Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is a kind of demyelinating disease of central nervous system which mainly affect optic nerve and spinal cord. Because of its serious blindness and disability, how to effectively prevent relapse has become the focus of ophthalmologists. With the deep understanding of the pathogenesis and the progress of scientific and technological means, more and more monoclonal antibodies(mAb) continue to enter clinical trials. B cell surface antigen CD20 blocker, rituximab, has become a first-line drug for the treatment of NMOSD. CD19 blocker, inebilizumab, can reduce the recurrence and disability of NMOSD patients. The addition of interleukin 6 receptor blocker, satralizumab, and complement C5 inhibitor, eculizumab, reduce the recurrence. Some mAbs such as natalizumab and alemtuzumab may not be effective for the treatment of NMOSD. The expansion of mAb treatment indications and the launch of new drugs still require more clinical trials which are large-scale and international cooperation. At the same time, its potential adverse events and cost issues cannot be ignored.
ObjectiveTo preliminary investigate the impact of the diagnosis-related groups (DRG) payment method reform on the diagnosis and treatment of inpatient medical insurance patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD), and to propose potential improvement strategies. MethodsA single-center, retrospective study. From October 1, 2020, to September 30, 2022, 44 hospitalized medical insurance patients with acute-phase NMOSD diagnosed and treated at the First Affiliated Hospital of Northwest University (Xi'an First Hospital) were included in the study. Among them, there were 11 males and 33 females, with an average age of (40.8±20.2) years. According to the implementation time of DRG payment, patients were divided into two groups: group A, which consists of cases one year before the implementation of DRG payment from October 1, 2020 to September 30, 2021, and group B, which consists of cases one year after the implementation of DRG payment from October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2022, with 20 and 24 cases, respectively. Detailed information such as hospitalization duration, treatment methods, and hospitalization costs of the two groups of patients was collected. Comparative analysis was conducted on hospitalization costs and treatment methods between the two groups. For intergroup comparison, t-test was used for normally distributed data, and Mann-Whitney U test was used for skewed distributed data. ResultsAmong the 44 patients, 5 cases (5/24, 20.8%) received plasma exchange (PE) treatment, all of whom were in group B. The numbers of patients who received and did not receive intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatment were 9 and 11 in group A, respectively, and 7 and 12 in group B (except for 5 cases who received PE treatment), respectively. Compared with group A, there was no significant decrease in hospitalization duration (t=0.004) and total hospitalization costs (Z=0.036), as well as costs for western medicine (Z=0.036), examinations (Z=0.011), laboratory tests (Z=0.040), treatments (Z=0.017), and nursing (Z=3.131) in group B, and the differences were not statistically significant (P＞0.05). For patients receiving PE treatment, except for the cost of western medicine (Z=0.062, P=0.804), the other costs (Z=8.288, 5.013, 11.400, 10.925, 9.126) were significantly higher than those of patients not receiving PE treatment, and the hospitalization duration (t=20.474) was significantly prolonged, with statistically significant differences (P＜0.05). The total hospitalization costs of patients receiving IVIG treatment were significantly higher than those not receiving IVIG treatment in both group A and group B, with statistically significant differences (Z=7.690, 10.314; P＜0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the comparison of total hospitalization costs between patients receiving IVIG treatment in group A and group B (Z=0.137, P＞0.05). ConclusionsThere is no significant decrease in various hospitalization costs of NMOSD medical insurance patients in Xi'an after the implementation of DRG payment, especially for patients receiving PE treatment. It is suggested to optimize the rate stratification of NMOSD patients when implementing DRG payment methods.
Neuromyelitis optica-related optic neuritis (NMO-ON) is a kind of severe optic nerve disease, which always leads to replase, poor prognosis, and even blindness. Aquaporin 4 antibody (AQP4-IgG) is the main diagnostic biomarker for neuromyelitis optica with high specificity. Serum myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody (MOG-IgG) is helpful for the diagnosis of AQP4-IgG negative patients. The study of biomarkers is helpful to deeply understand the pathogenesis of NMO-ON, help the diagnosis of the disease, and finally make precise treatment. Orbital MRI can help to differentiate MOG-IgG positive from AQP4-IgG positive neuromyelitis optica and optic neuritis, which is very important for the diagnosis of NMO-ON. At present, the standardized treatment of NMO-ON can be divided into two clinical stages: acute stage and remission stage. Corticosteroids and plasma exchange are the main treatments in acute stage, aiming at alleviating acute inflammatory reaction and improving prognosis. Immunosuppressive agents and biological agents are the main treatments in remission stage, aiming at preventing or reducing recurrence. With the development of the diagnosis and treatment of NMO-ON, we find that it is more and more important to strengthen the construction of neuro-ophthalmology team in China, establish clinical epidemiological database of NMO-ON, and carry out multi-centre, large-sample, prospective clinical control studies in China to provide evidence-based medicine for Chinese people. In addition, we need to strengthen efforts to establish and improve the diagnostic criteria for NMO-ON and the promotion of diagnostic and therapeutic criteria, and strive to improve the clinical diagnosis and treatment level of NMO-ON in China.
