Clinical characteristics of very late-onset neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder

Clinical features and visual prognosis of very late-onset neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder-related optic neuritis

BACKGROUND

Very late-onset neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder-related optic neuritis is limited to a few case reports.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the clinical features and visual prognosis of very late-onset neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder-related optic neuritis.

METHODS

This study evaluated 22 patients with first-onset optic neuritis and fulfilled the 2015 diagnosis criteria for neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders.

RESULTS

The mean age at optic neuritis onset was 73.91 ± 4.71 (range: 70-82) years with a female predominance (81.8%; ratio: 4.5:1). Antinuclear antibody seropositivity and seronegativity were identified in 12 (55.5%) and 10 (45.5%) patients, respectively. Severe visual loss persisted in 19 (19/42, 45.3%) eyes at the last follow-up. Although patients with antinuclear antibody seropositivity had a significantly higher frequency of attacks (P = 0.015), but they had a longer median time to reach severe visual loss (37 vs. 26 months; log-rank test, P = 0.023). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed antinuclear antibody seropositivity (hazard ratio = 4.849, 95% confidence interval: 1.309-17.965, P = 0.018) as a good predictor of visual acuity improvement.

CONCLUSION

Patients with very late-onset neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder-related optic neuritis may develop severe optic neuritis, and those with antinuclear antibody seronegativity have a similar clinical presentation but worse outcome than those with seropositivity.

Time to Disability Milestones and Annualized Relapse Rates in NMOSD and MOGAD

OBJECTIVE

To investigate accumulation of disability in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein-antibody-associated disease (MOGAD) in a changing treatment landscape. We aimed to identify risk factors for the development of disability milestones in relation to disease duration, number of attacks, and age.

METHODS

We analyzed data from individuals with NMOSD and MOGAD from the German Neuromyelitis Optica Study Group registry. Applying survival analyses, we estimated risk factors and computed time to disability milestones as defined by the Expanded Disability Status Score (EDSS).

RESULTS

We included 483 patients: 298 AQP4-IgG+ NMOSD, 52 AQP4-IgG-/MOG-IgG- NMOSD patients, and 133 patients with MOGAD. Despite comparable annualized attack rates, disability milestones occurred earlier and after less attacks in NMOSD patients than MOGAD patients (median time to EDSS 3: AQP4-IgG+ NMOSD 7.7 (95% CI 6.6-9.6) years, AQP4-IgG-/MOG-IgG- NMOSD 8.7) years, MOGAD 14.1 (95% CI 10.4-27.6) years; EDSS 4: 11.9 (95% CI 9.7-14.7), 11.6 (95% lower CI 7.6) and 20.4 (95% lower CI 14.1) years; EDSS 6: 20.1 (95% CI 16.5-32.1), 20.7 (95% lower CI 11.6), and 37.3 (95% lower CI 29.4) years; and EDSS 7: 34.2 (95% lower CI 31.1) for AQP4-IgG+ NMOSD). Higher age at onset increased the risk for all disability milestones, while risk of disability decreased over time.

INTERPRETATION

AQP4-IgG+ NMOSD, AQP4-IgG-/MOG-IgG- NMOSD, and MOGAD patients show distinctive relapse-associated disability progression, with MOGAD having a less severe disease course. Investigator-initiated research has led to increasing awareness and improved treatment strategies appearing to ameliorate disease outcomes for NMOSD and MOGAD. ANN NEUROL 2024;95:720-732.

Deciphering prognostic indicators in AQP4-IgG-seropositive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder: An integrative review of demographic and laboratory factors

BACKGROUND

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is a group of inflammatory diseases affecting the central nervous system, characterized by optic neuritis and myelitis. The complex nature of NMOSD and varied patient response necessitates personalized treatment and efficient patient stratification strategies.

