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Review
. 2015 Jun;21(7):845-53.
doi: 10.1177/1352458515572406. Epub 2015 Apr 28.

Demographic and clinical features of neuromyelitis optica: A review

L Pandit  1 , N Asgari  2 , M Apiwattanakul  3 , J Palace  4 , F Paul  5 , M I Leite  4 , I Kleiter  6 , T Chitnis  7 ; GJCF International Clinical Consortium & Biorepository for Neuromyelitis Optica
Affiliations
Review

Demographic and clinical features of neuromyelitis optica: A review

L Pandit et al. Mult Scler. 2015 Jun.

Abstract

The comparative clinical and demographic features of neuromyelitis optica (NMO) are not well known. In this review we analyzed peer-reviewed publications for incidence and prevalence, clinical phenotypes, and demographic features of NMO. Population-based studies from Europe, South East and Southern Asia, the Caribbean, and Cuba suggest that the incidence and prevalence of NMO ranges from 0.05-0.4 and 0.52-4.4 per 100,000, respectively. Mean age at onset (32.6-45.7) and median time to first relapse (8-12 months) was similar. Most studies reported an excess of disease in women and a relapsing course, particularly in anti-aquaporin 4 antibody (anti AQP4-IgG)-positive patients. Ethnicity may have a bearing on disease phenotype and clinical outcome. Despite limitations inherent to the review process, themes noted in clinical and demographic features of NMO among different populations promote a more global understanding of NMO and strategies to address it.

Keywords: NMO; demographics; epidemiology; incidence; prevalence.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest: None declared.

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