Objective To observe the correlation of serum aquaporin 4 (AQP4) antibodies and condition and visual prognosis in patients with severe neuromyelitis optica spectral disorders (NMOSD). Methods Fifty NMOSD patients with visual acuity of 20/200 or worse in at least one eye were enrolled in this retrospective analysis. There were 12 males and 38 females. The age ranged from 17 to 65 years, with the mean of (39.86±2.02) years. The patients were divided into two groups according to the serum AQP4-IgG status. The ophthalmologic examination, serum anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA), myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) antibody detection and vision prognosis were compared and analyzed. Glucocorticoid therapy was delivered to 46 patients who were within 1 month of onset. The visual acuity of the patients after treatment was divided into complete recovery, partial recovery, stabilization and reduction, and the visual acuity of the two groups were analyzed. Results Among 50 patients, there were 30 (60%) seropositive patients (positive group), 20 (40%) seronegative patients (negative group). The positive group had significantly higher ratio of female to male (P=0.004), and more binocular optic neuritis (ON) (P=0.010) compared with the negative group. More recurrence ON were also found in the positive group, but without statistic difference between two groups (P=0.167). There was no difference of age, course, and vision damage degrees and abnormal orbital MRI scanning between two groups (P＞0.05). Among 24 patients who underwent serum ANA detection in the positive group, 8 patients were positive. All of 18 patients who underwent serum ANA detection in the negative group were negative. The difference of the ratio of serum ANA positive patients between two groups was significant (P=0.030). Serum MOG antibody detection in the positive group was negative (0/10). Sixteen patients who underwent MOG antibody detection in negative group, 4 patients were positive. After treatment, there were 23.3%, 23.3%, 53.3% patients with vision of complete recovery, partial recovery and reduction in the positive group; 25.0%, 30.0%, 25.0% patients with vision of complete recovery, partial recovery and reduction in the negative group, respectively. There was no difference in proportion of vision with complete recovery and partial recovery between two groups (P=0.163, 0.607), but significant difference was observed in proportion of vision with stabilization and reduction between two groups (P=0.021, 0.048). Conclusions The positive serum AQP4 antibody is common in patients with severe NMOSD. The patients with AQP4 antibody in the serum are more likely combined with immunological serological markers and poor vision prognosis.
Plasma exchange (PE) is a therapeutic blood component replacement method. The blood of patients is first separated into plasma and blood cell components using a blood cell separator in vitro, the plasma containing harmful pathogenic substances is then discarded and replaced with the same volume of exchange solution. Finally the separated blood cells together with the exchange solution are returned back to the blood circulation of patients. By reducing the circulating antibodies, abnormal plasma proteins or cytokines and other pathogenic molecules, PE can block the disease process. PE has a good therapeutic effect on neuromyelitis optica-related optic neuritis (NMO-ON), which shows resistant to glucocorticoid therapy for the first onset. The American Society for Apheresis guideline evaluates PE for acute optic neuritis as a recommended grade 1B, type II indication. In the implementation of PE treatment for NMO-ON and other diseases, indications and contraindications should be strictly adhered to the guideline, treatment procedures and protocols should be optimized, common adverse events and its prevention and management should be known and alerted. It is important to conduct multi-center clinical cooperation and a high standard clinical randomized controlled study, to find out the optimal time window, the best protocol, and the associated factors for the efficacy and prognosis of PE in NMO-ON.
ObjectiveTo observe the ocular manifestations and the titer of aquaporin 4 antibody (AQP-4) in NMO patients, and to evaluate the BCVA prognosis in patients with different titers of AQP-4Ab.MethodsA retrospective case study. From September 2009 to March 2014, 132 NMO patients diagnosed in Department of Neurology and Ophthalmology in Huashan Hospital of Fudan University were included in the study. Among the patients, 74 patients (56.06%) were involved in optic nerve for the first time, among which 63 patients (47.72%) were involved in optic nerve alone, and 11 patients (8.33%) were involved in optic nerve and spinal cord at the same time. The recurrence rate was 62.88% (twice or more). All patients underwent BCVA, slit lamp microscope, fundus examination, thyroid function, sex hormones, and serum AQP-4Ab detection. BCVA was recorded at admission and before discharge from hospital, and worse BCVA was recorded in binocular patients. The BCVA of patients with different titers of AQP-4Ab were analyzed comparatively.ResultsAmong the 74 patients with optic nerve involved in the first onset, 50 patients with BCVA＜0.1 at the initial diagnosis (67.57%); AQP-4Ab positive was found in 56 patients, which including 13, 9 and 34 patients of AQP-4Ab titer 5 - 60, 61 - 100 and ＞100 RSRU/ml. After 2 weeks of treatment, BCVA improved in 40 patients (71.42%), including 11 (84.62%), 6 (66.67%) and 23 (67.64%) of AQP-4Ab titer 5 - 60, 61 - 100 and ＞ 100 RSRU/ml. Among 132 patients, 98 patients (74.24%) were AQP-4Ab positive. There were 73 patients (55.30%) with abnormal immune rheumatoid index.ConclusionsThe optic nerve is involved in 56.06% patients with NMO for the first time, and 67.57% of the patients had poor vision with BCVA＜0.1. BCVA prognosis is better in patients with serum AQP-4Ab titer of 5 - 60 RSRU/ml.
