Table 1 Comparison of key characteristics of GFAP-IgG, MOG-IgG and AQP4-IgG myelitis
Myelitis, Number of patients (%)/Median (first quartile–third quartile) | P1 Valuea | P2 Valueb | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GFAP-IgG (n = 34) | AQP4-IgG(n = 30) | MOG-IgG (n = 30) | |||
Demographics | |||||
Age at onset, y | 28.5 (10.8–44.3) | 36.5 (20.8–55.3) | 8.5 (4.8–23.8) | 0.09 | <0.01 |
Women | 15/34 (44%) | 26/30 (87%) | 13/30 (43%) | <0.01 | 0.95 |
Children (< 18 y) | 12/34 (35%) | 5/30 (17%) | 21/30 (70%) | 0.09 | <0.01 |
Length of hospital stay, d | 23.5 (15.8–30.5) | 17.5 (12–23) | 15.5 (12–21.3) | 0.18 | 0.02 |
Clinical characteristics | |||||
Prodromal symptoms | 18/34 (53%) | 5/30 (17%) | 14/30 (47%) | <0.01 | 0.62 |
Fever | 29/34 (85%) | 3/30 (10%) | 14/30 (47%) | <0.01 | <0.01 |
Impaired consciousness | 12/34 (35%) | 5/30 (17%) | 8/30 (27%) | 0.09 | 0.46 |
Headache | 19/34 (56%) | 3/30 (10%) | 12/30 (40%) | <0.01 | 0.21 |
Dizziness | 11/34 (32%) | 6/30 (20%) | 4/30 (13%) | 0.26 | 0.07 |
Blurred vision | 4/34 (12%) | 12/30 (40%) | 7/30 (23%) | <0.01 | 0.22 |
Neck stiffness | 14/34 (41%) | 2/30 (7%) | 4/30 (13%) | <0.01 | 0.01 |
Nausea and vomiting | 20/34 (59%) | 11/30 (37%) | 7/30 (23%) | 0.08 | <0.01 |
Appetite loss | 7/34 (21%) | 3/30 (10%) | 1/30 (3%) | 0.41 | 0.09 |
Abdominal Pain/distention | 5/34 (15%) | 2/30 (7%) | 6/30 (20%) | 0.53 | 0.58 |
Limb numbness | 6/34 (18%) | 19/30 (63%) | 6/30 (20%) | <0.01 | 0.81 |
Limb pain | 4/34 (12%) | 11/30 (37%) | 2/30 (7%) | 0.02 | 0.79 |
Limb weakness | 27/34 (79%) | 20/30 (67%) | 16/30 (53%) | 0.25 | 0.03 |
Ambulated independently at attack nadir | 7/34 (21%) | 10/30 (33%) | 14/30 (47%) | 0.25 | 0.03 |
Cane/walker dependent at attack nadir | 12/34 (35%) | 4/30 (13%) | 6/30 (20%) | 0.04 | 0.17 |
Wheelchair-dependent at attack nadir | 15/34 (44%) | 16/30 (53%) | 10/30 (33%) | 0.46 | 0.38 |
Urinary incontinence or retention | 14/34 (41%) | 14/30 (47%) | 11/30 (37%) | 0.66 | 0.71 |
ICU admission | 19/34 (56%) | 3/30 (10%) | 5/30 (17%) | <0.01 | <0.01 |
Mechanical ventilation | 13/34 (38%) | 1/30 (3%) | 0/30 (0%) | <0.01 | <0.01 |
EDSS score at admission | 4 (3–6) | 4 (3–6) | 4 (4–5) | 0.3 | 0.13 |
EDSS score at discharge | 3 (0–8) | 2 (2–6.3) | 0 (0–2.3) | 0.86 | <0.01 |
Serological findings | |||||
NLR | 4.27 (2.43–6.77) | 2.5 (1.59–3.61) | 2.29 (1.55–5.41) | <0.01 | 0.07 |
