Neurology. 2012 Sep 18;79(12):1273-7. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0b013e31826aac4e. Epub 2012 Aug 22.
Kitley J, Woodhall M, Waters P, Leite MI, Devenney E, Craig J, Palace J, Vincent A.
Source
Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES:
To report an association of myelin-oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) antibodies with aquaporin-4 (AQP4) antibody-seronegative neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) in adults.
METHODS:
We describe the clinical and serologic features of 4 adult patients with an NMO/NMOSD phenotype who had antibodies to MOG.
RESULTS:
Twenty-seven adult AQP4-seronegative NMO/NMOSD patients were tested for MOG antibodies. Four patients (3 male, 1 female) with severe optic neuritis and/or longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis were positive. All 4 made good recoveries with steroids or plasma exchange. Two patients experienced recurrence of symptoms when corticosteroids were withdrawn quickly but none have experienced further relapses over a mean follow-up of 12 months, although 3 patients remain on treatment. Imaging abnormalities resolved fully following clinical recovery and MOG antibody titers fell in all 4 patients. MOG antibodies were not found in 44 AQP4 antibody-positive NMO/NMOSD patients, 75 adult patients with multiple sclerosis, or 47 healthy individuals.
CONCLUSIONS:
MOG antibody-associated NMO/NMOSD could account for some cases thought previously to be AQP4-seronegative NMO/NMOSD. Our 4 patients appear to have more favorable clinical outcomes than those with typical AQP4 antibody-mediated disease. However, further studies of NMO/NMOSD and other demyelinating conditions are required to help clarify the diagnostic and prognostic relevance of MOG antibodies.
Comment in
Antibodies to MOG in NMO: a seasoned veteran finds a new role. [Neurology. 2012]
PMID: 22914827 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]