Management of MOGAD in an immunosuppressed HIV-positive patient: the first case presenting with alexia without...

Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOG AD) is a rare autoimmune demyelinating condition typically presenting with optic neuritis, transverse myelitis, or encephalitis. Its occurrence in immunocompromised individuals, particularly those with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), is rare and presents unique diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. We report the case of a 70-year-old HIV-positive man who developed alexia without agraphia following treatment for opportunistic infections, including Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia and cytomegalovirus. Brain MRI revealed a non-enhancing hyperintense lesion in the medial left occipital lobe extending into the splenium of the corpus callosum. MOG-IgG was positive at a titer of 1:30, while aquaporin-4 antibodies and paraneoplastic panels were negative. Neuropsychological assessment confirmed selective impairment in visual word recognition with preserved writing ability, consistent with alexia without agraphia. The patient was treated with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) without corticosteroids due to immunosuppressive concerns and demonstrated approximately 40% improvement in visual word recognition accuracy. At six months follow-up, no relapse was observed, and reading ability remained stable. This case represents the first reported instance of MOGAD presenting with alexia without agraphia in an HIV-positive individual, underscoring the importance of considering autoimmune demyelination in immunosuppressed patients with focal neurological deficits.