OBJECTIVE

To provide a comprehensive review of recent advances in clinical and biomarker research related to aquaporin-4 (AQP4)-immunoglobulin G (IgG)-seropositive NMOSD prognosis and identify key areas for future research.

METHODS

A comprehensive review and synthesis of recent literature were conducted, focusing on demographic factors and laboratory investigations.

RESULTS

Demographic factors, such as age, ethnicity, and sex, influence NMOSD prognosis. Key biomarkers for NMOSD prognosis include homocysteine, antinuclear antibodies, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, thyroid hormone levels, neurofilament light chain levels, and serum glial fibrillary acidic protein might also predict NMOSD attack prognosis.

CONCLUSION

Further investigation is required to understand sex-related disparities and biomarker inconsistencies. Identification and understanding of these factors can aid in the development of personalized therapeutic strategies, thereby improving outcomes for NMOSD patients. Future studies should focus on unifying research design for consistent results.

Disability outcomes in NMOSD and MOGAD patients: data from a nationwide registry in Argentina

The objective was to evaluate time to reach an EDSS of 4, 6, and 7 in NMOSD and MOGAD patients included in the Argentinean MS and NMOSD registry (RelevarEM, NCT 03,375,177).

METHODS

NMOSD patients diagnosed according to 2015 criteria and with MOGAD were identified. Patients with at least 3 years of follow-up and periodic clinical evaluations with EDSS outcomes were included. AQP4-antibody and MOG-antibody status was recorded, and patients were stratified as seropositive and seronegative for AQP4-antibody. EDSS of 4, 6, and 7 were defined as dependent variables. Log rank test was used to identify differences between groups.

RESULTS

Registry data was provided for a total of 137 patients. Of these, seventy-five presented AQP4-ab-positive NMOSD, 45 AQP4-ab-negative NMOSD, and 11 MOGAD. AQP4-ab status was determined by cell-based assay (CBA) in 72% of NMOSD patients. MOG-ab status was tested by CBA in all cases. Mean time to EDSS of 4 was 53.6 ± 24.5 vs. 63.1 ± 32.2 vs. 44.7 ± 32 months in seropositive, seronegative NMOSD, and MOGAD, respectively (p = 0.76). Mean time to EDSS of 6 was 79.2 ± 44.3 vs. 75.7 ± 48.6 vs. 54.7 ± 50 months in seropositive, seronegative NMOSD, and MOGAD (p = 0.23), while mean time to EDSS of 7 was 86.8 ± 54 vs. 80.4 ± 51 vs. 58.5 ± 47 months in seropositive, seronegative NMOSD, and MOGAD (p = 0.39).

CONCLUSION

No differences were observed between NMOSD (seropositive and seronegative) and MOGAD in survival curves.

Therapeutic efficacy and safety of plasmapheresis in elderly patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder: a single-center observational study

Background

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is a devastating autoimmune disorder with cycles of escalating relapse. Rates of diagnosis in the elderly are increasing. Therapeutic decision-making is more challenging in elderly patients due to multiple comorbidities and high risk of drug-induced side effects.

Objective

This retrospective study assessed the efficacy and safety of standard plasma exchange (PLEX) treatment in an elderly population with NMOSD.

Design

Seventy-six patients with NMOSD who received PLEX were apportioned to two groups as either elderly (⩾60 years, n = 26) or young (<60 years) at the time of the first procedure.

Methods

Therapeutic response was judged according to functional recovery at 6 months, as reflected by Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and visual outcome scale (VOS) scores.

Results

The mean age of the 26 elderly patients was 67.7 ± 7.9 years (range 60-87 years); the population was predominantly female (88.5%). PLEX sessions were generally well tolerated among the elderly. Compared with the young patients, the elderly had significantly more comorbidities and concomitant medications. Twenty-four (96.0%) elderly patients showed functional improvement at 6 months after PLEX, of which 15 (60.0%) experienced moderate-to-marked improvement. Six months after the initial PLEX treatment, the patients overall experienced a significant improvement in EDSS and VOS scores. Logistic regression showed that severe optic neuritis attack was a significant independent prognostic factor associated with poor PLEX response. The groups were comparable regarding overall or serious adverse events. The rate of transient hypotension was significantly higher in the elderly compared with the young.

