HOMEPRODUCTSCOMPANYCONTACTFAQResearchDictionaryPharmaSign Up FREE or Login

Anti-tuberculosis treatment for Devic's neuromyelitis optica.

Abstract
There are no specific treatments for patients with acute, severe neurological deficits caused by neuromyelitis optica (NMO) who fail to recover after treatment with high-dose corticosteroids. We evaluated the clinical response of anti-tuberculosis treatment (ATT) in patients suffering from steroid-refractory NMO, and investigated the correlation between NMO and tuberculous infection of the central nervous system (CNS). We conducted this prospective, controlled study in southern China. Twelve patients with steroid-refractory NMO were monitored during ATT and compared with a control group of 13 patients with the same type of NMO who received current standard therapies. A molecular diagnostic test was carried out and Extended Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score analysis, visual acuity, the number of relapses and MRI changes were evaluated at study entry and after 1 and 2years of therapy. ATT may lead to the recovery of important neurological functions and all our patients responded positively to therapy. EDSS score and visual acuity improved and abnormalities in the spinal cord, observed by MRI, markedly decreased over time. ATT also significantly reduced the rate of relapse. By comparison, in the control group, a significant clinical deterioration was observed, and patients did not show favourable EDSS scores and MRI changes. This study suggests that CNS infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis is an important cause of NMO.
AuthorsYan-qing Feng, Ning Guo, Fan Huang, Xi Chen, Qiao-song Sun, Jun-xiu Liu
JournalJournal of clinical neuroscience : official journal of the Neurosurgical Society of Australasia (J Clin Neurosci) Vol. 17 Issue 11 Pg. 1372-7 (Nov 2010) ISSN: 1532-2653 [Electronic] Scotland
PMID20692169 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Controlled Clinical Trial, Journal Article)
CopyrightCopyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Chemical References
  • Antitubercular Agents
Topics
  • Acute Disease
  • Adult
  • Antitubercular Agents (therapeutic use)
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis (drug effects)
  • Neuromyelitis Optica (drug therapy, microbiology)
  • Prospective Studies
  • Secondary Prevention
  • Tuberculosis (complications, diagnosis, drug therapy)
  • Young Adult

Join CureHunter, for free Research Interface BASIC access!

Take advantage of free CureHunter research engine access to explore the best drug and treatment options for any disease. Find out why thousands of doctors, pharma researchers and patient activists around the world use CureHunter every day.
Realize the full power of the drug-disease research graph!


Choose Username:
Email:
Password:
Verify Password:
Enter Code Shown: