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The article characterizes late onset of neuromyelitis optica (LONMO) and late onset of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disease (LONMOSD) and examines their predictive factors of disability and death. Both LONMO and LONMOSD are defined by an optic neuritis/longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis with aquaporin-4 antibodies (AQP4-Ab).

Longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis is characteristic but not pathognomonic for neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSDs) and may mimic local tumors. In this retrospective study based on a cohort of 175 NMOSD patients we identified seven patients who initially presented with a longitudinally extensive spinal cord lesion and underwent spinal cord biopsy due to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-suspected malignancies. Remarkably, routine neuropathology was inconclusive and did not guide the diagnostic process to anti-aquaporin-4 (AQP4)-seropositive NMOSD. Serious postoperative complications occurred in 5/7 patients and persisted during follow-up in 2/7 patients (29%). Considering these sequelae, AQP4-antibody testing should be mandatory in patients with inconclusive longitudinally extensive spinal cord lesions prior to biopsy. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article focuses on a study evaluate the time of occurrence, the frequency and the characteristics of brainstem symptoms in an unbiased cohort of neuromyelitis optica (NMO) patients. Study observed brainstem signs in 81 patients which includes vomiting, hiccups and hearing loss. Study found high frequency of brainstem symptoms in NMO with a majority of vomiting and hiccups.

Recently, the disappearance of oligoclonal bands (OCBs) from the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of a few natalizumab-treated patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) has been reported. This is interesting since CSF-restricted OCB are believed to persist in MS. We pooled CSF data from 14 MS centers to obtain an adequate sample size for investigating the suspected changes in central nervous system (CNS)-restricted humoral immune activities in the context of natalizumab therapy. In a retrospective chart analysis, CSF parameters of blood–CSF barrier integrity and intrathecal IgG production from 73 natalizumab-treated MS patients requiring a diagnostic puncture for exclusion of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy were compared with CSF data obtained earlier in the course of disease before natalizumab therapy. At the time of repeat lumbar puncture, local IgG production (according to Reibergram) was significantly reduced (p < 0.0001) and OCB had disappeared in 16% of the patients. We therefore conclude that natalizumab therapy interferes with intrathecal antibody production at least in a significant number of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article presents a study which aims to report 10 cases of Caucasian patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) and neuromyelitis optica (NMO). The study is a restrospective research which analyzes NMO diagnosed among patients based on the 2006 revised diagnostic criteria. Results of the study show autoimmune disorders or autoimmune antibodies that co-exist in 17 patients out of 26 patients sampled.