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Correlation between Amerindian ancestry and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMSOD) among patients in Midwestern Brazil

Associação entre ancestralidade ameríndia e espectro da neuromielite óptica em pacientes do Centro-Oeste do Brasil

Abstract

Background:

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is the second most frequently demyelinating, autoimmune, and inflammatory Central Nervous System (CNS) disease, and its prevalence varies greatly according to geography and ethnicity.

Objective:

To determine the prevalence and phenotype of NMOSD at a reference center for demyelinating diseases in Goiás State.

Methods:

This was a cross-sectional study, approved under CAAE number 8380.9317.9.0000.5078. All patients fulfilled the 2015 international consensus criteria.

Results:

Our study showed NMOSD as 9.37% of all demyelinating diseases registered in. It occurred predominantly in women (81%) and non-white individuals (83.4% had self-declared mixed skin color), and the median age at onset was 48 years. Amerindian ancestry was significantly higher (68.75%) than others. Longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis (LETM) alone ≥3 vertebral segments (35%) and optic neuritis (ON) alone (35%) were the most common onset manifestations. The median length of time from disease beginning to study enrollment was 48 months. A relapsing course and moderate disability (Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) 3.0-4.0) were most commonly observed. The worst neurological impairments, characterized by EDSS>4.5, occurred more frequently in males (44.5% among men versus 20.5% among women). The majority of the patients had been receiving immunosuppressive treatment with azathioprine since the diagnosis of NMSOD: 77% (37) had a good therapeutic response. The prevalent outcome (84%) was permanent disability: 52% became physically handicapped; 54% had permanent visual impairment (25% with bilateral and 75% with unilateral amaurosis) and 30% had sphincter disability (82% with neurogenic bladder and 18% with ostomy).

Conclusion:

The estimated prevalence of NMOSD in Goiás is 0.79/per 100,000 inhabitants. The predominant phenotype comprises women, non-whites, onset in the fourth decade of life, relapsing course, and permanent moderate disability. Our study was the first on the epidemiology of NMOSD in Goiás, where NMOSD predominantly correlates with Amerindian ancestry.

Keywords:
Neuromyelitis Optica; Prevalence; Epidemiology

Resumo

Antecedentes:

O espectro da neuromielite óptica (ENMO) é a segunda doença desmielinizante, autoimune e inflamatória do sistema nervoso central, cuja prevalência varia conforme região geográfica e etnia.

Objetivo:

Determinar prevalência e fenótipo de ENMO em um Centro de Referência no estado de Goiás.

Métodos:

Estudo transversal, registrado no Certificado de Apresentação para Apreciação Ética (CAAE) sob o n° 8380.9317.9.0000.5078. Todos os pacientes preencheram os critérios do Consenso Internacional.

Resultados:

O ENMO representou 9,37% do total de doenças desmielinizantes. Foi predominante em mulheres (81%) e não brancos (83,4% autodeclararam-se mestiços), e a média de idade no momento de estudo foi 48 anos. A ancestralidade ameríndia foi significativamente maior (68,75%) que as demais. Mielite transversa longitudinalmente extensa isolada ≥3 segmentos vertebrais (35%) e neurite óptica isolada (35%) foram as apresentações iniciais mais comuns. A média de tempo entre o surgimento da doença e momento do estudo foi 48 meses. Predominaram: curso recidivante e incapacidade moderada (Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) 3,0–4,0). Sequelas neurológicas caracterizadas por EDSS>4,5 predominaram em homens (44,5% entre estes versus 20,5% entre mulheres). Maioria em tratamento com azatioprina desde o diagnóstico, representando 77% (37 casos) de boa resposta terapêutica. Predominaram (84%) sequelas permanentes: 52% deficiência física permanente, 54% deficiência visual permanente (25% amaurose bilateral e 75% unilateral), e 30% deficiência esfincteriana permanente (82% bexiga neurogênica e 18% ostomias).

Conclusão:

A prevalência estimada de ENMO em Goiás é de 0,79/100.000 habitantes. Predominou o fenótipo mulheres, não brancos, no início na quarta década de vida, com curso recidivante, incapacidade permanente e moderada. Nosso estudo foi o primeiro em Goiás sobre a prevalência de ENMO e descobrimos que neste estado o ENMO predomina em pacientes com ancestralidade ameríndia (descendentes de nativos americanos).

