Archives of neurology
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Archives of neurology · Aug 2009
Neuromyelitis optica IgG serostatus in fulminant central nervous system inflammatory demyelinating disease.
The aquaporin-4-specific serum autoantibody neuromyelitis optica (NMO) IgG is a validated biomarker distinguishing NMO spectrum disorders from multiple sclerosis (MS). Because fulminant attacks are more common in NMO spectrum disorders than in MS, some investigators suggest that NMO IgG may be a marker of destructive demyelination rather than a disease-specific biomarker. To our knowledge, this study is the first to compare NMO IgG serostatus among patients with fulminant central nervous system inflammatory demyelinating disease (CNS IDD). ⋯ Neuromyelitis optica IgG is a specific biomarker for NMO spectrum disorders and is not simply a marker of destructive CNS IDD.
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Archives of neurology · Aug 2009
Genome-wide scan of 500,000 single-nucleotide polymorphisms among responders and nonresponders to interferon beta therapy in multiple sclerosis.
Interferon beta is 1 of 2 first-line treatments for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS). However, not all patients respond to interferon beta therapy, and to date there is a lack of surrogate markers that reliably correlate with responsiveness to interferon beta therapy in MS. ⋯ This study supports an underlying polygenic response to interferon beta treatment in MS and highlights the importance of the glutamatergic system in patient response to interferon beta therapy.
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Archives of neurology · Aug 2009
Case ReportsAtypical progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy associated with an unusual JC polyomavirus mutation.
To report the clinical and radiologic features in a patient with myelofibrosis who developed atypical progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. ⋯ Leukopenia may render patients effectively immunosuppressed. The differential diagnosis should include progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy even in patients with atypical clinical and radiologic features.