Objective: To describe clinical and radiological characteristics of seropositive neuromyelitis optica (NMO) in Emirati patients. While epidemiology of seropositive NMO in Abu Dhabi has been reported in a previous paper, its clinical and MRI profiles among Emirati patients have not been previously fully investigated.
Methods: In our case series, we describe clinical and MRI characteristics of 5 Emirati patients with NMO, consecutively admitted at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, a major tertiary hospital in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Results: Patients were all females, mean age of onset (SD) was 41 (11) years, and 67% had autoimmune comorbidities. Most patients initially presented with acute myelitis (80%) while 20% got optic neuritis. Mean (SD) number of further relapses after onset was 3 (1) and mean (SD) disease duration was 12 (11) years. At MRI, apparent longitudinal extensive transverse myelitis was present in all patients affecting mostly the central gray matter of the cervical cord but extending as well to the thoracic portion. Furthermore, seropositive NMO related brain lesions were also observed.
Conclusions: Our work provides valuable information regarding seropositive NMO with the potential to increase recognition of this disorder in Abu Dhabi and confirms NMO findings described in the other populations with this disorder. Further research is needed to advance clinical and MRI characterization of seronegative NMO in the region.
Keywords: Brain MRI; Diagnosis; Emirati; NMO; Spinal cord MRI.
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