Table 4.

Cox proportional hazards analysis of relapse.

Variables	HR (95% CI)	p-value	Adjusted HR (95% CI)	p-value
Age at onset	0.987 (0.936–1.041)	0.632	1.011 (0.946–1.081)	0.739
Pre-EDSS	0.994 (0.615–1.607)	0.980	1.109 (0.674–1.825)	0.683
AQP4-IgG titer	5.665 (1.012–31.705)	0.048	5.671 (0.922–34.876)	0.061
Gender	—	0.582	—	>0.99
Number of attacks before treatment	1.310 (0.989–1.736)	0.060	1.360 (0.974–1.899)	0.071

HR: hazard ratio; CI: confidence interval; Pre-EDSS: Expanded Disability Severity Scale before tacrolimus treatment.

In the univariate Cox proportional hazards regression model, the titer of AQP-4 antibodies before tacrolimus treatment was associated with relapse after treatment (HR: 5.665 95% CI: 1.012–31.705, P = 0.048). However, multivariate analysis revealed that the difference did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.061). The number of attacks prior to tacrolimus treatment, gender, EDSS before treatment, and age at onset were not associated with relapse when tacrolimus treatment was commenced in either univariate or multivariate analysis.