Demographic and clinical features of neuromyelitis optica: A review.
The comparative clinical and demographic features of neuromyelitis optica (NMO) are not well known. In this review we analyzed peer-reviewed publications for incidence and prevalence, clinical phenotypes, and demographic features of NMO. Population-based studies from Europe, South East and Southern Asia, the Caribbean, and Cuba suggest that the incidence and prevalence of NMO ranges from 0.05-0.4 and 0.52-4.4 per 100,000, respectively. Mean age at onset (32.6-45.7) and median time to first relapse (8-12 months) was similar. Most studies reported an excess of disease in women and a relapsing course, particularly in anti-aquaporin 4 antibody (anti AQP4-IgG)-positive patients. Ethnicity may have a bearing on disease phenotype and clinical outcome. Despite limitations inherent to the review process, themes noted in clinical and demographic features of NMO among different populations promote a more global understanding of NMO and strategies to address it.
KS Hegde Medical Academy, Nitte University, Mangalore, Karnataka, India panditmng@gmail.com.
L
L
Pandit
Neurobiology, Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, and Department of Neurology, Vejle Hospital, Denmark.
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N
Asgari
Prasat Neurological Institute Bangkok, Thailand.
M
M
Apiwattanakul
Department of Clinical Neurology, Oxford University Hospitals, Oxford, UK.
J
J
Palace
Neuro Cure Clinical Research Center and Clinical and Experimental Multiple Sclerosis Research Center, Department of Neurology, Charité University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
F
F
Paul
Department of Clinical Neurology, Oxford University Hospitals, Oxford, UK.
M I
MI
Leite
Department of Neurology, St. Josef-Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
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I
Kleiter
Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, USA.
T
T
Chitnis
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009471:Neuromyelitis Optica / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology*
NMO; demographics; epidemiology; incidence; prevalence