Disruption of blood-brain barrier integrity associated with brain lesions in Chinese neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder patients

作者：You Xiaofan; Yan Lirong; Li Xin; Pang Ying; Guo Xiaolei; Ye Jing^*; Hu Hongtao^*

来源：Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders, 2019, 27: 254-259.

DOI：10.1016/j.msard.2018.10.114

• Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders
• Brain damage
• Magnetic resonance imaging
• Cerebrospinal fluid
• Blood-brain barrier

Objective: The aims of this study were to report brain characteristic abnormalities and to evaluate the relationship of blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption and brain lesions in Chinese patients with NMOSD. @@@ Methods: Brain magnetic resonance imaging characteristics and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) laboratory tests of 121 patients with NMOSD at acute attack were reviewed retrospectively. Qalb (CSF albumin/serum albumin) was used for assessment of disruption of BBB. @@@ Results: Brain MRI abnormalities were observed in 36.4% (44/121) of the NMOSD patients. Thirty patients (25%) showed typical-NMOSD abnormalities, including dorsal medulla lesions (n = 16, 13.2%), brainstem/cerebellum (n = 11, 9.1%), thalamus/hypothalamus (n = 3, 2.5%), periventricular while matter lesions (n = 4, 3.3%) hemispheric white matter (n = 4, 3.3%). Twenty-five patients (20.7%) had nonspecific lesions. Compared to the NMOSD patients without brain lesion, the proportion of patients who had abnormal BBB permeability was significantly higher in the abnormal brain MRI group (47.7% vs. 27.3%, P < 0.05). BBB permeability was not correlated to distribution of brain lesions or enhancement lesions. Qalb was associated with higher Expanded Disability Status Scale scores (r = 0.689, P < 0.05). @@@ Conclusions: Brain lesions are common in NMOSD patients. Marker of BBB permeability is associated with brain lesion and EDSS scores of NMOSD.

• 出版日期2019-1
• 单位北京积水潭医院; 首都医科大学