title: The prevalence of neuromyelitis optica in South East Wales.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Neuromyeltis optica (NMO) is a neuroinflammatory disorder considered rare in Caucasian populations. However, accurate population-based epidemiological data for NMO and NMO spectrum disorder (NMO-SD) from Western populations employing validated diagnostic criteria remain limited. We sought therefore to estimate the prevalence and clinical features of NMO in a north European Caucasian population in South East Wales.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were identified by a comprehensive, multistage ascertainment strategy employing a regional neuroinflammatory disease register, hospital diagnostic databases personal physician referrals and regional requests for anti-aquaporin-4 antibodies (anti-AQP4).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fourteen Caucasian patients (11 patients with NMO and three with NMO-SD) were identified in a population of 712,572 (19.6/million; 95% CIs: 12.2-29.7). There was an excess of females (female:male 12:2), 11/14 were anti-AQP4 positive and 5/14 had disease onset under the age of 20 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that NMO and related spectrum disorders are at least as frequent in Northern European populations as in non-Caucasian populations and that the demographic profile of prevalent patients differs from clinic-based cohorts.
authors.affiliation: The Department of Psychological Medicine and Neurology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cossburn
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tackley
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ingram
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Burtonwood
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Malik
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pickersgill
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: te Water Naudé
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Robertson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D051401:Aquaporin 4 / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009471:Neuromyelitis Optica / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D015995:Prevalence; D014852:Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C496030:AQP4 protein, human; D000906:Antibodies; D051401:Aquaporin 4