Palavras-chave:
Neuromielite Óptica; Prevalência; Epidemiologia

INTRODUCTION

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is the second most frequent demyelinating disease of the Central Nervous System (CNS), after multiple sclerosis (MS)11 Weinshenker BG, Wingerchuk DM. Neuromyelitis Spectrum Disorders. Mayo Clin Proc. 2017 Apr;92(4):663-79. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2016.12.014
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2016.12...
. It has been known since 1894 when Devic published the first description of NMOSD, characterized by myelitis and optic neuritis11 Weinshenker BG, Wingerchuk DM. Neuromyelitis Spectrum Disorders. Mayo Clin Proc. 2017 Apr;92(4):663-79. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2016.12.014
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2016.12...
,22 Pandit L, Asgari N, Apiwattanakul M, Palace J, Paul F, Leite MI, et al. Demographic and clinical features of neuromyelitis optica: A review. Mult Scler. 2015 Jun;21(7):845-53. https://doi.org/10.1177/1352458515572406
https://doi.org/10.1177/1352458515572406...
. Until 1999 NMOSD was misdiagnosed as MS, only this year when the first review of the clinical course of neuromyelitis optica disease was published it changed. In that review, it was recognized that NMOSD most frequently manifests with a relapsing course and that its clinical, laboratory, and imaging features allow it to be distinguished from MS33 Wingerchuk DM, Hogancamp WF, O’Brien PC, Weinshenker BG. The clinical course of neuromyelitis optica (Devic's syndrome). Neurology. 1999 Sep;53(5):1107-18. https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.53.5.1107
https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.53.5.1107...
. A specific biomarker was discovered in 2004: a serum autoantibody immunoglobulin (IgG) against the aquaporin-4 (AQP4) water channel in the CNS, which was named AQP4-IgG or NMO-IgG11 Weinshenker BG, Wingerchuk DM. Neuromyelitis Spectrum Disorders. Mayo Clin Proc. 2017 Apr;92(4):663-79. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2016.12.014
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2016.12...
,44 Pittock SJ, Lucchinetti CF. Neuromyelitis optica and the evolving spectrum of autoimmune aquaporin-4 channelopathies: A decade later. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2016 Feb;1366(1):20-39. https://doi.org/10.1111/nyas.12794
https://doi.org/10.1111/nyas.12794...
. The current international consensus on the diagnostic criteria for NMO was published in 2015 and unified the nomenclature to “neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders” (NMOSDs) to encompass all the patients regardless of serological features55 Wingerchuk DM, Banwell B, Bennett JL, Cabre P, Carroll W, Chitnis T, et al. International consensus diagnostic criteria for neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders. Neurology. 2015 Jul;85(2):177-89. https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0000000000001729
https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.000000000000...
. The core clinical events refer to six neuroanatomically defined sites in the CNS: optic nerve, spinal cord, area postrema, brain stem, diencephalon, or cerebrum11 Weinshenker BG, Wingerchuk DM. Neuromyelitis Spectrum Disorders. Mayo Clin Proc. 2017 Apr;92(4):663-79. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2016.12.014
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2016.12...
55 Wingerchuk DM, Banwell B, Bennett JL, Cabre P, Carroll W, Chitnis T, et al. International consensus diagnostic criteria for neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders. Neurology. 2015 Jul;85(2):177-89. https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0000000000001729
https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.000000000000...
. The most frequent clinical features of NMOSD are the following: strength failure (paraparesis or tetraparesis), sensitivity failure, loss of sphincter control, blindness, and intractable vomiting or hiccups11 Weinshenker BG, Wingerchuk DM. Neuromyelitis Spectrum Disorders. Mayo Clin Proc. 2017 Apr;92(4):663-79. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2016.12.014
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2016.12...
44 Pittock SJ, Lucchinetti CF. Neuromyelitis optica and the evolving spectrum of autoimmune aquaporin-4 channelopathies: A decade later. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2016 Feb;1366(1):20-39. https://doi.org/10.1111/nyas.12794
https://doi.org/10.1111/nyas.12794...
.

