title: Quantitative analysis of aquaporin-4 antibody in longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis.
abstract: Aquaporin-4 (AQP-4) antibody-positive longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis (LETM) is referred to as a neuromyelitis optica (NMO) spectrum disorder. We conducted an exploratory investigation of correlations between AQP-4 antibody serum levels, as determined by a fluorescent immunoprecipitation assay, and clinical characteristics in LETM. Expanded Disability Status Scores (EDSS) scores and number of segments of spinal cord involved were positively correlated to AQP-4 antibody levels. However, serum AQP-4 antibody levels were not correlated with the time to next attack or the conversion time of LETM to NMO, although seropositive LETM patients demonstrated a high conversion rate to NMO (78.1%).
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Tianjin Neurological Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China. Electronic address: drwangjing2014@sina.com.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Tianjin Neurological Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China. Electronic address: lixin_4869@sina.com.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Tianjin Neurological Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China. Electronic address: daqi.zhang2010@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Da-Qi
authors.initials: DQ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Tianjin Neurological Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China. Electronic address: dryangchunsheng@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Chun-Sheng
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Tianjin Neurological Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Tianjin Neurological Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China. Electronic address: minshuli2012@163.com.
authors.forename: Min-Shu
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Tianjin Neurological Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China; Department of Neurology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, USA. Electronic address: fshi66@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Fu-Dong
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Tianjin Neurological Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China. Electronic address: yangli2001@tijmu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D051401:Aquaporin 4 / Q000276:immunology*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D047468:Immunoprecipitation; D016014:Linear Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009188:Myelitis, Transverse / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D051401:Aquaporin 4; D001323:Autoantibodies
keywords: Aquaporin-4 antibody; Clinical features; Fluorescence immunoprecipitation assay; Longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis; Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders