Aug 2026· Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders· Vol 114, pp.
107423
· 1 citation· 30 references
Medicine
TL;DR
Systemic autoimmune overlap was present in approximately one in five patients and the overlap group showed more frequent systemic autoantibody positivity and a predominance of optic neuritis at onset, but disability measures, treatment patterns, and most clinical outcomes were similar between groups.
Abstract
Background
Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) often coexists with systemic autoimmune disease, but the clinical meaning of this overlap remains incompletely defined, particularly in Latin American populations.
Objective
To describe the prevalence, autoimmune spectrum, and clinical and serological features of systemic autoimmune overlap in a Mexican cohort of aquaporin 4 immunoglobulin G (AQP4-IgG)-positive NMOSD.
Methods
We conducted a retrospective single center cohort study of patients who fulfilled the 2015 international diagnostic criteria for NMOSD and were followed between 2002 and 2023. The analytic cohort was restricted to AQP4-IgG-positive patients. Demographic, clinical, treatment, and systemic autoantibody data were collected from medical records. Analyses were primarily descriptive and comparative. Time to second relapse was assessed as an exploratory secondary outcome.
Results
Among 86 AQP4-IgG-positive patients, 16 (18.6%) had a coexisting systemic autoimmune disease. Sjögren syndrome (37.5%) and systemic lupus erythematosus (12.5%) were the most frequent diagnoses. Patients with autoimmune overlap showed a broader burden of systemic autoantibody positivity, with antinuclear antibodies, anti-SSA, anti-SSB, and anti-dsDNA being the most commonly detected markers. Optic neuritis was the most common presenting event in the overlap group (68.8%), though disability measures at baseline and follow-up were otherwise similar between groups. Treatment regimens did not differ significantly between patients with and without systemic autoimmune disease. In exploratory analysis, an association between anti-SSB positivity and a shorter time to second relapse was observed (hazard ratio 2.30, 95% CI 1.05-5.10 in univariable analysis; hazard ratio 2.34, 95% CI 1.05-5.21 in multivariable analysis). However, this hypothesis-generating finding was based on a limited number of events and wide confidence intervals and should be interpreted with caution.
Conclusion
In this Mexican cohort of AQP4-IgG-positive NMOSD, systemic autoimmune overlap was present in approximately one in five patients. The overlap group showed more frequent systemic autoantibody positivity and a predominance of optic neuritis at onset, but disability measures, treatment patterns, and most clinical outcomes were similar between groups. The relapse-related findings, including the observed association with anti-SSB positivity, should be considered exploratory and interpreted strictly as hypothesis-generating. Confirmation in larger prospective multicenter studies with standardized antibody testing is required before any prognostic implications can be inferred.
Background Anti-GD1a antibodies are associated with a range of immune-mediated neuropathies, particularly acute motor axonal neuropathy (AMAN) and other Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) variants. However, their full clinical spectrum and prognostic significance remain unclear due to limited systematic studies. Here, we investigated the clinical phenotypes, serological profiles, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) characteristic, and therapeutic outcomes associated with anti-GD1a antibodies. Methods The clinical, paraclinical and therapeutic data were retrospectively collected and analyzed from 19 Chinese patients who tested positive for anti-GD1a antibodies. Results The mean age at onset in this cohort was 50.6 years. Among the 19 patients, 14 (74%) presented with acute syndromes. The remaining five patients (26%) exhibited features consistent with chronic neuropathies. Common manifestations included absent tendon reflexes (84%), limb weakness (84%), sensory impairment (58%), and cranial nerve involvement (53%). Isolated anti-GD1a antibody positivity was observed in only 5 patients, while others had co-existing antiganglioside antibodies, most commonly anti-GQ1b, and anti-GM1. Electrophysiological studies revealed axonal and demyelinating neuropathic patterns. Patients with cranial nerve involvement and albuminocytologic dissociation were associated with higher modified Erasmus GBS Outcome Score (mEGOS). Immunotherapy was effective in acute cases, with 57% achieving complete recovery at 6-month follow-up. Conclusions Patients seropositive for anti-GD1a antibody exhibits significant clinical and electrophysiological heterogeneity and frequently coexists with other antiganglioside antibodies. Acute presentations generally respond well to immunotherapy, while chronic cases require individualized management.
Xujun Chu, Xinyu Liu, Z. Zeng et al.· Frontiers in Immunology· 0 citations
The treatment of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) has entered the era of targeted biological agents. While relapse control has improved substantially, patient-reported outcomes (PROs) remain understudied. This study aimed to explore real-world patient-reported perceptions of inebilizumab therapy in AQP4-IgG–positive NMOSD. We conducted a nationwide cross-sectional survey of AQP4-IgG–positive NMOSD patients receiving inebilizumab using an anonymous online questionnaire (April–September 2025). Data collected included demographics, medication history, and multidimensional quality-of-life changes following inebilizumab initiation. Descriptive statistics and correlation analyses were performed. Key outcomes were patient-reported without objective validation. A total of 275 valid questionnaires were analyzed. Respondents were predominantly female (90.5%) with a mean age of 39.7 ± 11.8 years. Mean inebilizumab treatment duration was 14.5 ± 8.4 months. Of all patients, 33.1% received inebilizumab as initial maintenance therapy, 42.9% had previously used conventional immunosuppressants, and 24.0% had switched from other biologics. Among respondents, 92.4% reported meaningful symptom improvement across multiple domains including bodily pain and mental health. Overall, 96.4% expressed willingness to continue therapy, with symptom improvement cited as the predominant reason (91.7%). Correlation analysis revealed weak associations between treatment duration and satisfaction (r = 0.12, p < 0.05) and between medication cost burden and satisfaction (r = − 0.24, p < 0.01). In this cross-sectional survey, Chinese patients with AQP4-IgG–positive NMOSD receiving inebilizumab reported high satisfaction, perceived multidimensional benefit, and strong treatment continuation willingness. These findings provide exploratory patient-reported evidence regarding the acceptability of inebilizumab in routine practice. However, the observed improvements are self-reported and associative rather than causal; interpretation should account for the cross-sectional, non-comparative design, potential selection and recall biases, and lack of objective outcome validation. Prospective controlled studies are required to confirm these preliminary findings.
H. Yin, Mengdi Hao, Yan Xu· BMC Neurology· 0 citations
DN-NMOSD is a heterogenous, severe and highly relapsing disease, where attacks lead to irreversible dysfunction, and the administration of maintenance immunotherapy reduces the relapse risk and should be considered early to prevent further disability.
A. Malvaso, F. Bovis, Giacomo Greco et al.· Neurology(R) neuroimmunology...· 0 citations
SERPINA3 is therefore an exploratory adjunctive serum biomarker candidate rather than a stand-alone diagnostic test; prospective external validation in clinically representative cohorts is required.
Investigating risk factors for disease severity in acute aquaporin-4 -IgG-seropositive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders patients revealed significant differences in white blood cell count, neutrophil count, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, and serum complement levels among patients in the acute phase, those in the remission phase, and HCs.
Yibo Zhan, Min Zhao, Jiahui Zhang et al.· Frontiers in Immunology· 0 citations