title: Neuromyelitis optica: effect of gender.
abstract: Neuromyelitis optica is a distinct CNS demyelinating disease associated with the autoantibody NMO-IgG, which targets the water channel aquaporin-4. Neuromyelitis optica may be distinguished from typical multiple sclerosis on the basis of key clinical and neuroimaging characteristics in addition to detection of NMO-IgG. The disease has an even stronger female predilection than does multiple sclerosis, with a reasonably consistent female to male gender ratio of >3:1 reported from samples of diverse racial and regional populations worldwide. The gender distribution appears to be similar in both childhood-onset and adult-onset cases. Female gender is associated with a relapsing course and familial disease, but the influence of gender on disease severity and treatment response are not clear. Population-based epidemiological and genetic studies, with case ascertainment aided by the high specificity of NMO-IgG and consistent disease definitions, are needed to better define and understand gender effects in neuromyelitis optica.
authors.affiliation: Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Scottsdale, AZ 85259, United States. wingerchuk.dean@mayo.edu
authors.forename: Dean M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Wingerchuk
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D051401:Aquaporin 4 / Q000276:immunology; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009471:Neuromyelitis Optica / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy; D012737:Sex Factors; D012744:Sex Ratio
chemical_list: D051401:Aquaporin 4; D001323:Autoantibodies