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Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders in Arabian Gulf (NMOAG); establishment and initial characterization of a patient registry

Eslam Shoshaa, Abdulla Al Asmic, Eman Nasimd, Jihad Inshasie, Fatima Abdullaf, Yaser Al Malikg,h, Ahmed Althobaitii, Mohamed Alzawahmaha, Hind A Alnajashij,k, Mohamed Binfalahl, Awad AlHarbim, Ibtisam A. Thubaitin, Samar F Ahmedo,p, Jasem Al-Hashelo, Mortada Elyasc, Ramachandiran Nandhagopalc, Arunodaya Gujjarc, Talal Al Harbid, Ghadah Al Towaijriq, Isa A Alsharooqif, Ahmed AlMaawif, Ali M. Al Khathaamig,h, Naser Alotaibig,h, Shahpar Nahriri, Abdulrahman A Al Rasheeda, Mohammed Al Qahtanin, Sadaga Alawia, Khalid Hundallaha, Mohammed Jumahq, Raed Alroughanir with the Guthy-Jackson Charitable Foundation International Clinical Consortium

Objective
To describe the clinical and radiological characteristics of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) patients from the Arabian Gulf relative to anti-aquaporin 4 antibody serostatus.

Methods
Retrospective multicentre study of hospital records of patients diagnosed with NMOSD based on 2015 International Panel on NMOSD Diagnosis (IPND) consensus criteria.

Results
One hundred forty four patients were evaluated, 64.3% were anti-AQP4 antibody positive. Mean age at onset and disease duration were 31±12 and 7 ± 6 years respectively. Patients were predominantly female (4.7:1). Overall; relapsing course (80%) was more common than monophasic (20%). Optic neuritis was the most frequent presentation (48.6%), regardless of serostatus. The proportion of patients (54.3%) with visual acuity of ≤ 0.1 was higher in the seropositive group (p = 0.018). Primary presenting symptoms of transverse myelitis (TM) were observed in 29% of patients, and were the most significant correlate of hospitalization (p<0.001). Relative to anti-APQ4 serostatus, there were no significant differences in terms of age of onset, course, relapse rates or efficacy outcomes except for oligoclonal bands (OCB), which were more often present in seronegative patients (40% vs.22.5%; p = 0.054). Irrespective of serostatus, several disease modifying therapies were instituted including steroids or immunosuppressives, mostly, rituximab and azathioprine in the cohort irrespective of serostatus. The use of rituximab resulted in reduction in disease activity.

Conclusion
This is the first descriptive NMOSD cohort in the Arabian Gulf region. Seropositive patients were more prevalent with female predominance. Relapsing course was more common than monophasic. However, anti-AQP4 serostatus did not impact disease duration, relapse rate or therapeutic effectiveness. These findings offer new insights into natural history of NMOSD in patients of the Arabian Gulf and allow comparison with patient populations in different World regions.