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CASE REPORT |
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Year : 2017 | Volume
: 20
| Issue : 4 | Page : 411-413 |
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Anti myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein associated immunoglobulin G (AntiMOG-IgG)-associated neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder with persistent disease activity and residual cognitive impairment
Lekha Pandit1, Ichiro Nakashima1, Sharik Mustafa1, Toshiyuki Takahashi2, Kimhiko Kaneko2
1 Department of Neurology, KS Hegde Medical Academy, Nitte University, Mangalore, Karnataka, India 2 Department of Neurology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
Date of Web Publication | 25-Oct-2017 |
Correspondence Address: Lekha Pandit Department of Neurology, KS Hegde Medical Academy, Nitte University, Mangalore, Karnataka India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/aian.AIAN_250_17
Abstract | | |
Antibodies targeting myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) have been recently reported in association with idiopathic inflammatory central nervous system disorders. Initially believed to be a benign disorder, anti MOG-IgG was noted to cause steroid responsive recurrent optic neuritis and isolated longitudinally extensive myelitis. However, there is growing evidence that the disease may be predominantly relapsing, often producing severe visual loss and involving regions other than the spinal cord and optic nerve. We report an adolescent male with an aggressive disease course previously undescribed in anti MOG-IgG-associated disease that left him with residual cognitive dysfunction.
Keywords: Anti MOG-IgG, encephalitis, neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder
How to cite this article: Pandit L, Nakashima I, Mustafa S, Takahashi T, Kaneko K. Anti myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein associated immunoglobulin G (AntiMOG-IgG)-associated neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder with persistent disease activity and residual cognitive impairment. Ann Indian Acad Neurol 2017;20:411-3 |
How to cite this URL: Pandit L, Nakashima I, Mustafa S, Takahashi T, Kaneko K. Anti myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein associated immunoglobulin G (AntiMOG-IgG)-associated neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder with persistent disease activity and residual cognitive impairment. Ann Indian Acad Neurol [serial online] 2017 [cited 2021 Feb 24];20:411-3. Available from: https://www.annalsofian.org/text.asp?2017/20/4/411/217172 |
Introduction | |  |
Idiopathic “non multiple sclerosis” inflammatory demyelinating central nervous system (CNS) diseases constitute a heterogeneous group of disorders. In earlier publications,[1] we have shown that approximately 30% of these patients were seropositive for aquaporin 4-immunoglobulin G (anti AQP4-IgG) closely followed by 20% of patients who were positive for anti MOG-IgG. Recurrent optic neuritis and isolated transverse myelitis were the common disease phenotypes identified.[2],[3] Recent reports have indicated that without appropriate intervention, the disease may be more severe than previously thought leaving residual neurological deficits.[4] The patient we describe in this report is one such example and had manifestations previously unreported with anti MOG-IgG related disease.
Case Report | |  |
A 17-year-old male developed rapidly progressive quadriparesis with urinary retention, for which he was admitted and evaluated. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed features [Figure 1]a suggestive of longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis. Brain MRI was unremarkable. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) showed mild pleocytosis and marginally elevated protein. He received 5 days of intravenous (IV) methyl prednisolone (1 g daily) followed by an oral taper for 6 weeks and recovered completely. Three months later, he was admitted to our center with headache accompanied by vomiting, altered sensorium, and generalized convulsions. A second MRI was done [Figure 1]b,[Figure 1]c,[Figure 1]d. He was given another course of IV steroids followed by IV IgG (0.4 g/kg body weight/day × 5 days) following which he gradually improved. During this admission, a repeat lumbar puncture was done and CSF was evaluated (EUROIMMUN-Autoimmune Panel 1) for anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antibodies, anti-voltage-gated potassium channel antibodies, anti-alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid receptor antibodies, and anti-γ-aminobutyric acid-B receptor antibodies, all of which were negative. He was also