The plasma antiaquaporin antibodies and the outcome of myelitis in neuromyelitis optica and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders: Any relationship? (P5.272)

Background Some patients with neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and NMO spectrum disorders (NMOSD) have similar clinical features do not have Anti-Aquaporin-4 (AQP4) antibody and may have a different condition with different outcomes with regard to motor disability Objectives To determine whether the AQP4 antibody has a relationship with the prognosis of transverse myelitis in terms of motor disability Methods Sera of 34 patients with NMO (n=27) and NMOSD with isolated or recurrent myelitis (n=7) were all investigated for the presence of AQP4 antibody by a cell-based indirect immunofluorescence assay (IIFA). The prognostic values of anti-AQP4 antibody were evaluated in terms of a good motor prognosis (able to walk unaided for at least 100 metres) and a poor motor prognosis (with aid to walk at least 100 metres or a worse condition). Results In our study, the anti-AQP4 antibody's seropositivity in all cases was 61.8[percnt] (n=21), was 59.3[percnt] in NMO and 71.4[percnt] in NMOSD cases. Anti-AQP4 antibody seropositivites had older disease onset (39±13.5 vs 27.9±8.7, p=0.009). And 33.3[percnt] of the seropositive patients and 38.5[percnt] of the seronegative patients had a poor motor disability, during a follow-up period of 102±79.1 months. There was no significant difference that existed between anti-AQP4 antibody seropositivity and seronegative in terms of motor disability (p=0.770). Conclusions As compared with anti-AQP4 antibody-negative ones, anti-AQP4 antibody-positive patients show significantly older disease onset. The outcome of myelitis in terms of motor disability was similar in both anti-AQP4 antibody-positive and negative patients.