The prevalence of NMOSD has been reported to vary widely in different studies worldwide. It occurs most frequently among Asians and Afro-descendants11 Weinshenker BG, Wingerchuk DM. Neuromyelitis Spectrum Disorders. Mayo Clin Proc. 2017 Apr;92(4):663-79. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2016.12.014
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2016.12...
88 Asgari N, Lillevang ST, Skejoe HPB, Falah M, Stenager E, Kyvik KO. A population-based study of neuromyelitis optica in Caucasians. Neurology. 2011 May;76(18):1589-95. https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0b013e3182190f74
https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0b013e318219...
; women (70–90%) and non-whites, and the average age of onset is 40 years old11 Weinshenker BG, Wingerchuk DM. Neuromyelitis Spectrum Disorders. Mayo Clin Proc. 2017 Apr;92(4):663-79. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2016.12.014
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2016.12...
,55 Wingerchuk DM, Banwell B, Bennett JL, Cabre P, Carroll W, Chitnis T, et al. International consensus diagnostic criteria for neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders. Neurology. 2015 Jul;85(2):177-89. https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0000000000001729
https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.000000000000...
. The proportion of patients with NMOSD among all demyelinating disorders ranges from 1.2 to 39.3%, according to the geographical region11 Weinshenker BG, Wingerchuk DM. Neuromyelitis Spectrum Disorders. Mayo Clin Proc. 2017 Apr;92(4):663-79. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2016.12.014
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2016.12...
1010 Flanagan EP, Cabre P, Weinshenker BG, Sauver JS, Jacobson DJ, Majed M, et al. Epidemiology of aquaporin-4 autoimmunity and neuromyelitis optica spectrum. Ann Neurol. 2016 May;79(5):775-83. https://doi.org/10.1002/ana.24617
https://doi.org/10.1002/ana.24617...
. NMOSD prevalence rates have been reported as 0.72-4.4/100,000 in Europe and 0.9 to 2.6/100,000 in Asia11 Weinshenker BG, Wingerchuk DM. Neuromyelitis Spectrum Disorders. Mayo Clin Proc. 2017 Apr;92(4):663-79. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2016.12.014
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2016.12...
,22 Pandit L, Asgari N, Apiwattanakul M, Palace J, Paul F, Leite MI, et al. Demographic and clinical features of neuromyelitis optica: A review. Mult Scler. 2015 Jun;21(7):845-53. https://doi.org/10.1177/1352458515572406
https://doi.org/10.1177/1352458515572406...
,66 Trebst C, Jarius S, Berthele A, Paul F, Schippling S, Wildemann B, et al. Update on the diagnosis and treatment of neuromyelitis optica: recommendations of the Neuromyelitis Optica Study Group (NEMOS). J Neurol. 2014 Jan;261(1):1-16. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-013-7169-7
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-013-7169-...
88 Asgari N, Lillevang ST, Skejoe HPB, Falah M, Stenager E, Kyvik KO. A population-based study of neuromyelitis optica in Caucasians. Neurology. 2011 May;76(18):1589-95. https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0b013e3182190f74
https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0b013e318219...
. Across the Americas, extreme values have been described. The lowest was in Cuba: 0.52/100,00099 Cabrera-Gómez JA, Kurtzke JF, González-Quevedo A, Lara-Rodríguez R. An epidemiological study of neuromyelitis optica in Cuba. J Neurol. 2009 Jan;256(1):35-44. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-009-0009-0
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-009-0009-...
; and the highest was in Martinique: 10/100.0001010 Flanagan EP, Cabre P, Weinshenker BG, Sauver JS, Jacobson DJ, Majed M, et al. Epidemiology of aquaporin-4 autoimmunity and neuromyelitis optica spectrum. Ann Neurol. 2016 May;79(5):775-83. https://doi.org/10.1002/ana.24617
https://doi.org/10.1002/ana.24617...
. In South America, the frequency of NMOSD is 11.8% among all demyelinating disorders, but the prevalence is unknown1111 Papais-Alvarenga RM, Vasconcelos CCF, Carra A, De Castillo IS, Florentin S, De Bedoya FHD, et al. Central nervous system idiopathic inflammatory demyelinating disorders in South Americans: A descriptive, multicenter, cross-sectional study. PLoS One. 2015 Jul;10(7):e0127757. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0127757
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.012...
. In a Brazilian series of patients, it was estimated that NMOSD represented 6-15% of all demyelinating diseases1212 Brum DG, Barreira AA, Dos Santos AC, Kaimen-Maciel DR, Matiello M, Costa RM, et al. HLA-DRB association in neuromyelitis optica is different from that observed in multiple sclerosis. Mult Scler. 2010 Jan;16(1):21-9. https://doi.org/10.1177/1352458509350741
https://doi.org/10.1177/1352458509350741...
. Because of the rarity of NMOSD and the lack of preclinical models, there are not enough cohort studies. Historically, NMOSD has been a difficult disease to study epidemiologically, and its prevalence has been estimated from reference center results1313 Cook LJ, Rose JW, Alvey JS, Jolley AM, Kuhn R, Marron B, et al. Collaborative International Research in Clinical and Longitudinal Experience Study in NMOSD. Neurol Neuroimmunol Neuroinflamm. 2019 Jun;6(5):e583. https://doi.org/10.1212/NXI.0000000000000583
https://doi.org/10.1212/NXI.000000000000...
.

