Serum antinuclear antibodies associate with worse prognosis in AQP4-positive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder

Abstract

Background: Studies have demonstrated that antinuclear antibodies (ANAs) may be correlated with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). However, the conflicting results of studies about the value of ANAs in AQP4 antibody-positive NMOSD patients need to be further investigated. Material: Case data were collected from 143 patients with AQP4 antibody-positive NMOSD. Patients were divided into two groups based on the ANA test results. The analysis of clinical characteristics, laboratory tests, and MRI examination results were compared between two groups: the NMOSD patients with ANA (+) and with ANA (−). Results: Disease duration of NMOSD is shorter in the ANA (+) patients with EDSS < 4 than in the ANA (−) patients (12.05 ± 16.73 versus 29.43 ± 41.03, p-value =.013). The median time from disease onset to an EDSS score of 4.0 is significantly longer in the ANA (−) NMOSD patients than in the ANA (+) patients (48.2 months versus 24 months, p =.04). In addition, ANA (RR, 2.234; 95% CI, 1.078–4.629; p-value =.031) can predict the severity of NMOSD. Conclusions: Antinuclear antibodies seem to be associated with more severe disease activity in NMOSD patients.