Clinical characteristics of late - onset and very late - onset neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders.

Objective To summarize the clinical features, treatment options and prognosis of late - onset and very late - onset neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (LO - NMOSDs and VLO - NMOSDs). Methods Total 68 patients with NMOSDs admitted to Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University from January 2015 to December 2021 were included, while 55 with LO -NMOSDs and 13 with VLO-NMOSDs. The sex, first-onset symptoms, Extended Disability Status Scale (EDSS), complications, anti- aquaporin 4 (AQP4) antibody and autoimmune antibody, imaging examinations (optic nerve and spinal cord), therapeutic schedule and prognosis were compared between 2 groups. Results Compared with LO - NMOSDs group, VLO-NMOSDs group had higher EDSS scores at nadir (Z = - 2.119, P = 0.034), but there were no significant differences in sex, first-onset symptoms, combination with other autoimmune diseases or tumors, anti - AQP4 antibody and autoimmune antibody, optic nerve and spinal cord involvement sites, therapeutic schedule and EDSS scores within 14 d after acute treatment (P > 0.05, for all). Conclusions Patients with VLO - NMOSDs and LO - NMOSDs have similar demographic characteristics, clinical characteristics, therapeutic schedule and short - term prognosis, but the VLO - NMOSDs has more severe disability at nadir, and its long-term prognosis remains to be further explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]