According to the national census of 2010, 46.7% of Brazilians identify themselves as being of mixed ancestry1414 Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística. Síntese de indicadores sociais: Uma análise das condições de vida da população brasileira. Rio de Janeiro: IBGE; 2010.. The state of Goiás, located in the Midwestern region, is in the “heart of Brazil” and surrounds the Brasília Federal District. It is the seventh-largest state in Brazil, with an area of approximately 340,126 km22 Pandit L, Asgari N, Apiwattanakul M, Palace J, Paul F, Leite MI, et al. Demographic and clinical features of neuromyelitis optica: A review. Mult Scler. 2015 Jun;21(7):845-53. https://doi.org/10.1177/1352458515572406
https://doi.org/10.1177/1352458515572406...
1414 Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística. Síntese de indicadores sociais: Uma análise das condições de vida da população brasileira. Rio de Janeiro: IBGE; 2010.. The prevalence of multiple sclerosis in the state of Goiás has been reported as 22.4/100,0001515 Ribeiro TAGJ, Duarte AL, da Silva DJ, Borges FE, da Costa VM, Papais-Alvarenga RM, et al. Prevalence of multiple sclerosis in Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil. Arq Neuro-Psiquiatr. 2019 May;77(5):352-6. https://doi.org/10.1590/0004-282X20190032
https://doi.org/10.1590/0004-282X2019003...
, but the prevalence of NMOSD in the state of Goiás remains unknown. According to an autosomal genetic study, the population of Goiás is derived from the miscegenation of three main ancestral groups: 3% native Amerindians, 83.7% Europeans (mainly Portuguese) and 13.3% Afro-descendants, typically from sub-Saharan Africa1616 Gigonzac TCV, Cruz AD da. Caracterização genética da população do estado de Goiás baseada em marcadores STRs autossômicos e do cromossomo Y [thesis]. Goiânia: Universidade Federal de Goiás; 2013.,1717 Godinho NM de O. O impacto das migrações na constituição genética de populações latino-americanas [thesis]. Brasília: Universidade de Brasília; 2008..

This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of NMOSD in the Goiás state, focusing on demographic characteristics in terms of ethnicity and ancestry, clinical manifestations, radiological and laboratory features, treatments, and outcomes.

METHODS

This study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Medical School of the Universidade Federal de Goiás, under CAAE number 8380.9317.9.0000.5078. Written and verbal consent was obtained from all subjects before the study procedures were started. This was a population-based descriptive cross-sectional study conducted at Centro de Referência e Investigação em Esclerose Múltipla (CRIEM), a demyelinating diseases reference center in Goiás state, located in Midwestern Brazil. Data were collected/patients were interviewed from 2017 to 2020.

Were included a total of 48 patients who fulfilled the International Panel for NMOSD Diagnosis 2015 criteria, and after they were classified according to their AQP4-IgG serostatus. Individuals fulfilling the inclusion criteria and without the exclusion criteria were eligible for enrollment. To accept the diagnosis of NMOSD, at least one specific core clinical criterion was needed among AQP4-IgG seropositive patients; or at least two specific core clinical criteria were needed when individuals were seronegative. Each patient's diagnosis required confirmation from and follow-up by at least two neurologists.

