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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