Patients with neuromyelitis optica have a more severe disease than patients with relapsingremitting multiple sclerosis, including higher risk of dying of a demyelinating disease

• Published in: Arquivos de neuro-psiquiatria Vol. 71; no. 5; pp. 275 - 279
• Main Authors: Bichuetti, Denis Bernardi, Oliveira, Enedina Maria Lobato de, Souza, Nilton Amorin de, Tintoré, Mar, Gabbai, Alberto Alain
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil Academia Brasileira de Neurologia - ABNEURO 01-05-2013; Academia Brasileira de Neurologia (ABNEURO)
• Subjects: Adult; Age of Onset; Disease Progression; doenças desmielinizantes; Epidemiologic Methods; esclerose múltipla; fatores de risco; Female; Humans; Male; Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting - mortality; Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting - pathology; Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting - physiopathology; neuromielite óptica; Neuromyelitis Optica - mortality; Neuromyelitis Optica - pathology; Neuromyelitis Optica - physiopathology; NEUROSCIENCES; PSYCHIATRY; Recurrence; Risk Factors; Severity of Illness Index; Time Factors; Young Adult; neuromielite óptica; risk factors; multiple sclerosis; neuromyelitis optica; esclerose múltipla; demyelinating diseases; doenças desmielinizantes; fatores de risco
• ISSN: 0004-282X; 1678-4227; 1678-4227; 0004-282X
• DOI: 10.1590/0004-282X20130020

Although neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is known to be a more severe disease than relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), few studies comparing both conditions in a single center have been done.
Comparison of our previously published cohort of 41 NMO patients with 177 RRMS patients followed in the same center, from 1994 to 2007.
Mean age of onset was 32.6 for NMO and 30.2 for RRMS (p=0.2062) with mean disease duration of 7.4 years for NMO and 10.3 years for RRMS. Patients with NMO had a higher annualized relapse rate (1.0 versus 0.8, p=0.0013) and progression index (0.9 versus 0.6, p<0.0001), with more patients reaching expanded disability status scale (EDSS) 6.0 (39 versus 17%, p=0.0036). The odds ratio for reaching EDSS 6.0 and being deceased due to NMO in comparison to RRMS were, respectively, 3.14 and 12.15.
Patients with NMO have a more severe disease than patients with RRMS, including higher risk of dying of a demyelinating disease.