The main source of our information was a specific questionnaire which was filled out by one neurologist and reviewed by another neurologist, to determine participant eligibility. Our data were based on the hospital records and all the patients were interviewed and examined by the researcher group, to complete missing information. The first part of this questionnaire asked for general demographic information regarding the NMOSD patients, focusing on personal data: current age, gender, and ethnic categories, such as skin color and ancestry as far back as the third degree. The second part of this questionnaire was oriented toward personal medical history: age at disease onset, initial clinical event, number of relapses, and autoimmune comorbidities. We also requested information about other clinical comorbidities such as hypertension, diabetes, and thyroid dysfunction. Autoantibody seropositivity was defined as the detection of AQP4-IgG at any point during the participant's history and using any laboratory method. The presence of oligoclonal bands and antinuclear antibodies was also evaluated. All the radiological features, seen both on old and on current scans, were reevaluated by a group of neurologists, during the 24 months of this study.

We evaluated all the treatment strategies that were used to improve remission and prevent relapses, including associations of drugs at the acute phase, plasma exchange, and therapeutic failure to change the immunosuppressive drug. To describe the long-term outcome, we considered the total number of relapses, the classification according to Kurtzke, EDSS (Expanded Disability Status Scale), and the last follow-up. We subdivided all the disabilities into four groups: (1) permanent physical impairments (handicapped and needing bracing, wheelchair, or bedridden); (2) permanent visual impairment (unilateral or bilateral); (3) permanent sphincter deficiency (neurogenic bladder or ostomy); and (4) locked-in syndrome (permanent vegetative state).

Our numerical results are shown as means, percentages, and standard deviations. Nonparametric statistics with a direct counting method were performed and results were compared using the chi-square test or Fisher's exact probability test (when the criteria for the chi-square test were not fulfilled). Odds Ratios (ORs) were obtained to compare results. A p=0.05 was considered to be the limit of significance for allelic comparisons.

RESULTS

According to the latest demographic Brazilian census, carried out in 2010, the population of the state of Goiás was 6,003,788 inhabitants, of whom 50.34% were women and 49.66% were men. We found 48 cases of people with NMOSD who were living in Goiás on the day of the prevalence study (October 1, 2020), which represented an estimated prevalence of 0.79/per 100,000 inhabitants. Also according to this demographic census, among the population of Goiás, 41% self-identified their skin color as white, 6.53% as black, 50.1% as mulatto (mixed race), and 0.14% as Amerindian ethnicity.

Regarding demyelinating diseases, 9.37% (48 cases) of the patients were diagnosed with NMOSD (Table 1). These individuals had a mean age of 43.29±15.51 years of age. There was a marked predominance of females (81.2%), and skin color was self-reported as white by 16.6%, black by 31.3%, and mulatto (mixed race) by 52.1%. Self-declared Amerindian ancestry was significantly higher (68.75 vs. 31.25% for other ancestries; p<0.039). The overall median age at NMOSD onset was 36.71±15.98 years of age, with a range from 9 to 66 years. The median length of time from disease onset to the time of study enrollment was 81.73±57.30 months.

Table 1
The phenotype of the patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders in Midwestern Brazil.

The most common onset manifestations were longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis (LETM) alone on ≥3 vertebral segments (35.4%) or only optic neuritis (ON) (35.4%). The prevalences of the initial clinical event are also shown in Table 1 and Figures 1, 2, and 3. There was a predominance of a relapsing course: 72.9% of the individuals had 2-4 relapses (Table 2). The most frequent autoimmune comorbidities and systemic diseases were sclerodermas, lupus erythematosus, Sjögren disease, vitiligo, hypertension, diabetes, and thyroid dysfunctions (Table 1). No significant differences were found regarding serological status, gender, or ancestry (Table 1). The other serological tests were on antinuclear antibodies (22.9%) and the presence of oligoclonal bands in cerebrospinal fluid (22.9%).