MLR | 0.43 (0.24–0.71) | 0.23 (0.18–0.32) | 0.22 (0.15–0.31) | <0.01 | <0.01 |
Hyponatremia (<135 mmol/L) | 15/33 (45%) | 4/30 (13%) | 2/30 (7%) | <0.01 | <0.01 |
CSF findings | |||||
Elevated leukocyte counts, > 5 cells/µL | 31/34 (91%) | 16/29 (55%) | 23/29 (79%) | <0.01 | 0.33 |
Markedly elevated leukocyte counts, > 50 cells/µL | 23/34 (68%) | 4/29 (14%) | 10/29 (34%) | <0.01 | <0.01 |
Elevated total protein, > 450 mg/L | 28/34 (82%) | 9/29 (31%) | 5/29 (17%) | <0.01 | <0.01 |
Decreased glucose levels, <2.2 mmol/L | 9/34 (26%) | 1/29 (3%) | 0/29 (0%) | 0.03 | <0.01 |
MRI spine | |||||
Cervical cord lesions | 27/34 (79%) | 23/30 (77%) | 26/30 (87%) | 0.79 | 0.44 |
Thoracic cord lesions | 29/34 (85%) | 20/30 (67%) | 21/30 (70%) | 0.08 | 0.14 |
Lumbar cord lesions | 9/34 (26%) | 3/30 (10%) | 5/30 (17%) | 0.09 | 0.34 |
Longitudinally extensive sagittal T2 lesions (> 3 vertebral segments) | 28/34 (82%) | 24/30 (80%) | 26/30 (87%) | 0.81 | 0.90 |
≥2 cord lesions | 15/34 (44%) | 10/30 (33%) | 9/30 (30%) | 0.38 | 0.24 |
Conus | 2/34 (6%) | 0/30 (0%) | 1/29 (3%) | 0.53 | 1 |
Diseased segments | 13 (5.8–18) | 6 (3–12.5) | 11 (5–19) | 0.01 | 0.74 |
Gadolinium enhancement | 14/17 (82%) | 14/19 (74%) | 6/13 (46%) | 0.70 | 0.06 |
Spinal cord swelling | 4/34 (12%) | 6/30 (20%) | 3/30 (10%) | 0.58 | 1 |
Central canal enhancement | 5/17 (29%) | 0/19 (0%) | 0/13 (0%) | 0.02 | 0.05 |
Ring enhancement | 0/17 (0%) | 2/19 (11%) | 0/13 (0%) | 0.49 | - |
H sign | 1/34 (3%) | 1/30 (3%) | 5/30 (17%) | 1 | 0.15 |
MRI head | |||||
Brain T2 lesions | 23/32 (72%) | 13/27 (48%) | 22/26 (85%) | 0.06 | 0.25 |
Gadolinium enhancement | 14/22 (64%) | 2/14 (14%) | 6/10 (60%) | <0.01 | 1 |
Linear perivascular radial gadolinium patterns | 2/22 (9%) | 0/14 (0%) | 0/10 (0%) | 0.51 | 1 |
Treatment | |||||
IVMP | 33/34 (97%) | 30/30 (100%) | 29/30 (97%) | 1 | 1 |
IVIG | 18/34 (53%) | 12/30 (40%) | 15/30 (50%) | 0.30 | 0.81 |
PE | 1/34 (3%) | 0/30 (0%) | 0/30 (0%) | 1 | 1 |
Immunosuppressant | 4/34 (12%)c | 15/30 (50%)d | 5/30 (17%)e | <0.01 | 0.84 |
Outcome | |||||
EDSS score at last follow-up | 0 (0–2.8) | 0 (0–4.3) | 0 (0–2) | 0.94 | 0.13 |
Gait aid at last follow-up | 1/28 (4%) | 6/30 (20%) | 1/29 (3%) | 0.13 | 1 |
Urinary incontinence or retention at last follow-up | 1/28 (4%) | 2/30 (7%) | 2/29 (7%) | 1 | 1 |
Follow-up duration, mo | 20 (15–23.75) | 14.5 (8–34.3) | 19.5 (11.3–28.5) | 0.78 | 0.87 |