodies were frequently obtained (76.2% in mild and 88.1% in severe optic neuritis). Plasmapheresis was rapidly initiated (85.7%) in cases of nonresponse to intravenous steroids, even before obtaining anti-aquaporin-4 or anti-MOG serology results. In both NMOSD and MOGAD, oral mycophenolate mofetil was the preferred option if chronic immunosuppression was necessary. Steroids were given for a longer duration and tapered more gradually than in idiopathic optic neuritis cases. Serological testing for NMOSD and MOGAD is considered as a routine procedure in cases of optic neuritis in Singapore, possibly due to local epidemiological features of these conditions. Chronic oral immunosuppression is preferred for the long term, but further research is necessary to establish the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of these practices.