Resolution of aquaporin-4 antibodies in a woman with neuromyelitis optica treated with human autologous stem cell transplant. Issue 7 (July 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Aouad, Patrick; Li, Jamma; Arthur, Chris; Burt, Richard; Fernando, Suran; Parratt, John
• Is Part Of: Journal of clinical neuroscience. Volume 22:Issue 7(2015:Jul.)
• Page Start: 1215
• Page End: 1217
• Publication Date: 2015-07
• Subjects: Brain -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Neurosciences -- Periodicals; Nervous system -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Brain -- surgery -- Periodicals; Neurosurgical Procedures -- Periodicals; Neurosciences -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jocn.2015.02.007
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0967-5868

Abstract

<abstract xml:lang="en" abstract-type="author" id="ab010"> <title id="st045">Abstract</title> <sec> <p id="sp0010">We report a 47-year-old woman with highly active neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and persistent high titre anti-aquaporin-4 antibodies (anti-AQP-4) who was resistant to multiple immune therapies until she underwent autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant (auto-HSCT). NMO is the only demyelinating disease with a clinically useful serum biomarker, aquaporin-4, a water channel protein expressed on astrocytes. Anti-AQP-4 antibodies correlate with NMO disease activity and animal models strongly suggest the antibody is pathogenic. Auto-HSCT was associated with clinical and radiological remission, improved disability and resolution of AQP-4 antibodies which are still undetectable 12 months later. The utility of auto-HSCT for refractory NMO warrants further investigation, particularly with regards to pre-conditioning regimens and the utility of AQP-4 antibodies as a biomarker for immunological and clinical remission.</p> </sec> </abstract>