Predictors of azathioprine and mycophenolate mofetil response in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder: A cohort study

BACKGROUND

Relapse rates of 47 % have been reported in patients with neuromyelitis optica (NMOSD) using Azathioprine (AZA) and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF). Prediction of non-responders could help determine which patients are most likely to benefit from newer monoclonal antibody treatments from the outset.

OBJECTIVES

To identify predictors of AZA and MMF treatment response in NMOSD.

METHODS

Multicenter cohort study of NMOSD patients from Brazil and the United Kingdom, treated with AZA and MMF. An unsatisfactory response was defined as one severe or two non-severe attacks in a year. Cox regression was used to identify predictive factors of unsatisfactory response to AZA and MMF.

RESULTS

103 NMOSD patients, mean age 38 years, 83% female, and 65% of Black ethnic group were included. An unsatisfactory IS response was observed in 42% of patients over 2.5 years (IQR 1.0-8.8) years. A severe preceding attack was more common in non-responders (31.1% x 76.7%, p = <0.001). In multivariable analysis, severe attack (RR 3.13; 95 % CI 1.37-7.18, p = 0.007) or higher annualized relapse rate (RR 4.84; 95 % CI 2.01-11.65, p = < 0.001) predicted an unsatisfactory response. Interestingly, Black NMOSD patients had a lower risk of poor response (RR 0.39, 95 % CI 0.17-0.85, p = 0.019).

CONCLUSION

Severe attack and a higher annualized relapse rate before AZA or MMF initiation were associated with an unsatisfactory IS response. In patients with these characteristics, treatment with higher-efficacy drugs should be considered from the outset.

The influence of patient's knowledge about stroke in Brazil: a cross sectional study

Little is known about stroke patients' awareness about the warning signs of stroke and its therapeutic time window in Brazil.

METHOD

We interviewed consecutive patients with acute stroke admitted to a terciary public hospital in Brazil. Data collected included demographics, mode of arrival, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores and knowledge of stroke warning signs and therapeutic time window. Early arrival was defined as within 4.5 hours of symptoms onset.

RESULTS

Although 66.2% of patients knew the warning signs of stroke, only 7.8% reported to know that stroke had a limited therapeutic time window. Stroke severity measured by the NIHSS was independently associated with early arrival, but not knowledge of stroke signs and symptoms.

CONCLUSION

Knowledge about stroke symptoms was not a predictor of early arrival.

Acute foot drop syndrome mimicking peroneal nerve injury: an atypical presentation of ischemic stroke

Foot drop syndrome is a frequent neurologic condition usually caused by peroneal nerve damage. On rare occasions, foot drop may present as the single neurologic manifestation of intracranial lesions. We presented a 43-year-old man admitted to our hospital with acute weakness in the dorsiflexion of his right foot that appeared 3 days before admission. Brain magnetic resonance imaging diffusion-weighted sequence revealed a small area of restricted diffusion in the left frontal cortex. Three months later, his motor deficit had completely improved (modified Rankin scale score = 0). To our knowledge, this is the second report of sudden isolated foot drop caused by a cortical infarction.