Conclusion

PLEX is an effective and safe therapy for elderly patients with NMOSD and should be considered a treatment option during NMOSD attacks. In the elderly, preventive measures against hypotension are recommended before PLEX.

Age of onset correlates with clinical characteristics and prognostic outcomes in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder

Objective

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is an inflammatory disease preferentially affects the optic nerve and the spinal cord. The first attack usually occurs in the third or fourth decade, though patients with disease onset in the fifties or later are not uncommon. This study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics and prognosis in patients with different age of onset and to explore the correlations between age of onset and clinical characteristics and prognostic outcomes.

Method

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 298 NMOSD patients diagnosed according to the 2015 updated version of diagnostic criteria. Patients were divided into early-onset NMOSD (EO-NMOSD) (<50 years at disease onset) and late-onset NMOSD (LO-NMOSD) (≥50 years at disease onset) based on the age of disease onset. LO-NMOSD patients were divided into two subgroups: relative-late-onset NMOSD (RLO-NMOSD) (50~70 years at disease onset) and very-late-onset NMOSD (≥70 years at disease onset). Clinical characteristics, laboratory findings, neuroimaging features, and prognostic outcomes were investigated.

Results

Compared to EO-NMOSD patients, patients with LO-NMOSD showed more frequent transverse myelitis (TM) (58.20% vs. 36.00%, p = 0.007) while less frequent optic neuritis (ON) (23.10% vs. 34.80%, p = 0.031) and brainstem/cerebral attacks (7.50% vs. 18.30%, p = 0.006) as the first attack. Patients with LO-NMOSD showed less frequent relapses, higher Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score at the last follow-up, fewer NMOSD-typical brain lesions, and longer segments of spinal cord lesions. Patients with older onset age showed a higher proportion of increased protein levels in cerebrospinal fluid during the acute phase of attacks. Age at disease onset positively correlated with length of spinal cord lesions at first attack and at last follow-up, negatively correlated with ARR-1 (ARR excluding the first attack, calculated from disease onset to final follow-up), irrespective of AQP4-IgG serostatus. Patients with older age at disease onset progressed to severe motor disability sooner, and age of onset positively correlated with EDSS score at the last follow-up, irrespective of AQP4-IgG serostatus.

Conclusion

Age of disease onset affects clinical characteristics and prognosis outcomes of patients with NMOSD.

Relatively Early and Late-Onset Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder in Central China: Clinical Characteristics and Prognostic Features

Background

We aimed to analyze the clinical characteristics and prognostic features of Chinese patients with relatively late-onset neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (RLO-NMOSD>40 years of age at disease onset), compared with patients with relatively early onset NMOSD (REO-NMOSD, ≤ 40 years of age at disease onset).

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with NMOSD in central China (with disease courses longer than 3 years) between January 2012 and January 2021. We further analyzed the clinical and prognostic differences between patients with REO-NMOSD and RLO-NMOSD.

Results

A total of 71 patients were included in this study. The results showed that 39 (54.9%) of the patients had RLO-NMOSD. The patients with RLO-NMOSD had higher expanded disability status scale (EDSS) scores than patients with REO-NMOSD at the initial (5.0 vs. 3.0, p = 0.01), 3-month (4.0 vs. 2.5, p = 0.001), 1-year (4.0 vs. 2.5, p = 0.003), 3rd-year (3.5 vs. 3.0, p = 0.0017), and final follow-up (4.0 vs. 2.5, P = 0.002) time points. The EDSS scores of visual function were 2.0 (1.0–3.0) in REO-NMOSD and 3.0 (2.0–3.0) in RLO-NMOSD (p = 0.038) at the final follow-up time point. The locations of spinal cord lesions at transverse myelitis (TM) onset were prone to cervical cord in patients with REO-NMOSD. There were no between-group treatment differences. The risk of requiring a cane to walk (EDSS score of 6.0) increased as the age of disease onset increased: for every 10-year increase in the age of disease onset, the risk of needing a cane to walk increased by 65% [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.65, 95% CI 1.15–2.38, p = 0.007]. Another significant predictor identified in the multivariate analysis was annualized relapse rate (ARR) (HR = 2.01, 95% CI 1.09–3.71, p = 0.025). In addition, we observed a positive correlation between age at onset and EDSS scores at the final follow-up (Spearman's r = 0.426, p < 0.0001) time point. EDSS scores at different periods were significantly different between patients with RLO-NMOSD and REO-NMOSD with anti-aquaporin-4 (AQP4) IgG positive.

Conclusion

The patients with RLO-NMOSD developed more severe disabilities than patients with REO-NMOSD at a variety of time periods. All of the patients may experience recurrent aggravated symptoms after their first year, with only patients with REO-NMOSD partly recovering from the 3rd year. The age at onset and ARR were the main predictors of outcomes.

Relationship between the Clinical Characteristics in Patients with Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorders and Clinical Immune Indicators: A Retrospective Study

Objective: T lymphocytes, complement, and immunoglobulin play an important role in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD). As common clinical examination indicators, they have been used as routine indicators in many hospitals, which is convenient for being carried out in clinical work, but there are few articles of guiding significance for clinical practice. The purpose of this study was to study the relationship between commonly used immune indicators and clinical characteristics in patients with NMOSD. Methods: We compared clinical characteristics and clinical immune indicators in 258 patients with NMOSD and 200 healthy controls (HCs). We used multiple linear regression to study the relationship between immunotherapy, disease phase, sex, age, AQP4-IgG, and immune indicators. In addition, lymphocyte subsets were compared before and after immunotherapy in 24 of the 258 patients. We explored the influencing factors and predictors of severe motor disability. Results: The percentages of CD3 ratio (71.4% vs. 73.8%, p = 0.013), CD4 ratio (38.8% vs. 42.2%, p < 0.001), and CD4/CD8 ratio (1.43 vs. 1.66, p < 0.001) in NMOSD patients were significantly lower than those in the HC group. In addition, complement C4 (0.177 g/L vs. 0.221 g/L, p < 0.001) and peripheral blood IgG (10.95 g/L vs. 11.80 g/L, p = 0.026) in NMOSD patients were significantly lower than those in the HC group. CD3 percentage was correlated with blood collection age and disease stage; CD8 percentage was correlated with blood collection age, disease stage, and treatment; CD4/CD8 percentage was correlated with blood collection age and treatment; complement C4 was correlated with blood collection age and sex; and IgG was correlated with disease stage and treatment. Twenty-four patients before and after treatment showed that the percentages of CD3 ratio (74.8% vs. 66.7%, p = 0.001) and CD8 ratio (32.4% vs. 26.2%, p < 0.001) after treatment in NMOSD patients were significantly increased, and the percentage of CD3 before treatment was moderately negatively correlated with ARR (r = −0.507, p = 0.011). Binary logistic regression analysis showed that peripheral blood complement C3 is a serious influencing factor for severe motor disability (EDSS score ≥ 6 points). Peripheral blood complement C3 and C4 are predictors of severe motor disability (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Our results suggest that peripheral blood T lymphocytes, C3, C4 and immunoglobulin are convenient and routine clinical indicators that are convenient for implementation in clinical work. They have certain reference values for disease staging, recurrence, drug efficacy, and motor disability. They have improved our understanding of clinical immune indicators for NMOSD patients, but whether they can be used as biomarkers for clinical prognosis remains to be further studied.

Age at onset predicts outcome in aquaporin-4-IgG positive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder from a United Kingdom population

BACKGROUND

There are few studies exploring the prognostic factors in patients with aquaporin-4 (AQP4)-IgG positive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD).

OBJECTIVE

To assess the predictors of outcome in patients with AQP4-antibody positive NMOSD from a United Kingdom (UK) population.

METHODS

A retrospective study of 52 patients from 2 neuroscience centres in the UK Midlands.

RESULTS

The most common initial presentations were acute myelitis and optic neuritis, with 22/52 cases (42.3%) each. Relapsing course was seen in 32 patients (61.5%) with mean annualised relapse rate of 0.43 (standard deviation 0.45) and a mean interval time to first relapse of 31 months (range 2-108). The median Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score at the last follow up was 4 (range 1-9). Age at onset was an independent predictor of disability in the whole cohort of patients with NMOSD. For every 10-year increase in age at disease onset, the risk of developing an EDSS score of ≥4 increased by 34%. Patients who presented initially with a longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis (LETM) showed a higher risk to develop disability, compared to other clinical presentations (median time of 4 years versus 13 years). Late onset (LO-NMOSD) patients were likely to reach an EDSS score of 4 more quickly, compared to early onset (EO-NMOSD) (median time of 7 years versus 13 years). Higher median EDSS score at last follow up was observed in LO-NMOSD compared to EO-NMOSD (6 versus 2).

CONCLUSION

Increasing age at onset and LETM predict disability in AQP-4-IgG positive NMOSD patients.

Comparison of Early- and Late-Onset NMOSD-Related Optic Neuritis in Thai Patients: Clinical Characteristics and Long-Term Visual Outcomes

Objective

To compare demographic data, clinical and radiological characteristics, treatments, and long-term visual outcomes between patients with late-onset neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder-related optic neuritis (LO-NMOSD-ON) (age at onset ≥ 50 years) and patients with early-onset neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder-related optic neuritis (EO-NMOSD-ON) (age at onset < 50 years).

Patients and Methods

This retrospective study included 47 patients (69 eyes) who were diagnosed with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder-related optic neuritis (NMOSD-ON) over a 12-year period. There were 14 patients (21 eyes) and 33 patients (48 eyes) in the LO-NMOSD-ON and EO-NMOSD-ON groups, respectively.

Results

LO-NMOSD-ON–affected eyes exhibited significantly worse median nadir visual acuity (VA) at optic neuritis (ON) onset, compared with EO-NMOSD-ON–affected eyes (2.7 logMAR (range 2.6–2.9 logMAR) vs 1.95 logMAR (range 0.4–2.9 logMAR); p = 0.03). Similarly, 100% of LO-NMOSD-ON–affected eyes demonstrated a nadir VA of worse than or equal to 1.0 logMAR, compared with 62.5% of EO-NMOSD-ON–affected eyes (p = 0.03). LO-NMOSD-ON–affected eyes had a worse median final VA, compared with EO-NMOSD-ON–affected eyes (1.3 logMAR (range 0–2.9 logMAR) vs 0.3 logMAR (range 0–2.9 logMAR); adjusted p = 0.037). LO-NMOSD-ON–affected eyes more frequently exhibited a final VA of worse than or equal to 1.0 logMAR, compared with EO-NMOSD-ON–affected eyes (57.1% vs 27.0%; adjusted p = 0.039). A positive correlation was observed between age at ON onset of each eye and the final VA (logMAR) (Spearman r = 0.34, p = 0.0075). The remaining parameters did not significantly differ between the two groups.

Conclusion

Patients with LO-NMOSD-ON had significantly worse nadir VA at ON onset and significantly worse final VA, relative to patients with EO-NMOSD-ON. Age at ON onset of each eye was positively correlated with final VA (logMAR). Despite the difference in common age at onset, NMOSD-ON should be included in the differential diagnosis of late-onset acute to subacute optic neuropathy, along with ischemic optic neuropathy.