Demyelinating Disease
Return to Library
|
Free Demyelinating Disease Articles |
|
|
|
|
Research findings from D.B. Bichuetti et al update understanding of multiple sclerosis
2009 JUN 15 - (NewsRx.com) -- According to recent research published in the journal Multiple Sclerosis, "Objectives To describe the clinical characteristics of patients with relapsing neuromyelitis optica (NMO) from a tertiary care center in Brazil and compare the groups with normal and abnormal brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Retrospective review of 41 patients followed at the Neuroimmunology Clinic of the Federal University of Sao Paulo, Brazil, from 1994 to 2007." " All patients had relapsing-remitting optic-spinal disease, long extending spinal cord lesions, and brain MRI not meeting Barkhof criteria for multiple sclerosis (MS), thus fulfilling the 1999 and 2006 Wingerchuck criteria for NMO. Mean follow-up time was 52 months; mean age of onset was 32.6 years. The mean relapse rate (RR) and progression index (PI) were 1.0 and 0.9, respectively. Twenty-four patients had brain lesions not compatible with MS on MRI, and there were no statistical differences on PI and RR between patients who had brain lesions and patients who did not. Incomplete recovery, but not the type of first relapse, correlated with a worse prognosis. Seventeen patients were tested for NMO-IgG (anti-aquaporin-4 antibody) with 41% positivity. In this series, we did not find a statistical difference of disease progression between patients with and without brain lesions, suggesting that the presence of brain abnormalities is not a marker of disease severity," wrote D.B. Bichuetti and colleagues. The researchers concluded: "Multiple Sclerosis 2009; 15: 613-619. http://msj.sagepub.com'." Bichuetti and colleagues published their study in Multiple Sclerosis (Neuromyelitis optica in Brazil: a study on clinical and prognostic factors. Multiple Sclerosis, 2009;15(5):613-619). For additional information, contact D.B. Bichuetti, Rua Pedro de Toledo 377, BR-04039000 Sao Paulo, Brazil. The publisher's contact information for the journal Multiple Sclerosis is: Sage Publications Ltd., 1 Olivers Yard, 55 City Road, London EC1Y 1SP, England. Keywords: Brazil, Sao Paulo, Demyelinating Disease, Epidemiology, Immunology, Magnetic Resonance, Multiple Sclerosis, Neuroimmunology, Neurology, Neuromyelitis, Neuromyelitis Optica, Spinal Disease. This article was prepared by Pain & Central Nervous System Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, Pain & Central Nervous System Week via NewsRx.com.
|
