Table 2.
Demographic and paraclinical characteristics in three subgroups with valid data.
| Characteristics | NMOSD-ON−TM− | NMOSD-TM+ | NMOSD-ON+ | p1 | p2 | p3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (n = 53) | (n = 57) | (n = 64) | ||||
| Age onset (years) | 31.6 ± 17.8 | 41.6 ± 14.2 | 37.0 ± 14.2 | <0.0001 | 0.012 | NS |
| Age onset < 30 years, n (%) | 31 (58.5) | 10 (17.5) | 18 (28.1) | <0.0001 | 0.001 | NS |
| Age onset >40 years, n (%) | 16 (30.2) | 30 (52.6) | 25 (39.1) | 0.017 | NS | NS |
| Age onset >50 years, n (%) | 5 (9.4) | 16 (28.1) | 13 (20.3) | 0.013 | NS | NS |
| Female/male | 47/6 | 52/5 | 55/9 | NS | NS | NS |
| Duration (months) | 68.8 ± 58.8 | 76.6 ± 65.6 | 79.7 ± 68.4 | NS | NS | NS |
| Relapsing cases, n (%) | 48 (90.6) | 48 (84.2) | 62 (96.9) | NS | NS | NS |
| Relapse-free time (months)a | 4 (1–96) | 14 (2–312) | 8 (1–120) | 0.027 | NS | NS |
| Neuromyelitis optica (NMO)-free time (months)b | 24 (1–156) | 24 (2–156) | 16 (2–223) | NS | NS | NS |
| Meeting 2006 NMO criteria, n (%) | 31 (57.4%) | 21 (36.8%) | 58 (90.6) | <0.0001 | <0.0001 | <0.0001 |
| CSF protein (g/L) | 0.44 ± 0.28 | 0.37 ± 0.20 | 0.27 ± 0.15 | 0.041 | 0.012 | NS |
| CSF pleocytosis, n (%) | 31 (58.5) | 22 (38.6) | 31 (48.4) | NS | NS | NS |
| CSF cells (no./mm3) | 8 (0–325) | 5 (0–161) | 5 (0–98) | 0.005 | 0.050 | NS |
| Median EDSS (range) | 3 (1–10) | 5 (1–10) | 5 (1–10) | 0.008 | 0.010 | NS |
| EDSS ≤ 3, n (%) | 27 (50.9%) | 10 (17.5) | 16 (25) | <0.0001 | <0.0001 | <0.0001 |
| EDSS ≥ 6, n (%) | 10 (18.9%) | 17 (29.8) | 20 (31.3) | NS | NS | NS |
| Death, n (%) | 2 (3.8) | 2 (3.5) | 2 (3.1) | NS | NS | NS |
| Brain NMO lesions in history | ||||||
| Area postrema lesions, n (%) | 32 (60.4) | 11 (19.3) | 14 (21.9) | <0.0001 | <0.0001 | NS |
| Brain stem lesions, n (%) | 9 (17.0) | 5 (8.8) | 4 (6.3) | NS | NS | NS |
| Diencephalic lesion, n (%) | 25 (47.2) | 3 (5.3) | 9 (14.1) | <0.0001 | <0.0001 | NS |
| Cerebral lesion, n (%) | 15 (28.3) | 2 (3.5) | 4 (6.3) | 0.001 | 0.001 | NS |
| Spinal cord lesions in history | 37 (69.8) | 57 (100) | 57 (89.1) | <0.0001 | 0.009 | 0.010 |
| LETM, n (%) | 30/37 (81.1) | 55/57 (96.5) | 47/57 (82.5) | 0.013 | NS | 0.015 |
| Cervical lesions, n (%) | 24/37 (64.9) | 21/57 (36.8) | 20/57 (35.1) | 0.008 | 0.005 | NS |
| Thoracic lesions, n (%) | 6/37 (16.2) | 16/57 (28.1) | 25/57 (43.9) | NS | 0.005 | NS |
| Cervical + thoracic lesions, n (%) | 7/37 (18.9) | 20/57 (35.1) | 12/57 (21.1) | NS | NS | NS |
NMOSD, neuromyelitis optica spectrum disease; LETM, longitudinal extensive transverse myelitis; EDSS, Expanded Disability Status Scale; NMOSD-ON+, patient initial manifestation with ON; NMOSD-TM+, patient initial manifestation with TM; NMOSD-ON+TM+, patient initial manifestation with simultaneous optic neuritis (ON) and transverse myelitis (TM); CSF, cerebral spinal fluid; p1, comparison between NMOSD-ON−TM− and NMOSD-TM+ patients; p2, comparison between NMOSD-ON−TM− and NMOSD-ON+ patients; p3, comparison between NMOSD-ON+ and NMOSD-TM+ patients.
aDuration from the first attack to the first relapse.
bDuration from the first attack to diagnosis of NMO.