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Spinal cord ring enhancement in patients with neuromyelitis optica
Author(s) -
Yokote H.,
Nose Y.,
Ishibashi S.,
Tanaka K.,
Takahashi T.,
Fujihara K.,
Yokota T.,
Mizusawa H.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
acta neurologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.967
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1600-0404
pISSN - 0001-6314
DOI - 10.1111/ane.12354
Subject(s) - neuromyelitis optica , medicine , spinal cord , spinal cord diseases , dermatology , multiple sclerosis , immunology , psychiatry
Objectives Clinical and pathological significance of gadolinium (Gd)‐enhancing pattern on magnetic resonance imaging ( MRI ), including ring enhancement ( RE ), is well documented in multiple sclerosis but not in neuromyelitis optica ( NMO ), especially in the spinal cord. The purpose of this study is to examine the prevalence of spinal cord RE in NMO and to determine the association between clinical characteristics and spinal cord RE . Materials and methods We retrospectively examined Gd‐enhanced spinal cord MRI scans, during the acute phase, in patients with anti‐aquaporin 4‐positive NMO , including NMO spectrum disorder. We then analysed their clinical features and MRI imaging characteristics of spinal cord lesions. Results Of the 30 patients with NMO , we enrolled 12 patients with 16 Gd‐enhanced spinal cord MRI scans in this study. Five scans revealed RE (31.2%). Male ratio, as well as myelin basic protein ( MBP ) levels, in the cerebrospinal fluid ( CSF ) of patients with RE was significantly higher than those of patients without RE ( P = 0.018, P = 0.026, respectively). Conclusions Spinal cord RE is common in patients with NMO . Higher MBP levels in the CSF of patients with RE can be associated with a higher degree of myelin damage.