BACKGROUND: Recently, a highly specific serum autoantibody was discovered in patients with neuromyelitis optica, called NMO-IgG, and aquaporin-4, the most abundant water channel in the CNS, was identified as the target antigen.
Background: Oxidative stress plays a central role in neuropathology of multiple sclerosis (MS).
Background: Recent studies conducted in arthritis, asthma, and inflammatory bowel disease suggest that chitinases are important in inflammatory processes and tissue remodeling. Objective: To investigate the role of chitinases in multiple sclerosis (MS) and neuromyelitis optica (NMO)
OBJECTIVE: To investigate serum uric acid (UA) levels and related clinical characteristics of neuromyelitis optica (NMO). METHODS: The serum uric acid levels were measured in 65 patients with NMO, compared to control groups which were 76 cases with multiple sclerosis (MS), 126 cases with cerebral vascular diseases (CVD) and 130 healthy controls (HC). The disability severity in NMO was assessed by the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS).
Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is an inflammatory/demyelinating disorder predominantly affecting the optic nerves and spinal cord. Recent findings showed an underlying humoral abnormality in NMO, characterized by a serum antibody against aquaporin-4 (Aqp-4-Ab). In this study, we evaluated the Aqp-4-Ab status among Turkish patients with NMO to determine the clinical and prognostic relevance
The detection of aquaporin-4 (AQP4) antibodies in neuromyelitis optica (NMO) led to a breakthrough in diagnosing NMO. To date, different assays to detect these antibodies are available.
Background: Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS) associated with a specific autoantibody, anti-aquaporin-4 antibody (AQP4-Ab). Although low-dose corticosteroids and immunosuppressants are widely used for prevention in NMO, the efficacy is not yet confirmed by large controlled studies. Objective: To evaluate the benefit of low-dose prednisolone therapy in patients with relapsing NMO.
Background: NMO-IgG autoantibody is now considered a useful serum biomarker of neuromyelitis optica (NMO). A series of clinical and pathological observations suggest that NMO-IgG may play a central role in NMO physiopathology. Objective: The aim of this in vitro-based study was to characterize molecular and functional consequences of interaction between NMO-IgG and primary cultures of astrocytes.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) NAA concentrations in patients with different demyelinating disease phenotypes and to correlate them with clinical measures. BACKGROUND: NAA is considered a marker of the functional integrity of neuronal mitochondrial metabolism that is mainly catabolised in oligodendrocytes. Normal appearing white matter (NAWM) damage, reported in MS but not in NMO by MRI studies, is associated with decreased brain NAA levels.
Background: Chitinases are a family of hydrolases characterized by the ability to cleave the environmental polysaccharide chitin. Although mammals do not synthesize chitin, they do synthesize chitinases, and chitinase-like proteins (CLPs)
Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is a severe inflammatory CNS disorder of putative autoimmune aetiology, which predominantly affects the spinal cord and optic nerves. Recently, a highly specific serum reactivity to CNS microvessels, subpia and Virchow–Robin spaces was described in patients with NMO [called NMO–IgG (NMO–immunoglobulin G)]
Background: Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is assumed to be immunologically distinct from multiple sclerosis (MS). Adequate studies about cytokines and chemokines in NMO have been lacking.Objective: To investigate the contribution of cytokines/chemokines in the pathogenesis of NMO.Methods: We measured 27 cytokines/chemokines and Th17 cell-associated cytokines in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 31 NMO, 29 MS and 18 other non-inflammatory neurological disorders patients. The serum levels of some cytokines/chemokines were also measured.