Objective To observe the effect of intravenous methylprednisolone (IVMP) pulse therapy on the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and the number of relapses in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder-related optic neuritis (NMOSD-ON) after total IVMP dose. MethodsA retrospective clinical study. From March 2020 to February 2023, 23 patients of 27 eyes with NMOSD-ON in Shanxi Eye Hospital were included in the study. BCVA examinations were performed on all affected eyes using the international standard visual acuity chart, which was statistically converted into logMAR visual acuity. Serum aquaporin-4 antibody (AQP4-IgG) was detected by indirect immunofluorescence assay based on cell detection technology in all patients. According to Guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of NMOSD spectrum disorders in China (2021 edition), patients were given IVMP impact therapy. Among them, 18 and 5 patients received 1 000 and 500 mg/d IVMP pulse therapy respectively for 3-5 consecutive days, followed by a reduction to 500 or 250 mg/d for 2-3 consecutive days. The average total IVMP dose during the treatment was 4 500 mg (1 500-5 250 mg). The changes in BCVA at 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months after treatment were observed for the initial and post-treatment BCVA of ≤0.1, ＞0.1-<0.5, and ≥0.5. The changes of BCVA at 1 week and 1, 3 and 6 months after treatment were observed. The comparison of BCVA between different age, disease duration, and IVMP total dose conditions was performed using the Mann-Whitney U test. The comparison of BCVA between different relapse times was performed using the Kruskal-Wallis test. The influence of IVMP total dose on the number of relapses during the 6-month follow-up was analyzed using χ2 test. The factors affecting BCVA ≥0.5 after 6 months of IVMP treatment were analyzed by logistic regression, and the correlation between ΔlogMAR BCVA and IVMP pulse total dose was analyzed by Spearman correlation. ResultsIn 23 cases with 27 eyes, there were 3 males and 20 females. The median age was 35 years. The median duration of illness was 5 days. There were 21 (91.30%, 21/23) positive and 2 (8.70%, 2/23) negative cases of AQP4-IgG, respectively. There were 3 cases (13.04%, 3/23) with the first course of disease and 4 eyes (14.81%, 4/27). There were 20 cases (86.96%, 20/23) with recurrence course and 23 eyes (85.19%, 23/27). The median time from initial onset to the initiation of corticosteroid treatment was 7 days. During the 6-month follow-up after treatment, 5 patients (21.74%, 5/23) relapsed in 6 eyes (22.22%, 6/27), all of which were patients with initial relapse course. Among them, recurred 1 or ≥2 times in 4 (66.67%, 4/6) and 2 (33.33%, 2/6) eyes respectively. BCVA≤0.1, ＞0.1-＜0.5, ≥0.5 in 20, 4, 3 eyes and 3, 13, 11 eyes at the beginning and 6 months after treatment, respectively. There was significant difference in the number of eyes with BCVA≤0.1, ＞0.1-＜0.5 and ≥0.5 at different time after treatment (χ2=40.772, P＜0.001). The treatment effect of female patients was better than that of male patients. The patients with initial BCVA≥0.1 had more increased eye number of BCVA than those with BCVA＜0.1, the patients with first course of disease had more increased eye number of BCVA than those with recurrent course of disease, and the patients with total dose of IVMP ＞4 500 mg had less increased eye number of BCVA than those with total dose ≤4 500 mg. The differences were statistically significant (Z=−2.449, −2.904, −2.485, −2.286; P=0.014, 0.004, 0.013, 0.022). Logistic regression analysis showed that the higher the initial BCVA≤0.1 and the total impact dose of IVMP, the lower the possibility of obtaining BCVA≥0.5 after treatment (odds ratio=0.069, 0.899; 95% confidence interval 0.010-0.463, 0.798-0.998; P=0.006, 0.020). Spearman correlation analysis showed that ΔlogMAR BCVA was negatively correlated with total impact dose of IVMP (rs=−0.472, P=0.013). There was no significant difference in the number of recurrence after different total doses of IVMP (P＞0.05). ConclusionsIVMP total dose ≤4 500 mg can achieve better BCVA prognosis compared with IVMP total dose ＞4 500 mg. IVMP total dose has no effect on the number of recurrences after treatment.