Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein Autoantibody Disease-Related Myelitis

Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) autoantibody disease is a neuromyelitis optic spectrum disorder (NMOSD) whose prognosis differs from that of aquaporin 4 (AQP4) antibody disease (NEJM JW Neurol Aug 2018 and Neurology 2018; 90:e1858). Investigators retrospectively describe 54 MOG-IgG-positive patients with myelitis, comparing them with 46 patients with AQP4-IgG and 26 with multiple sclerosis.

Average age at myelitis onset was 25 years (range, 3–73; 30% younger than 18), 33% required a wheelchair at nadir, and 6% required a walking device at follow-up. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) showed a pleocytosis >50 cells/µL in 52%; oligoclonal bands were present in only 1/38 patients. Longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis was present in 79%…