Comparing myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody (MOG-Ab) and non MOG-Ab associated optic neuritis: Clinical course and treatment outcome

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have suggested that anti-MOG antibodies and optic neuritis are associated and anti-MOG antibody positive patients have had better recoveries. The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical course and treatment outcome of MOG-Ab associated and non-MOG-Ab associated ON. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with optic neuritis were referred for brain and cervical MRI. Blood samples were also taken to measure MOG antibody and NMO antibody levels. The patients were treated based on a standard steroid pulse therapy. RESULTS: Between October 2015 and October 2017, 98 patients with ON were enrolled in the study. MS was diagnosed based on abnormality of patients' MRI results. Moreover, MRI finding of 58 of patients in MOG group and 80 of patients in NMO group was abnormal (P-value=0.707). The treatment increased the visual acuity significantly in all groups after 12 months. Patients in the NMO group were the only ones without significant change in their visual acuity in the first six months. On the other hand, the only patients with significant change in their visual acuity in the second six month were those in the MS group. CONCLUSION: We showed that patients' response to the steroid treatment is different between the MOG group and non-MOG group. The results suggest that presence of MOG-Ab influences the treatment outcome and its length.