Diagnosis of multiple sclerosis in times of MOG and AQP4 autoantibody testing - A monocentric study

Abstract

Background: Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein-IgG-associated encephalomyelitis (MOG-EM) and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders are challenging differential diagnoses of multiple sclerosis (MS). Hence, there is uncertainty, whether to test all MS patients for corresponding antibodies. Our objective was to provide a systematic study on the frequency of MOG and Aquaporin-4 (AQP4) autoantibodies in MS patients to evaluate a possible risk of misclassification.

Methods: Retrospective study in MS patients (including an unselected cohort of patients diagnosed with MS, a cohort of patients with PPMS and a healthy control group) for seroprevalence of MOG and AQP4 autoantibodies by cell-based assay.

Results: None of 241 patients with relapsing-remitting, 19 with secondary progressive and 82 with primary progressive MS revealed MOG or AQP4 autoantibodies.

Conclusion: General testing of MOG and AQP4 autoantibodies in MS patients seems not necessary, but should be limited to selected cases only.

Keywords: Aquaporin-4; MOG; McDonald criteria; Multiple sclerosis; Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein; Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders.