Table 2.
Demographic comparison between the NMO and MS groups
| NMO (n = 27) | MS (n = 27) | P-value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age (years) | 47.5 ± 10.5 | 44.5 ± 10.1 | 0.2 |
| Sex ratio F/M (%F) | 25/2 (92.6%) | 22/5 (81.5%) | 0.4 |
| Age at onset (years) | 37.1 ± 12 | 30.7 ± 9.9 | 0.053 |
| Disease duration (years) | 9.9 ± 7.3 | 11.7 ± 8 | 0.3 |
| Optic-medullary time elapsed (years) | 25.3 ± 38.9 | – | |
| AQP4-Ab positive | 15 (55.5%) | 0 | |
| EDSS | 5.3 ± 2.5 | 3.85 ± 2.17 | 0.1 |
| IP EDSS | 0.95 ± 1.51 | 0.8 ± 1.2 | 0.2 |
| Ocular presenting symptom | 16 (59.2%) | 8 (29.6%) | 0.055 |
| Number of attacks/patient | 1.55 ± 1.8 | 0.63 ± 1.07 | 0.0002 |
| Number of attacks/patient in the first 2 years | 1.4 ± 0.84 | 0.55 ± 0.69 | 0.0002 |
| Annual relapsing rate | 0.44 ± 0.8 | 0.13 ± 0.14 | 0.0006 |
Abbreviations: EDSS, expanded disability status scale; F, female; IP, index of progression; M, male; MS, multiple sclerosis; NMO, neuromyelitis optica.