Outcomes in Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder with Positive Aquaporin 4 Antibody

Presentations and disability from neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) have seemed to vary across different datasets. To identify predictors of disability, investigators combined data on 441 patients with NMOSD who were aquaporin 4 antibody (AQP4) positive (396 women; median age, 41; median disease duration, 7 years) from five centers in four countries (U.S., U.K., Japan, and Martinique). The patients had a total of 1976 relapses.

Patients from Japan had the lowest risk for relapses but the highest risk for brainstem exacerbations. Patients from Martinique (predominantly of African ancestry) had the highest proportion of cerebral presentations. Patients who were younger were more likely to have optic neuritis than transverse myelit…