title: Higher frequency of brain abnormalities in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder patients without primary Sjögren's syndrome.
abstract: Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder often co-exists with primary Sjögren's syndrome. We compared the clinical features of 16 neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder patients with (n= 6) or without primary Sjögren's syndrome (n= 10). All patients underwent extensive clinical, laboratory, and MRI evaluations. There were no statistical differences in demographics or first neurological involvement at onset between neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder patients with and without primary Sjögren's syndrome. The laboratory findings of cerebrospinal fluid oligoclonal banding, serum C-reactive protein, antinuclear autoantibody, anti-Sjögren's-syndrome-related antigen A antibodies, anti-Sjögren's-syndrome-related antigen B antibodies, and anti-Sm antibodies were significantly higher in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome than those without. Anti-aquaporin 4 antibodies were detectable in 67% (4/6) of patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome and in 60% (6/10) of patients without primary Sjögren's syndrome. More brain abnormalities were observed in patients without primary Sjögren's syndrome than in those with primary Sjögren's syndrome. Segments lesions (> 3 centrum) were noted in 50% (5/10) of patients without primary Sjögren's syndrome and in 67% (4/6) of patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome. These findings indicate that the clinical characteristics of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder patients with and without primary Sjögren's syndrome are similar. However, neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder patients without primary Sjögren's syndrome have a high frequency of brain abnormalities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Intensive Care Unit, First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China.
authors.forename: Li-Na
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.affiliation: Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin Province, China.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China.
authors.forename: Jing-Yao
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-9999-7546
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Liu
keywords: anti-aquaporin 4; magnetic resonance imaging; nerve regeneration; neural regeneration; neurological involvements; neuromyelitis optica; neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder; primary Sjögren's syndrome; xerophthalmia; xerostomia