Anti-nuclear antibodies and the optic-spinal form of multiple sclerosis

We found anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) (1 : 20 or higher) in sera from 11 of 16 patients with a diagnosis of the optic-spinal form of multiple sclerosis (OpS-MS) and 13 of 59 patients with other forms of MS (other MS), both rates being significant (P = 0.0004). Six of the OpS-MS patients had a high level of ANA (1 : 80 or higher), while levels were high in only three of the other MS patients, showing a significant difference (P = 0.0022). Titres of ANA were significantly higher in OpS-MS patients than in other MS patients (P < 0.0001). There was no relationship between the presence of ANA and age in OpS-MS patients, while patients with were older than those without high ANA levels among other MS patients. ANA-positive rate and titres were significantly higher in OpS-MS patients than in sex- and age-matched other MS patients. These results support the concept that OpS-MS constitutes a distinct subgroup among patients with a clinical diagnosis of MS and may indicate that systemic dysregulation of the inflammatory or immune response is more common in OpS-MS patients; the possible pathogenetic relevance of ANA-associated vasculopathy to some patients with a clinical diagnosis of OpS-MS should be considered.