Lower frequency of antibodies to MOG in Brazilian patients with demyelinating diseases: An ethnicity influence?

• Published in: Multiple sclerosis and related disorders Vol. 25; pp. 87 - 94
• Main Authors: Papais-Alvarenga, Regina Maria, Neri, Vanderson Carvalho, de Araújo e Araújo, Ana Carolina Ribeiro, da Silva, Elizabeth Batista, Alvarenga, Marcos Papais, Pereira, Ana Beatriz Calmon Nogueira da Gama, Brandão, Anna Christiany, Alvarenga-Filho, Helcio, Guimarães, Marcell Pourbaix Morisson, Marignier, Romain, Barros, Priscila Oliveira, Bento, Cleonice Melo, Vasconcelos, Claudia Cristina Ferreira
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01-10-2018
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Anti-aquaporin 4; Aquaporin 4 - immunology; Autoantibodies - blood; Brazil - ethnology; Child; Demyelinating Diseases - blood; Demyelinating Diseases - diagnostic imaging; Demyelinating Diseases - epidemiology; Demyelinating Diseases - ethnology; Epidemiology; Ethnic Groups; Female; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Meta analysis; Middle Aged; MOG; Multiple sclerosis; Myelin-Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein - immunology; Neuromyelitis optica; Optic neuritis; Retrospective Studies; Statistics, Nonparametric; Transverse myelitis; Young Adult; Brazil; Multiple sclerosis; MOG; Meta analysis; Optic neuritis; Neuromyelitis optica; Anti-aquaporin 4; Epidemiology; Transverse myelitis
• ISSN: 2211-0348; 2211-0356
• DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2018.07.026

•A high frequency of MOG antibodies (MOG-Ab) was found in Caucasians with NMO and high-risk syndromes negative for AQP4-Ab.•In Rio de Janeiro, where the majority of the population is Afrodescendant, we found a very low frequency of MOG-Ab in a similar group of patients.•Analyzing studies published between 2011 and 2017 we verified that the frequency of MOG-AB was significantly lower in non-Caucasians.•The main phenotype in non-Caucasians was Optic Neuritis while NMO occurred mainly in Caucasians•These data support an ethnic influence on MOG-Ab syndrome.
Antibodies against Myelin Oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG-Ab) have been investigated as potential biological marker for neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and high-risk syndromes (HR) negative for AQP4-Ab in populations with different ethnic background. We tested AQP4 and MOG antibodies in a Brazilian population with high African ethnic background.
The study population was composed of adult patients from Rio de Janeiro with inflammatory demyelinating diseases (new and old cases). Blood samples were sent blindly to test the AQP4 and MOG antibodies by CBA. The frequency of positive MOG-Ab was estimated in the NMOHR and the NMO spectrum disorders (NMOSD). A systematic review with meta-analysis assessed the frequency of MOG-Ab in Caucasians and non-Caucasians.
200 adult patients (52% Afro-Brazilian) 115 of them with NMOHR were tested. MOG antibodies were found in 5/68 negative cases of AQP4-Ab negative (7%). The criteria for NMOSD were fulfilled by 70 patients with NMOHR and none of them was positive for MOG-Ab. A low prevalence of MOG antibodies and a predominant phenotype of bilateral Optic Neuritis were found in most non-Caucasian patients.
The low frequency of MOG Ab in patients from Rio de Janeiro and in other non-Caucasian populations suggests a racial/ancestral influence.