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Cited by 341Multiple Sclerosis Research StudiesPeripheral Neuropathies and DisordersOcular Diseases and Behçet’s Syndrome

Demographic and clinical features of neuromyelitis optica: A review

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Pandit, L, Asgari, N, Apiwattanakul, M, Palace, J, Paul, F, Leite, MI, Kleiter, I, Chitnis, T +1 more·2015·Multiple Sclerosis Journal
DOI 10.1177/1352458515572406PMC PMC4463026
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Abstract

The comparative clinical and demographic features of neuromyelitis optica (NMO) are not well known. In this review we analyzed peer-reviewed publications for incidence and prevalence, clinical phenotypes, and demographic features of NMO. Population-based studies from Europe, South East and Southern Asia, the Caribbean, and Cuba suggest that the incidence and prevalence of NMO ranges from 0.05–0.4 and 0.52–4.4 per 100,000, respectively. Mean age at onset (32.6–45.7) and median time to first relapse (8–12 months) was similar. Most studies reported an excess of disease in women and a relapsing course, particularly in anti-aquaporin 4 antibody (anti AQP4-IgG)-positive patients. Ethnicity may have a bearing on disease phenotype and clinical outcome. Despite limitations inherent to the review process, themes noted in clinical and demographic features of NMO among different populations promote a more global understanding of NMO and strategies to address it.

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  • NMOSD shows a strong gender bias (female:male ratio up to 9:1) and a mean age at onset of 39 years, although all age groups can be affected including children and the elderly.

    “NMOSD shows a strong gender bias (female:male ratio up to 9:1) and a mean age at onset of 39 years 46 , although all age groups can be affected including children and the elderly.”

    From Diagnosis of multiple sclerosis: progress and challenges (2017) · cites this paper as [46]

    The Gender ratio section reports strong female predominance, and the Effect of age section documents both pediatric and late onset. However, “up to 9:1” understates the highest ratios reported, while the mean onset age of 39 years appears in Table 2 for a German cohort, not as an overall NMOSD mean; the review gives a range of means across case series. (LLM, conf=0.85)

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  • NMOSD is approximately 100 times less common than MS in European and North American populations but is relatively more common in Asia and Africa where MS is less common.

    “NMOSD is approximately 100 times less common than MS in European and North American populations but is relatively more common in Asia and Africa where MS is less common.46”

    From Diagnosis of multiple sclerosis: progress and challenges (2017) · cites this paper as [46]

    The Prevalence section (page unavailable) reports that NMO prevalence varies across geographic and ethnic cohorts, and the Atlas of MS Database section gives figures for European countries, Japan, South Africa, and Southeast Asia. Neither section establishes that NMOSD is approximately 100 times less common than MS in Europe and North America, or that its frequency relative to MS is higher across Asia and Africa. (LLM, conf=0.77)

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Research works printed but not linked: 38

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Authors
Pandit, L., Asgari, N., Apiwattanakul, M., Palace, J., Paul, F., Leite, M., Kleiter, I., Chitnis, T., & the GJCF International Clinical Consortium & Biorepository for Neuromyelitis Optica
Affiliations
  • Nitte University (IN)
  • University of Southern Denmark (DK)
  • Neurological Institute of Thailand (TH)
  • University of Oxford (GB)
  • Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (DE)
  • St. Josef-Hospital (DE)
  • Brigham and Women's Hospital (US)
Corresponding author
Pandit, L
ORCID
Venue
Multiple Sclerosis Journal
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Published
2015-04-28
Volume
21
Issue
7
Pages
845-853
ISSN
  • 1352-4585 (ISSN-L)
  • 1477-0970
DOI
10.1177/1352458515572406
PMC
PMC4463026
OpenAlex
W1977920771
Cited by
341
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 10 · 2025: 27 · 2024: 24 · 2023: 27 · 2022: 29 · 2021: 47 · 2020: 45 · 2019: 38 · 2018: 37 · 2017: 28 · 2016: 22 · 2015: 7
FWCI
4.59
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Multiple Sclerosis Journal (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • MDC Repository (Max-Delbrueck-Center for Molecular Medicine) (acceptedVersion)
  • eScholarship (California Digital Library) (acceptedVersion)
  • University of Southern Denmark Research Portal (University of Southern Denmark) (acceptedVersion)
  • eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
Guthy-Jackson Charitable Foundation
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pathology and Forensic Medicine › Multiple Sclerosis Research Studies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Neurology › Peripheral Neuropathies and Disorders
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Ophthalmology › Ocular Diseases and Behçet’s Syndrome
Keywords
neuromyelitis optica, incidence, prevalence, clinical phenotype, demographic factors, aquaporin-4 antibodies, relapse, age of onset, sex differences, ethnicity, disease outcome, population-based study
MeSH terms
Adult, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Neuromyelitis Optica

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