Frequency of autoimmune disorders and autoantibodies in patients with neuromyelitis optica.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to report the frequency of autoimmune disorders and autoantibodies in 22 patients with neuromyelitis optica (NMO), as well as whether the seropositivity for autoantibodies differs between anti-aquaporin 4 (AQP4) positive and AQP4 negative NMO patients.


METHODS
Demographic, medical records, and a profile of autoantibodies were evaluated in 22 NMO patients, including AQP4, anti-thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor, antinuclear antibodies (ANA), anti-thyroperoxidase (anti-TPO), anti-thyroglobulin (anti-Tg), anti-double-stranded DNA, anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic, anti-cyclic citrullinate peptide, rheumatoid factor, anti-SSA/Ro, anti-SSB/La, anti-Smith antibodies (anti-Sm), anti-ribonucleoprotein, anti-nucleosome, and anti-Scl70. Thyroid-stimulating hormone and free thyroxin were measured.


RESULTS
The frequency of women was higher than men (95.5% vs. 4.5%) and 68.2% were Afro-Brazilians. Six (27.3%) patients presented other autoimmune disorders, such as Hashimoto thyroiditis (n=2), Graves' disease (n=1), juvenile idiopathic arthritis (n=1), systemic lupus erythematosus and systemic sclerosis (n=1), and Raynaud's phenomenon (n=1). The most frequent autoantibodies were anti-AQP4 (54.5%), anti-nucleosome (31.8%), ANA (27.3%), anti-TPO (22.7%), and anti-Tg (22.7%). Difference was not observed in the frequency of autoimmune disorders when the patients were compared according to their anti-AQP4 status.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of the present study underscored that the NMO patients present high frequency of autoantibodies against cellular antigens and the presence of autoimmune disorders. Further studies with large number of NMO patients may contribute to advances in the understanding of NMO disease mechanisms.
1Health Sciences Postgraduate Program,Health Sciences Center,State University of Londrina,Londrina,Paraná,Brazil.
Wildéa Lice de Carvalho Jennings
WLCJ
Pereira
2Department of Pathology, Clinical Analysis and Toxicology,Health Sciences Center,State University of Londrina,Londrina,Paraná,Brazil.
Edna Maria Vissoci
EMV
Reiche
1Health Sciences Postgraduate Program,Health Sciences Center,State University of Londrina,Londrina,Paraná,Brazil.
Ana Paula
AP
Kallaur
1Health Sciences Postgraduate Program,Health Sciences Center,State University of Londrina,Londrina,Paraná,Brazil.
Sayonara Rangel
SR
Oliveira
2Department of Pathology, Clinical Analysis and Toxicology,Health Sciences Center,State University of Londrina,Londrina,Paraná,Brazil.
Andréa Name Colado
ANC
Simão
2Department of Pathology, Clinical Analysis and Toxicology,Health Sciences Center,State University of Londrina,Londrina,Paraná,Brazil.
Marcell Alysson Batisti
MAB
Lozovoy
3Neurology Outpatient Department of the Outpatient Specialties of University Hospital,State University of Londrina,Londrina,Paraná,Brazil.
Lucas José Vaz
LJV
Schiavão
3Neurology Outpatient Department of the Outpatient Specialties of University Hospital,State University of Londrina,Londrina,Paraná,Brazil.
Paula Raquel do Vale Pascoal
PRDVP
Rodrigues
1Health Sciences Postgraduate Program,Health Sciences Center,State University of Londrina,Londrina,Paraná,Brazil.
Daniela Frizon
DF
Alfieri
1Health Sciences Postgraduate Program,Health Sciences Center,State University of Londrina,Londrina,Paraná,Brazil.
Tamires
T
Flauzino
3Neurology Outpatient Department of the Outpatient Specialties of University Hospital,State University of Londrina,Londrina,Paraná,Brazil.
Damacio Ramón
DR
Kaimen-Maciel
D000328:Adult; D051401:Aquaporin 4 / Q000276:immunology; D001171:Arthritis, Juvenile / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D001324:Autoantigens; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007453:Iodide Peroxidase; D033862:Iron-Binding Proteins; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009471:Neuromyelitis Optica / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D013967:Thyroiditis, Autoimmune / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology
D051401:Aquaporin 4; D001323:Autoantibodies; D001324:Autoantigens; D033862:Iron-Binding Proteins; C006606:anti-thyroglobulin; C056658:TPO protein, human; D007453:Iodide Peroxidase
anti-aquaporin 4; autoimmune thyroiditis; autoimmunity; juvenile idiopathic arthritis; neuromyelitis optica