Seronegative neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder patients diagnosed using new diagnostic criteria.

BACKGROUND

Recently, new diagnostic criteria for neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) were published.

OBJECTIVE

Our primary aim was to evaluate the usefulness of the new diagnostic criteria in anti-aquaporin 4 (AQP4) antibody-negative cases.

METHODS

Consecutive 471 patients whose anti-AQP4 antibody was measured at Chiba University were reviewed.

RESULTS

Four anti-AQP4 antibody negative-patients, who fulfilled the new diagnostic criteria for NMOSD but not 2006 diagnostic criteria for neuromyelitis optica (NMO), were identified. They showed high cerebrospinal fluid interleukin-6 and glial fibrillary acidic protein levels, an absence of oligoclonal bands and/or cloud-like enhancement on magnetic resonance imaging, which are compatible findings for NMO.

CONCLUSION

The new diagnostic criteria are clinically useful in seronegative NMOSD.