PLoS One. 2012;7(6):e38896. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0038896. Epub 2012 Jun 12.
Granieri L, Marnetto F, Valentino P, Frau J, Patanella AK, Nytrova P, Sola P, Capobianco M, Jarius S, Bertolotto A.
Source
Clinical Neurobiology Unit, Regional Referring Multiple Sclerosis Centre, University Hospital San Luigi Gonzaga, Orbassano, Turin, Italy. letiziagranieri@libero.it
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is a severely disabling autoimmune disorder of the central nervous system, which predominantly affects the optic nerves and spinal cord. In a majority of cases, NMO is associated with antibodies to aquaporin-4 (AQP4) (termed NMO-IgG).
AIMS:
In this study, we evaluated a new multiparametric indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) assay for NMO serology.
METHODS:
Sera from 20 patients with NMO, 41 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), 30 healthy subjects, and a commercial anti-AQP4 IgG antibody were tested in a commercial composite immunofluorescence assay (“Neurology Mosaic 17”; Euroimmun, Germany), consisting of five different diagnostic substrates (HEK cells transfected with AQP4, non-transfected HEK cells, primate cerebellum, cerebrum, and optic nerve tissue sections).
RESULTS:
We identified AQP4 specific and non-specific fluorescence staining patterns and established positivity criteria. Based on these criteria, this kit yielded a high sensitivity (95%) and specificity (100%) for NMO and had a significant positive and negative likelihood ratio (LR+ = ∞, LR- = 0.05). Moreover, a 100% inter- and intra-laboratory reproducibility was found.
CONCLUSIONS:
The biochip mosaic assay tested in this study is a powerful tool for NMO serology, fast to perform, highly sensitive and specific for NMO, reproducible, and suitable for inter-laboratory standardization as required for multi-centre clinical trials.
PMID: 22719979 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]
PMCID: PMC3373605