OBJECTIVE: To investigate the differential diagnostic value of NMO-IgG for neuromyelitis optica (NMO) versus multiple sclerosis (MS) and to analyze its possible clinical features related to NMO-IgG. METHODS: Forty-one NMO patients and 44 MS patients in acute phase and 40 healthy controls were investigated. Serum NMO-IgG was tested by indirect immunofluorescence assay. The disability severity in NMO and MS patients was assessed by Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). Clinical features and MRI imaging profiles were analyzed between NMO-IgG positive patients and negative ones. RESULTS: 70.7% (29/41) NMO patients were NMO-IgG positive compared to 9.1% (4/44) MS patients and all healthy controls were NMO-IgG negative (P < 0.01). The sensitivity and specificity were 70.7% and 90.9% respectively when NMO-IgG was used to discriminate NMO from MS. NMO patients with positive NMO-IgG had significantly higher EDSS scores (P less than 0.05). More NMO-IgG seropositive patients had longitudinally extensive cord lesions (= 3 segments) than the NMO-IgG seronegative patients (93.1% vs 66.7%). But the difference was insignificant. CONCLUSION: NMO-IgG is a specific biomarker of NMO. NMO-IgG can facilitate an early differentiation of NMO from MS. NMO-IgG seropositivity is related to graver symptoms and it may predict an aggravation.
Read More: [Neuromyelitis optica IgG and related clinical features of patients with neuromyelitis optica.]