title: Cognitive performance of neuromyelitis optica patients: comparison with multiple sclerosis.
abstract: The aim of the present research was to investigate cognitive pattern of patients with neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and to compare it with multiple sclerosis (MS) patients' performance.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourteen NMO, 14 relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), and 14 healthy control patients participated in the investigation. Neuropsychological functions were evaluated with the Brief Repeatable Neuropsychological Battery for MS; Symbol Digit Modalities Test; Digit Span; and Semantic Fluency.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-seven percent of NMO patients and 42.85% of the MS ones had abnormal performance in at least two cognitive tests. The NMO Group showed abnormal performance in verbal fluency, verbal and visual memories, with greater attention deficits. NMO patients outperformed healthy control in the paced auditory serial addition test (PASAT). However, no difference was found between NMO and RRMS patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The NMO Group showed more dysfunction in attention and verbal fluencies than in verbal and visual memories. When compared with the MS patients, a similar dysfunction pattern was found. O objetivo da presente pesquisa foi investigar o padrão cognitivo de pacientes com neuromielite óptica (NMO) e compará-lo com o desempenho de pacientes com esclerose múltipla (EM). Métodos: Quatorze pacientes com NMO, 14 com esclerose múltipla recorrente remitente (EMRR) e 14 participantes do Controle saudáveis participaram da presente investigação. As funções neuropsicológicas foram avaliadas com a Bateria Breve de Testes Neuropsicológicos de Rao, Teste Símbolo Digit e a Fluência Semântica. Resultados: Cinquenta e sete por cento dos pacientes com NMO e 42,85% daqueles com EM apresentaram desempenho anormal em pelo menos dois testes cognitivos. O Grupo NMO apresentarou desempenho anormal na fluência verbal e nas memórias visual e verbal, com maiores déficits de atenção. Pacientes com NMO superaram os controles saudáveis em PASAT. No entanto, não foi encontrada diferença entre os pacientes com NMO e aqueles com EMRR. Conclusões: O Grupo NMO mostrou mais disfunção nas fluências de atenção e verbais do que nas memórias verbal e visual. Quando comparados com os pacientes com EM, um padrão de disfunção semelhante foi encontrado.
authors.affiliation: Neuroimmunology and Electrophysiology Section, J. M. Ramos Mejia Hospital, Buenos Aires, Argentina. svanotti@psi.uba.ar
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vanotti
authors.forename: Evangelina Valeria
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Cores
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Eizaguirre
authors.forename: Luciana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Melamud
authors.forename: Raúl
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rey
authors.forename: Andrés
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Villa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003071:Cognition; D003863:Depression / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000523:psychology*; D009471:Neuromyelitis Optica / Q000523:psychology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D013060:Speech / Q000502:physiology; D013064:Speech Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology; D055815:Young Adult