investigated for CNS infections (including herpes simplex virus, dengue, and tuberculosis). Thyroid function was normal and antithyroid antibody and anti AQP4-IgG at Tohoku University at coauthors laboratory) was positive in serum. At discharge, he was dull, inattentive and had dysarthria and gait incoordination. Although he was advised immunosuppressants (azathioprine 150 mg/day and 30 mg of prednisolone), he discontinued after a short period. He was reviewed 3 months later when a detailed cognitive evaluation revealed delayed reaction time, poor attention span, and impaired verbal fluency with perseveration. A repeat MRI [Figure 1]e,[Figure 1]f,[Figure 1]g showed partial resolution with subtle evidence of persistent disease activity. He was initiated on injection rituximab with intent to continue every 6 months. | Figure 1: (a) Longitudinally extensive myelitis (sagittal T2W) in cervical cord. (b-d) (Axial and coronal fluid-attenuated inversion recovery) bilateral extensive fluid-attenuated inversion recovery/T2 hyperintense lesions in the cortex of bilateral temporal and paramedian frontal regions with subcortical extension. Review scans after 3 months showing partial resolution of lesions, dilatation of temporal horns (arrows), and sulcal prominence, (e and f) suggesting brain volume loss and persistent gadolinium enhancement (g) of the lesion (arrows)
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Discussion | |  |
Encephalitic illness associated with anti MOG-IgG has been previously described in very young children in the 4–8 years age group [5] and less often in adolescence. Steroid responsive anti MOG-IgG associated encephalitis was recently reported among adults.[6],[7] These patients had a monophasic illness with a benign outcome. MRI of the brain shows abnormality in more than one-third of anti-MOG-IgG-associated disease from the onset,[2],[4] but symptomatic brain lesions are less common.[4]
Our patient, an adolescent male, presented with fulminant encephalitis as part of a relapsing neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder [8] and was positive for anti MOG-IgG. He had disease persistence on MRI and residual cognitive impairment 3 months after the second attack. Anti MOG-IgG-associated disorders may be more severe than previously thought. This patient who had an aggressive disease course is such an example. The persistent disease activity and residual brain dysfunction he developed underscore the need for long-term immunosuppression in anti MOG-IgG associated illness with a relapsing disease course.
Financial support and sponsorship
Nil.
Conflicts of interest
There are no conflicts of interest.
References | |  |
1. | Pandit L, Sato DK, Mustafa S, Takahashi T, D'Cunha A, Malli C, et al. Serological markers associated with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders in South India. Ann Indian Acad Neurol 2016;19:505-9.  [ PUBMED] [Full text] |
2. | Sato DK, Callegaro D, Lana-Peixoto MA, Waters PJ, de Haidar Jorge FM, Takahashi T, et al. Distinction between MOG antibody-positive and AQP4 antibody-positive NMO spectrum disorders. Neurology 2014;82:474-81.  [ PUBMED] |
3. | Pandit L, Sato DK, Mustafa S, Takahashi T, D'Cunha A, Malli C, et al. Relapsing optic neuritis and isolated transverse myelitis are the predominant clinical phenotypes for patients with antibodies to myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein in India. Mult Scler J Exp Transl Clin 2016;2:2055217316675634. |
4. | Jarius S, Ruprecht K, Kleiter I, Borisow N, Asgari N, Pitarokoili K, et al. MOG-igG in NMO and related disorders: A multicenter study of 50 patients. Part 2: Epidemiology, clinical presentation, radiological and laboratory features, treatment responses, and long-term outcome. J Neuroinflammation 2016;13:280. |
5. | Fernandez-Carbonell C, Vargas-Lowy D, Musallam A, Healy B, McLaughlin K, Wucherpfennig KW, et al. Clinical and MRI phenotype of children with MOG antibodies. Mult Scler 2016;22:174-84.  [ PUBMED] |
6. | Ogawa R, Nakashima I, Takahashi T, Kaneko K, Akaishi T, Takai Y, et al. MOG antibody-positive, benign, unilateral, cerebral cortical encephalitis with epilepsy. Neurol Neuroimmunol Neuroinflamm 2017;4:e322.  [ PUBMED] |
7. | Fujimori J, Takai Y, Nakashima I, Sato DK, Takahashi T, Kaneko K, et al. Bilateral frontal cortex encephalitis and paraparesis in a patient with anti-MOG antibodies. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2017;88:534-36. |
8. | Wingerchuk DM, Banwell B, Bennett JL, Cabre P, Carroll W, Tanuja Chitnis T, et al. International consensus diagnostic criteria for neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders. Neurology 2015;85:1-13. |
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