Table 1.
Demographic features of all participants at baseline.
| HCs (n = 38) | NMOSD (n = 72) | p value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Female, n (%) | 32 (84.2) | 64 (88.9) | 0.552 |
| Age at baseline, median (IQR) | 41.0 (29.8–55.3) | 49.0 (33.3–59.0) | 0.407 |
| Age at onset, median (IQR) | — | 43.5 (28.3–56.0) | |
| Disease duration(y), median (IQR) | — | 2.71 (1.81–7.24) | |
| Recent relapse (<2 month, n %) | — | 42 (58.3) | |
| Number of relapse event, median (IQR) | — | 2.0 (1.0–4.0) | |
| ARR at baseline, median (IQR) | — | 0.46 (0.00–0.78) | |
| EDSS score, median (IQR) | — | 3.3 (2.0–7.0) | |
| AQP4-ab positive, n (%) | — | 64 (88.9) | |
| Prior treatment at baseline, n (%) | |||
| a No treatment | 23 (31.9) | ||
| Prednisone | 21 (29.2) | ||
| Azathioprine | 2 (2.8) | ||
| Prednisone + Azathioprine | 1 (1.4) | ||
| Mycophenolate mofetil | 3 (4.3) | ||
| Prednisone + Mycophenolate mofetil | 1 (1.4) | ||
| Rituximab | 8 (11.1) | ||
| Tocilizumab | 13 (18.1) | ||
| NfL values, median (IQR) | 11.5 (7.0–23.3) | 18.3 (11.2–39.3) | 0.001 |
| GFAP values, median (IQR) | 68.7 (59.44–80.79) | 149.7 (88.56–406.46) | <0.001 |
Values indicate median (interquartile range) or number (percent). ARR, Annualized relapse rates; DMD, Disease-Modifying Drug; EDSS, Expanded Disability Status Scale; GFAP, glial fibrillary acidic protein; HC, healthy control; IQR, interquartile range; NMOSD, neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders.
a
No treatment was defined as patients who first diagnosed, or at relapse stage did not receive any prior treatment, including high dose intravenous steroids, plasma exchange (PE), intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), or any DMD treatment at baseline.