By Anna Shavers
Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody disease (MOGAD), a demyelinating neurological condition, different from multiple sclerosis, has been primarily associated with inflammation in the optic nerve, spinal cord. However, some patients may present with encephalitis and seizures.
Mayra Montalvo Perero, M.D., assistant professor of neurology at the Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases at UF Health, recently published a paper in Epilepsia describing the type of seizures and reviewing the semiology, radiologic findings and outcomes in patients with MOGAD and seizures.
The majority of patients were children, had focal motor seizures and their MRIs were consistent with cerebral cortical encephalitis (CCE) or acute disseminated encephalomyelitis and most patients were seizure-free at last follow up.
Based on a review of more than 230 medical records, Dr. Montalvo’s research shows that patients, especially younger patients, may present encephalitis, most commonly ADEM or CCE and concomittan seizures.
“If you have a patient in the pediatric population that has focal motor seizures and MRI findings of CCE/or ADEM, a MOG-IgG evaluation should be considered,” said Montalvo. Also, the majority of patients had seizures around the time of the encephalitis event and most of them did not require chronic antiseizure medication. “Further studies should explore other spectrum or clinico-radiological syndromes of MOGAD and different treatments and outcomes for this novel disease.”