Psychiatric comorbidities and suicidality among patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders in Argentina.

BACKGROUND: Neuromyelitis optica is a relapsing inflammatory, secondarily demyelinating astrocytopathy that most commonly affects the optic nerves and the spinal cord. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the psychopathological profile, presence of current depression, and suicidality in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) in an Argentinean cohort, and compare these parameters to those in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and in healthy controls (HCs). METHODS: Twenty patients with NMOSD, 18 with MS, and 20 healthy controls were included. The presence and grade of current depression were assessed using Beck's depression inventory (BDI), while psychiatric disease and suicidality were assessed using the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview. RESULTS: The prevalence of psychiatric disease in the NMOSD group was 45%, significantly higher than in the MS group (16%, p = 0.06) and the HCs (5%, p = 0.008). Recurrent major depressive disorder was the most frequent psychiatric disease and was diagnosed in four (20%) patients in the NMOSD group and in two (11%) patients in the MS group. In the NMOSD group, two (10%) patients were diagnosed with past manic episodes, one (5%) with current dysthymic disorder, one (5%) with lifetime psychotic disorder, and one (5%) with bulimia nervosa. One patient (5.5%) in the MS group and one in the HC (5%) were diagnosed with current generalized anxiety disorder. Ten patients (50%) in the NMOSD group had current depressive symptoms versus five (28%) patients in the MS group (p = 0.16) and two (10%) in the HC group (p = 0.02). Six (30%) patients with NMOSD versus only one (5.5%) patient with MS had attempted suicide at least once, this difference was statistically significant (p = 0.05). Current suicide risk was high in patients with NMOSD (8, 40%) and moderate in patients with MS (4, 22%). CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that the prevalence of psychiatric comorbidities in patients with NMOSD is significantly higher than in patients with MS and healthy controls. Given the high frequency of suicidality, assessment of pertinent psychiatric disorders in such patients to optimize monitoring and comprehensive treatment is required.

Myasthenia gravis and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder: a multicenter study of 16 patients.

OBJECTIVE: To describe 16 patients with a coincidence of 2 rare diseases: aquaporin-4 antibody (AQP4-Ab)-mediated neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (AQP4-NMOSD) and acetylcholine receptor antibody (AChR-Ab)-mediated myasthenia gravis (AChR-MG). METHODS: The clinical details and antibody results of 16 patients with AChR-MG and AQP4-NMOSD were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: All had early-onset AChR-MG, the majority with mild generalized disease, and a high proportion achieved remission. Fifteen were female; 11 were Caucasian. In 14/16, the MG preceded NMOSD (median interval: 16 years) and 11 of these had had a thymectomy although 1 only after NMOSD onset. In 4/5 patients tested, AQP4-Abs were detectable between 4 and 16 years prior to disease onset, including 2 patients with detectable AQP4-Abs prior to thymectomy. AChR-Abs decreased and the AQP4-Ab levels increased over time in concordance with the relevant disease. AChR-Abs were detectable at NMOSD onset in the one sample available from 1 of the 2 patients with NMOSD before MG. CONCLUSIONS: Although both conditions are rare, the association of MG and NMOSD occurs much more frequently than by chance and the MG appears to follow a benign course. AChR-Abs or AQP4-Abs may be present years before onset of the relevant disease and the antibody titers against AQP4 and AChR tend to change in opposite directions. Although most cases had MG prior to NMOSD onset, and had undergone thymectomy, NMOSD can occur first and in patients who have not had their thymus removed.