Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders - laboratory examination

The assessment of neuronal antibodies improves diagnostic accuracy in a group of autoimmune disorders of the CNS. One of these examples is the detection of autoantibodies to aquaporin-4 (AQP4-IgG) in patients with neuromyelitis optica (NMO). The discovery of these antibodies has improved understanding of the pathogenesis and therapeutic approach in this syndrome. Furthermore, these antibodies facilitated the differentiation between NMO and MS. The sensitivity and specificity of these antibodies increased thanks to the assessment using cell-based assays in which antigen is expressed as a native protein in a membrane of the transfected cell. This was confirmed by testing of other antibodies targeting myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein, which are associated with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis or AQP4-IgGnegNMO. These autoantibodies are rarely detected in patients with MS.