Comparative analysis of the clinical symptoms and magnetic resonance imaging findings of the spinal cord in patients with neuromyelitis optica and multiple sclerosis
10.3760/cma.j.issn.1671-8925.2009.03.022
- VernacularTitle:视神经脊髓炎与多发性硬化的临床症状、脊髓MRI表现的对比分析
- Author:
Wen-Xia YOU
1
;
Zheng-Qi LU
;
Xue-Qiang HU
;
Ke-Feng LU
;
Yan ZOU
;
Can-Sheng ZHU
Author Information
1. 中山大学附属第三医院
- Keywords:
Neuromyelitis optica;
Multiple sclerosis;
Clinical symptoms;
Magnetic resonance imaging
- From:
Chinese Journal of Neuromedicine
2009;8(3):291-294
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective To investigate the differences in the clinical symptoms and magnetic resonance imaging (MPd) findings of the spinal cord lesions between patients with neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and multiple sclerosis (MS) and explore the mechanisms that result in these differences. Methods The clinical symptoms and MRI findings of the spinal cord were retrospectively analyzed in 21 MS patients and 23 NMO patients admitted in the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University from January, 2004 to January, 2007. Results Female patients were more frequently affected by NMO, and the NMO patients had a older mean age at onset with higher Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score than the MS patients. Chi-square test showed significant differences in the rotes of bilateral deep sensory dysfunction, zonesthesia, and sphincter disturbance between the NMO and MS patients (P<0.05). The majority of these clinical symptoms were found to result form corresponding spinal cord lesions defined by MRI. Conclusion NMO is a demyelinating disease that represents an independent clinical entity from MS, and has special mechanisms responsible for its characteristic clinical symptoms and MRI findings of the spinal cord.
