Different magnetic resonance imaging features between MOG antibody- and AQP4 antibody-mediated disease: A Chinese cohort study.

Few studies have compared radiological features obtained on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) between myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody (MOG-ab)- and aquaporin 4 antibody (AQP4-ab)-positive patients. In this study, 77 MOG-ab and 92 AQP4-ab patients were enrolled. The results demonstrated that the brain MRI-based incidence of subcortical white matter lesions was higher in MOG-ab patients (p <.000) than in AQP4-ab patients and that the former therefore had a higher incidence of periventricular lesions (p =.003). The posterior limb of the internal capsule was more prone to lesions in MOG-ab patients (p =.019). Large lesions and U- or S-shaped lesions were also more frequent in MOG-ab (p <.000 and p =.013, respectively). Half of the MOG-ab patients had spinal cord involvement, and 36.5% presented with longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis (LETM). However, among the MOG-ab and AQP4-ab patients with spinal attack, there was no significant difference in the proportion with LETM (p =.057). In conclusion, a higher proportion of MOG-ab patients than AQP4-ab patients had brain lesions in white matter. Among MOG-ab patients who had an attack in the spinal cord, 65.5% also had LETM during the disease course. Conus medullaris lesions were rare in Chinese MOG-ab patients. • A high proportion of MOG-ab patients have brain lesions in white matter. • MOG-ab patients are prone to subcortical white matter lesions. • Approximately 36.5% MOG-ab patients present with LETM. • Conus medullaris lesions are rare in Chinese MOG-ab patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]