Figure 1
Orbital resonance showing bilateral longitudinally extensive optic neuritis. Axial section with T2-weighted acquisition.
Figure 2
Brain resonance shows lesions in the brainstem and area postrema. Coronal and axial sections with T2-weighted acquisition.
Figure 3
Spinal cord resonance showing longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis in cervical-thoracic segments (more than 3 vertebral segments). Sagittal section with T1 and T2-weighted acquisition.
Table 2
Treatments and outcomes among patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders in Midwestern Brazil.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) identified LETM spinal cord lesions in 35 cases (73%), and the cervicothoracic segment was the one most often affected. Spinal cord MRI showed that involvement of both the cervical and the dorsal spinal was significantly more common than involvement of only one of these two segments (40% both vs. 20% only cervical and 17% only dorsal). The cumulative frequency of segments affected in the spinal cord was 43.8% cervical, 56.3% dorsal, and 16.7% lumbar. Brain MRI examinations exhibited typical NMOSD in 22.9% of the patients. More than 64% of the NMOSD patients had optic nerve injuries (Table 1). The classical association between myelitis and optic neuritis, as first described by Devic in 1894, was found in 15 cases (31.3%).

In this study, disability in terms of EDSS was predominantly moderate (EDSS 3.0–4.0), which accounted for 45.9% of the cases; while 25% had worse classifications (EDSS 4.5–6.5 and 7.0–9.5) with limited mobility, as detailed in Table 2.

The majority of the patients had been on immunosuppressive treatment with azathioprine since receiving their diagnoses with NMOSD. Before the current NMOSD criteria, 14.6% of the patients had been misdiagnosed as presenting multiple sclerosis and received interferon and glatiramer, which worsened the clinical picture. After the NMOSD criteria definition, they were switched to azathioprine or rituximab, as detailed in Table 2.

Most of the patients (70.8%) never had any changes to their immunosuppressive drug, which means that a good therapeutic response had been achieved. We considered that a good therapeutic response consisted of the absence of new relapses, partial recovery, or improvement of EDSS. Despite the good therapeutic responses seen in this study, the diagnoses were made too late, and consequently, the specific immunosuppressive treatment was also started too late, after permanent impairments had already occurred (77.1%), and there was a death rate of 6.2%. The majority (84%) of the patients had developed permanent disability: 52% became physically handicapped, 54% acquired permanent visual impairment (25% with bilateral and 75% with unilateral amaurosis), and 30% developed sphincter deficiency (82% with neurogenic bladder and 18% with ostomy).

It was seen that 68.75% of the patients considered themselves to be Amerindians (descendants of Native Americans), while other ancestries accounted for the remaining 31.25%. Thus, the present study showed, for the first time, that there was a higher prevalence of this disease among descendants of the indigenous population (p<0.039) than among individuals of other ancestries.

DISCUSSION

The classical worldwide epidemiological research described the overrepresentation of east Asians and Afro-descendants among patients with NMO/NMOSD11 Weinshenker BG, Wingerchuk DM. Neuromyelitis Spectrum Disorders. Mayo Clin Proc. 2017 Apr;92(4):663-79. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2016.12.014
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2016.12...
,22 Pandit L, Asgari N, Apiwattanakul M, Palace J, Paul F, Leite MI, et al. Demographic and clinical features of neuromyelitis optica: A review. Mult Scler. 2015 Jun;21(7):845-53. https://doi.org/10.1177/1352458515572406
https://doi.org/10.1177/1352458515572406...
,55 Wingerchuk DM, Banwell B, Bennett JL, Cabre P, Carroll W, Chitnis T, et al. International consensus diagnostic criteria for neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders. Neurology. 2015 Jul;85(2):177-89. https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0000000000001729
https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.000000000000...
,77 Etemadifar M, Nasr Z, Khalili B, Taherioun M, Vosoughi R. Epidemiology of neuromyelitis optica in the world: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Mult Scler Int. 2015;2015:174720. https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/174720
https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/174720...
,1010 Flanagan EP, Cabre P, Weinshenker BG, Sauver JS, Jacobson DJ, Majed M, et al. Epidemiology of aquaporin-4 autoimmunity and neuromyelitis optica spectrum. Ann Neurol. 2016 May;79(5):775-83. https://doi.org/10.1002/ana.24617
https://doi.org/10.1002/ana.24617...
,1313 Cook LJ, Rose JW, Alvey JS, Jolley AM, Kuhn R, Marron B, et al. Collaborative International Research in Clinical and Longitudinal Experience Study in NMOSD. Neurol Neuroimmunol Neuroinflamm. 2019 Jun;6(5):e583. https://doi.org/10.1212/NXI.0000000000000583
https://doi.org/10.1212/NXI.000000000000...
. The higher prevalence of Amerindian ancestry seen in our study conducted in the Brazil Midwestern region also differs from the findings of other Brazilian NMO studies which were conducted in other regions of this country of continental dimensions.

