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Updated: Apr 18, 2026

Induction of Paralysis and Visual System Injury in Mice by T Cells Specific for Neuromyelitis Optica Autoantigen Aquaporin-4
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Induction of Paralysis and Visual System Injury in Mice by T Cells Specific for Neuromyelitis Optica Autoantigen Aquaporin-4

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Spinal cord ring enhancement in patients with neuromyelitis optica

H Yokote1,2, Y Nose2, S Ishibashi2

  • 1Department of Neurology, Musashino Red Cross Hospital, Musashino, Tokyo, Japan.

Acta Neurologica Scandinavica
|February 3, 2015
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Spinal cord ring enhancement (RE) on MRI is common in neuromyelitis optica (NMO). Higher myelin basic protein (MBP) levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) correlate with increased myelin damage in NMO patients with RE.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Neuroimmunology
  • Radiology

Background:

  • Gadolinium (Gd)-enhancing patterns on MRI, including ring enhancement (RE), are established in multiple sclerosis.
  • The significance of spinal cord RE in neuromyelitis optica (NMO) remains less understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of spinal cord RE in patients with anti-aquaporin 4-positive NMO.
  • To investigate the association between spinal cord RE and clinical characteristics in NMO.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of Gd-enhanced spinal cord MRI scans during the acute phase.
  • Inclusion of patients with anti-aquaporin 4-positive NMO and NMO spectrum disorder.
  • Correlation of MRI findings with clinical features and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers.

Main Results:

  • Spinal cord RE was observed in 31.2% of analyzed scans (5 out of 16).
  • Patients with spinal cord RE showed a significantly higher male ratio.
  • Elevated myelin basic protein (MBP) levels in CSF were significantly associated with the presence of RE.

Conclusions:

  • Spinal cord RE is a relatively common finding in neuromyelitis optica (NMO).
  • Higher CSF MBP levels in NMO patients with RE suggest a greater extent of myelin damage.
Keywords:
demyelinationmagnetic resonance imagingmultiple sclerosismyelin basic proteinneuromyelitis opticaring enhancementspinal cord

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