title: Neuromyelitis optica: phenotypic characteristics in a Brazilian case series.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the characteristics of 34 Brazilian NMO patients. To evaluate the contribution of the 2015 criteria to the diagnosis of NMO spectrum disorders (NMOSD) in 40 patients with longitudinal extensive transverse myelitis (LEMT).
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective, descriptive and analytic study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among NMO patients, there was a predominance of women, with onset in the fourth decade of life, and AQP4-IgG seropositivity in 73.5%. The diagnosis of NMOSD was established in 37.5% of LETM patients according to AQP4-IgG positivity and in 5% of LETM patients if the AQP4-IgG result was unknown.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The characteristics of this series are similar to those of other Western populations. The AQP4-IgG testing assists in the diagnosis of NMOSD.
authors.affiliation: Rede Sarah de Hospitais de Reabilitação, Serviço de Neurologia, Brasília DF, Brasil.
authors.forename: Maria Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Del Negro
authors.affiliation: Rede Sarah de Hospitais de Reabilitação, Serviço de Neurologia, Brasília DF, Brasil.
authors.forename: Patricia Beatriz Christino
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Marinho
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Hospital Universitário Gaffrée & Guinle, Serviço de Neurologia, Rio de Janeiro RJ, Brasil.
authors.forename: Regina Maria
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Papais-Alvarenga
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D051401:Aquaporin 4 / Q000097:blood*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009471:Neuromyelitis Optica / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010641:Phenotype; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D051401:Aquaporin 4; D001323:Autoantibodies