Imaging Surrogates of Disease Activity in Neuromyelitis Optica Allow Distinction from Multiple Sclerosis

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0137715
• Publication Date: 2015-09-18T18:53:11Z
• Authors: Lucy Matthews; Shannon Kolind; Alix Brazier; Maria Isabel Leite; Jonathan Brooks; Anthony Traboulsee; Mark Jenkinson; Heidi Johansen-Berg; Jacqueline Palace
• Keywords: Neuromyelitis Optica; Optic neuritis; Demyelinating disease; Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis

Inflammatory demyelinating lesions of the central nervous system are a common feature both neuromyelitis optica and multiple sclerosis. Despite this similarity, it is evident clinically that accumulation disability in patients with relapse related progressive phase very uncommon. This poses question whether there any pathological evidence disease activity or neurodegeneration between relapses. To investigate we conducted longitudinal advanced MRI study brain spinal cord patients, comparing to sclerosis controls. We found cross-sectional diffusely distributed neurodegenerative surrogates group (including thalamic atrophy, cervical atrophy widespread diffusion myelin water imaging abnormalities normal appearing white matter) but not those optica, where localised optic radiations severe visual impairment were noted. In addition, relapses, no new silent group. These findings indicate global optica. The work also questions theory chronic sequela prior inflammatory pathology, as has been be case often more destructive.