Distinct serum apolipoprotein A-I levels in neuromyelitis optica and acute transverse myelitis

NMO and ATM are intertwined both clinically and pathologically. Apolipoprotein (apo) A-I, the main apolipoprotein of HDL, plays an important role in lipid metabolism in the cerebrospinal fluid and is known to suppress pro-inflammatory cytokines generated by activated T cells in some autoimmune diseases as an immune regulator. However, the differences in the levels of serum apoA-I between NMO and ATM patients are unclear.

In the present study, serum apo A-I levels were measured in 53 NMO patients, 45 ATM patients and 49 healthy subjects. We tested serum apoA-I levels in all participants and investigated EDSS scores of patients with NMO and ATM. Statistical analyses were performed by using SPSS statistical software.

We found that serum apoA-I levels in patients with NMO were significantly lower in comparison to those with ATM. We also found that serum levels of apoA-I was lower in male subjects in comparison to the female subjects in all groups although these differences were not statistically significant in patients with NMO or ATM. It is also shown in our study that serum apoA-I levels in patients with NMO were significantly elevated after receiving a high dosage of intravenous corticosteroids over a period of one week. However, we did not find any correlation between the apoA-I levels and disease disability.

From this study, we concluded that serum levels of apoA-I were lower in NMO patients compared to patients with ATM. Serum apoA-I studies might provide some useful clues to differentiate NMO cases from ATM cases.