Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder in a Tertiary Hospital in the Philippines: A Case Series

Publication date: Available online 6 April 2019Source: Multiple Sclerosis and Related DisordersAuthor(s): Adrian I. Espiritu, Bryan Vincent Q. Mesina, Athena Angellie DL. Puerto, Nikolai Gil D. Reyes, Ludwig F. Damian, Jose Leonard R. Pascual VAbstractNeuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is a rare disease that commonly presents with optic nerve and spinal cord inflammation, and it is associated with the presence of aquaporin-4 immunoglobulin G antibody (AQP4-IgG). Information on the clinical profile and occurrence of NMOSD among Filipino patients, however, is not sufficiently documented. In this series, we presented eighteen (18) patients with NMOSD consecutively seen in the Philippine General Hospital, a major tertiary referral center. Demographic data showed a female-to-male ratio of 2.6:1. Median age of onset of symptoms was 26 years. Eight patients (53.3%) were positive for AQP4-IgG. Most patients initially presented with myelitis (56.6%) and followed by optic neuritis (16.7%) and area postrema syndrome (16.7%). All patients had longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Cranial MRI rarely demonstrated lesions in the optic nerves (18.2%). CSF pleocytosis (33%) and increased protein (8.3%) were infrequent. These results demonstrated that the profile of Filipino patients with NMOSD seen in our institution strengthens those described in other populations with this disorder. Large scale cross-sectional studies are necessary to ...
Source: Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders - Category: Neurology Source Type: research