Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder and menstruation

Sex ratio and age of onset in AQP4 antibody-associated NMOSD: a review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Aquaporin-4 (AQP4) antibody-associated neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is an antibody-mediated inflammatory disease of the central nervous system. We have undertaken a systematic review and meta-analysis to ascertain the sex ratio and mean age of onset for AQP4 antibody associated NMOSD. We have also explored factors that impact on these demographic data.

METHODS

A systematic search of databases was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines. Articles reporting sex distribution and age of onset for AQP4 antibody-associated NMSOD were reviewed. An initially inclusive approach involving exploration with regression meta-analysis was followed by an analysis of just AQP4 antibody positive cases.

RESULTS

A total of 528 articles were screened to yield 89 articles covering 19,415 individuals from 88 population samples. The female:male sex ratio was significantly influenced by the proportion of AQP4 antibody positive cases in the samples studied (p < 0.001). For AQP4 antibody-positive cases the overall estimate of the sex ratio was 8.89 (95% CI 7.78-10.15). For paediatric populations the estimate was 5.68 (95% CI 4.01-8.03) and for late-onset cases, it was 5.48 (95% CI 4.10-7.33). The mean age of onset was significantly associated with the mean life expectancy of the population sampled (p < 0.001). The mean age of onset for AQP4 antibody-positive cases in long-lived populations was 41.7 years versus 33.3 years in the remainder.

CONCLUSIONS

The female:male sex ratio and the mean age of onset of AQP4 antibody-associated NMOSD are significantly higher than MS. The sex ratio increases with the proportion of cases that are positive for AQP4 antibodies and the mean age of onset increases with population life expectancy.

The association between dietary inflammatory index and risk of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder: a case-control study

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is a severe and rare inflammatory disease affecting the central nervous system through optic neuritis and transverse myelitis. Present study aimed to investigate the association between dietary inflammatory index (DII) and risk of NMOSD.

METHODS

In this case-control study, 30 NMOSD cases and 90 aged matched healthy individuals were recruited. Habitual dietary intakes were assessed by a validated 168-item food frequency questionnaire to calculate the DII score. A multiple adjusted regression was used to determine the odd ratio (OR) of NMOSD across DII tertiles. The Residual method was applied to adjust the energy intake.

RESULTS

Participants in the top of DII tertile were more likely to have NMOSD in the crude model compared to those with the lowest one (OR: 4.18; 95%CI: 1.43-12.21). It was the case when multivariable confounders were considered in adjustment model I (OR: 3.98; 95%CI: 1.34-11.82) and II (OR: 4.43; 95%CI: 1.36-14.38), such that, individuals with a greater DII score had 3.98 and 4.43-time higher risk of NMOSD in model I and II, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The Present study suggests that greater adherence to a pro-inflammatory diet may be associated with an increased risk of NMOSD.

A systematic literature review to examine the considerations around pregnancy in women of child-bearing age with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD) or aquaporin 4 neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (AQP4+ NMOSD)

BACKGROUND

Aquaporin-4 antibody positive (AQP4+) neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD) are rare autoimmune diseases with overlapping phenotypes. Understanding their clinical manifestation prior to, during and after pregnancy may influence the management of women of child-bearing age (WOCBA) with these diseases.

METHODS

This systematic review identified relevant MEDLINE-indexed publications dated between 01 January 2011 and 01 November 2021, and congress materials from key conferences between 01 January 2019 and 01 November 2021. These were manually assessed for relevance to AQP4+ NMOSD and/or MOGAD in WOCBA, with selected data extracted and considered.

RESULTS

In total, 107 articles were retrieved and reviewed for relevancy, including 65 clinical studies. Limited evidence was found regarding a conclusive impact of either disease on female fertility, sexual function or menarche, and impact on maternal outcomes requires further investigation in both conditions to establish risk for pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes and other complications relative to the general population. Collated data for pregnancy outcomes show clear risks in AQP4+ NMOSD to healthy delivery and a rise in annualised relapse rate postpartum that may require adaptation of treatment regimens. Disease activity appears to be attenuated during pregnancy in MOGAD patients with an increased risk of relapse during the postpartum months, but strong conclusions cannot be made due to a paucity of available data.

CONCLUSIONS

This review brings together the literature on AQP4+ NMOSD and MOGAD in WOCBA. The potential impact of pregnancy and the postpartum period on disease activity suggest a proactive management strategy early on may improve maternal and infant outcomes, but more clinical data are needed, particularly for MOGAD.

The association between dietary sugar intake and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder: A case-control study

BACKGROUND

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is an uncommon autoimmune disease of the central nerves system (CNS) by inflammatory nature. The effects of high dietary sugar intake on inflammation and dysbiosis have been received more attention in recent years. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between various types of dietary sugar intake and NMOSD odds and clinical features.

METHOD

The current case-control study was conducted among 70 patients with definite NMOSD diagnosis based on 2015 international consensus criteria and 164 hospital-based controls. Demographic and anthropometric information in all participants and disease characteristics just in case group were obtained. Dietary data during the past year of study attendance was collected by a validated 168-item food frequency questionnaire. Participants were stratified into 3 tertiles according to each type of sugar intake and the third tertile considered as reference in multivariate regression models. The correlation between dietary sugar and disease features were analyzed using Pearson correlation test.

RESULTS

The mean ± SD of total sugar intake increased from 80.73 ± 17.71 to 208.71 ± 57.93 g/day across tertiles of total sugar intake. In fully adjusted model, lower intake of sugar was associates with decreased odds of NMOSD in the first tertile vs third tertile by ORs of: 0.02(CI:0.00-0.08; p-for-trend:0.00), 0.02(CI:0.00-0.10; p-for-trend:0.00), 0.23(CI:0.08-0.61; p-for-trend:0.00), 0.19(CI:0.06-0.58; p-for-trend:0.00) and 0.16(CI:0.05-0.51; p-for-trend:0.00) for glucose, fructose, galactose, lactose and sucrose, respectively. The odds of NMOSD had a 1.72-fold (CI: 1.43-2.03; p-for-trend:0.00) significant raise per every 10 g increase for total sugar intake. There was no significant correlation between various types of dietary sugar intakes and relapse rate or patients' disability.

CONCLUSION

The present study proposes a possible direct association between high intake of various sugar types and odds of suffering from NMOSD. More investigations are needed to prove this results.