Prognostic factors and disease course in aquaporin-4 antibody-positive patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder from the United Kingdom and Japan.
Kitley J, Leite IM, Nakashima I, Waters P, McNeillis B, Brown R, Takai Y, Takahashi T, Misu T, Elsone L, et al.
Researchers have identified a disease-associated antibody, aquaporin 4 (AQP-4), in individuals with neuromyelitis optica and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders, but few studies to date have examined disease course in seropositive patients. Kitley et al. retrospectively examined 106 AQP-4 seropositive individuals—59 from the United Kingdom and 47 from Japan. Age of onset was an important predictor of disability type, as was ethnicity—not only between U.K. and Japanese groups, but among ethnic subgroups within the U.K. cohort.
Researchers have identified a disease-associated antibody, aquaporin 4 (AQP-4), in individuals with neuromyelitis optica and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders, but few studies to date have examined disease course in seropositive patients. Kitley et al. retrospectively examined 106 AQP-4 seropositive individuals—59 from the United Kingdom and 47 from Japan. Age of onset was an important predictor of disability type, as was ethnicity—not only between U.K. and Japanese groups, but among ethnic subgroups within the U.K. cohort.