• Ayse Altintas, Rana Karabudak, Belgin P Balci, Murat Terzi, Aysun Soysal, Sabahattin Saip, Tuncer Kurne Asli A, Ugur Uygunoglu, Mecbure Nalbantoglu, Gokcen Gozubatik Celik, Nihal Isik, Yahya Celik, Figen Gokcay, Taskin Duman, Cavit Boz, Canan Yucesan, Mehmet Serhat Mangan, Nese Celebisoy, Sevda Diker, Ilksen Colpak Isikay, Tulay Kansu, and Aksel Siva.
• Departments of *Neurology ∥∥Ophthalmology, Istanbul University Cerrahpasa Medical School ‡Department of Neurology, Haseki Training and Education Hospital ∥Department of Neurology, Bakirkoy Training and Education Hospital ¶Department of Neurology, Istanbul Medeniyet University Goztepe Training and Education Hospital, Istanbul †Department of Neurology, Hacettepe University Medical School §§Department of Neurology, Ankara University Medical School, Ankara §Department of Neurology, Ondokuz Mayis University Medical School, Samsun #Department of Neurology, Trakya University Medical School, Edirne **Department of Neurology, Ege University Medical School, Izmir ††Department of Neurology, Mustafa Kemal University Medical School, Hatay ‡‡Department of Neurology, Karadeniz Technical University Medical School, Trabzon, Turkey.
• Neurologist. 2015 Oct 1; 20 (4): 61-6.

BackgroundNeuromyelitis optica (NMO) is an immune-mediated, chronic relapsing, inflammatory disease characterized by severe attacks of optic neuritis and myelitis.ObjectiveTo determine the demographic, clinical, and laboratory features; antibody status; and treatment modalities of patients with NMO and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders in a Turkish cohort from 11 centers.MethodsA total of 182 patients were included in this study. Data on age at disease onset, sex, type of attacks, clinical presentation, analysis of cerebrospinal fluid, serum antiaquaporin-4 antibody status, annual progression index, and medical and family histories were collected.ResultsMean age was 38.43±12.40 years (range, 13 to 75 y), and mean age at disease onset was 31.29±12.40 years (median, 29 y; range, 10 to 74 y). In NMO group, the rate of NMO immunoglobulin (Ig)G positivity was 62.5%. The annual progression index was significantly higher in the longitudinally extending spinal cord lesion. The mean Expanded Disability Status Scale score was higher in the late than early-onset NMO group.ConclusionOur results revealed a lower rate of NMO IgG positivity, more severe disability in patients with NMO/neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders presenting with either transverse myelitis or late-onset NMO, and no correlation between disability and NMO IgG status.

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