Neuromyelitis optica unique area postrema lesions: nausea, vomiting, and pathogenic implications.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To characterize the neuropathologic features of neuromyelitis optica (NMO) at the medullary floor of the fourth ventricle and area postrema. Aquaporin-4 (AQP4) autoimmunity targets this region, resulting in intractable nausea associated with vomiting or hiccups in NMO.

Methods

This neuropathologic study was performed on archival brainstem tissue from 15 patients with NMO, 5 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), and 8 neurologically normal subjects. Logistic regression was used to evaluate whether the presence of lesions at this level increased the odds of a patient with NMO having an episode of nausea/vomiting.

Results

Six patients with NMO (40%), but no patients with MS or normal controls, exhibited unilateral or bilateral lesions involving the area postre

SUBMITTER: Popescu BF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3068006 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature