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Journal of Neurology and Neurorehabilitation Research | Volume 3

August 23-24, 2018 | Paris, France

Neurology and Neurological Disorders

18

th

International Conference on

Anti-AQP4 and anti-MOG positive Neuromyelitis Optica: Clinical experience with the novel diagnostic

criteria and disease management

Jameelah Saeedi

King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz University Hospital, Saudi Arabia

N

euromyelitis optica (NMO), also known as Devic’s

disease, is an autoimmune disease of central nervous

system (CNS), in which immune cells and auto-antibodies

primarily attack optic nerves and spinal cord, and also the

brain. Autoimmune attack of optic nerves causes swelling

and inflammation with recurrent optic neuritis and/or

transverse myelitis, pain and loss of vision. Spinal cord

damage leads to paralysis, loss of sensation, and other

problems. Despite the initial mistaken belief that NMO is

a variant of multiple sclerosis (MS), these two are distinct

diseases with some similar clinical and radiological features.

Autoimmune attack on aquaporin-4 (AQP4) water channels,

located in optic nerves and spinal cord, probably causes

NMO. NMO was likely misdiagnosed as MS in 30-40% of

cases, prior to the availability of diagnostic test for anti-AQP4

antibodies. Since the identification of anti-AQP4 antibodies

(NMO-IgG) in NMO patients in 2004, patients without the

typical spinal cord and optic nerve manifestations have also

been diagnosed with NMO. This led to the new diagnostic

criteria defining anti-AQP4 positive and negative disease

with a new unified term, NMO spectrum disorder (NMOSD)

to describe the disease. Thus approximately 80% of the NMO

patients display circulating NMO-IgG, whereas the others

might have antibodies targeting myelin oligodendrocyte

glycoprotein (MOG)—a protein expressed on the surface

of oligodendrocytes in the CNS. In my presentation, I will

discuss the differences between anti-MOG NMO and

anti–AQP-4 NMO, the new diagnostic criteria and their

radiological features and my experience in the management

of NMO patients.

Speaker Biography

Jameelah Saeedi is a certified Saudi Neurologist who specializes in Multiple

Sclerosis and Neuroimmunological Diseases. She received her medical qualification

from King Abdulaziz University in Saudi Arabia in 2001 followed by two-boards in

Neurology from Saudi Commission for Health Specialties and the Jordanian Medical

Council in 2007. Dr. Saeedi is alumni of University of British Columbia where she

pursued her fellowship and training in Neuroimmunology and Multiple Sclerosis

with Prof. Peter Rieckman in 2009. In 2010 she received two more fellowships in

Electromyography and Boutlinum Toxin Injection treatment from the University of

Toronto. She is one of few leading pioneers who holds vast knowledge, experience,

sub-specializes and practices Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunological Diseases

in Saudi Arabia. She has been working at King Fahad Medical City as a Subspecialty

Consultant and KFMC Comprehensive Neuroimmunology Program Director. She is

currently working at King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz university hospital in Saudi Arabia.

e:

jamysa@hotmail.com