Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein and aquaporin-4 antibodies are highly specific in children with acquired demyelinating syndromes

Sophie Duignan, Sukhvir Wright, Tom Rossor, John Cazabon, Kimberly Gilmour, Olga Ciccarelli, Evangeline Wassmer, Ming Lim, Cheryl Hemingway, Yael Hacohen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

AIM: Our objectives were to evaluate the utility of measuring myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) and aquaporin-4 (AQP4) antibodies (Ab) in clinical practice and describe their associated neurological phenotypes in children.

METHOD: Between 2012 and 2017, 371 children with suspected acquired demyelinating syndromes (ADS) seen in three tertiary centres were tested for MOG-Ab and AQP4-Ab. Medical notes were retrospectively reviewed, and clinical and demographic data compiled. Clinical phenotyping was performed blinded to the antibody results.

RESULTS: After review, 237 of the 371 were diagnosed with ADS. Of these, 76 out of 237 (32.1%) were MOG-Ab positive and 14 out of 237 (5.9%) were AQP4-Ab positive. None were positive for both autoantibodies. All 134 patients with non-ADS were negative for MOG-Ab. MOG-Ab were identified in 45 out of 70 (64.3%) patients presenting with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) and in 24 out of 25 patients with relapsing ADEM. Thirty-six out of 75 (48%) MOG-Ab positive patients relapsed. Of the 33 children with neuromyelitis optic spectrum disorder, 14 were AQP4-Ab positive, 13 were MOG-Ab positive, and 6 were seronegative. Of the children with longitudinal samples, 8 out of 13 AQP4-Ab remained positive during the disease course compared to 35 out of 43 MOG-Ab (13/16 monophasic and 22/27 relapsing).

INTERPRETATION: Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibodies were identified in a third of children with ADS. Almost half of the MOG-Ab positive children relapsed and the majority of them remained antibody positive over 4-years follow-up.

WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibodies (MOG-Ab) are highly specific for acquired demyelinating syndromes (ADS). Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibodies are not identified in children with peripheral demyelination or genetic leukodystrophies/hypomyelination. Up to 48% of MOG-Ab ADS paediatric patients relapse, higher than previously thought. Seroconversion to MOG-Ab negative status is infrequent; patients may test MOG-Ab positive at follow-up sampling even when asymptomatic. Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibodies status should only be used in conjunction with the clinical information to guide maintenance therapy.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)958-962
JournalDevelopmental Medicine and Child Neurology
Volume60
Issue number9
Early online date22 Feb 2018
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Sept 2018

Bibliographical note

This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Duignan, S. , Wright, S. , Rossor, T. , Cazabon, J. , Gilmour, K. , Ciccarelli, O. , Wassmer, E. , Lim, M. , Hemingway, C. and Hacohen, Y. (2018), Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein and aquaporin‐4 antibodies are highly specific in children with acquired demyelinating syndromes. Dev Med Child Neurol, 60: 958-962, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/dmcn.13703.  This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance With Wiley Terms and Conditions for self-archiving.

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