A study on genetic ancestry, conducted in 2013, which brought together data from five reference centers for demyelinating diseases in Brazil, showed that European ancestry was predominant in Brazil. However, that study1818 Brum DG, Luizon MR, Santos AC, Lana-Peixoto MA, Rocha CF, Brito ML, et al. European ancestry predominates in neuromyelitis optica and multiple sclerosis patients from Brazil. PLoS One. 2013;8(3):e58925. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0058925
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.005...
also showed that the vast majority of patients with European ancestry were living in the southeastern region (80.5%; 87 cases), followed by the northeastern region (13%; 14 cases), while only 6.5% (7 cases) came from the state of Goiás, in the Midwestern region of Brazil. That study1818 Brum DG, Luizon MR, Santos AC, Lana-Peixoto MA, Rocha CF, Brito ML, et al. European ancestry predominates in neuromyelitis optica and multiple sclerosis patients from Brazil. PLoS One. 2013;8(3):e58925. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0058925
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.005...
, with a mixed group from different regions of Brazil, also identified that 68.7% were of European ancestry, 20.5% were of African ancestry and only 10.8% were of Amerindian ancestry. However, another study in the southeastern region of Brazil, showed that there was a predominance of Caucasians (54.9%) and that only 0.9% were Amerindians1414 Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística. Síntese de indicadores sociais: Uma análise das condições de vida da população brasileira. Rio de Janeiro: IBGE; 2010.. Principal component analysis has shown that groups of NMOSD patients in different Brazilian regions have differences in ancestry and phenotype1818 Brum DG, Luizon MR, Santos AC, Lana-Peixoto MA, Rocha CF, Brito ML, et al. European ancestry predominates in neuromyelitis optica and multiple sclerosis patients from Brazil. PLoS One. 2013;8(3):e58925. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0058925
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.005...
.

A literature review1919 Del Negro MC, Marinho PBC, Papais-Alvarenga RM. Neuromyelitis optica: phenotypic characteristics in a Brazilian case series. Arq Neuro-Psiquiatr. 2017 Feb;75(2):81-6. https://doi.org/10.1590/0004-282X20160193
https://doi.org/10.1590/0004-282X2016019...
evaluated the phenotypic characteristics of the Brazilian NMO case series, covering the period from 2002 to 2014, five studies were found, out of which four were carried out in the southeastern region (two in Rio de Janeiro2020 Papais-Alvarenga RM, Miranda-Santos CM, Puccioni-Sohler M, De Almeida AMV, Oliveira S, Basilio De Oliveira CA, et al. Optic neuromyelitis syndrome in Brazilian patients. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2002 Oct;73(4):429-35. https://doi.org/10.1136/jnnp.73.4.429
https://doi.org/10.1136/jnnp.73.4.429...
,2121 Alves-Leon SV, Pimentel MLV, Sant’Anna G, Malfetano FR, Estrada CD, Quirico-Santos T. Immune system markers of neuroinflammation in patients with clinical diagnose of neuromyelitis optica. Arq Neuropsiquiatr. 2008 Sep;66(3B):678-84. https://doi.org/10.1590/s0004-282x2008000500013
https://doi.org/10.1590/s0004-282x200800...
and two in São Paulo2222 Adoni T, Lino AMM, Marchiori PE, Kok F, Callegaro D. Seroprevalence of NMO-IgG antibody in Brazilian patients with neuromyelitis optica. Arq Neuropsiquiatr. 2008 Jun;66(2B):295-7. https://doi.org/10.1590/s0004-282x2008000300001
https://doi.org/10.1590/s0004-282x200800...
,2323 Bichuetti DB, Oliveira EML, Souza NA, Rivero RLM, Gabbai AA. Neuromyelitis optica in Brazil: A study on clinical and prognostic factors. Mult Scler. 2009 May;15(5):613-9. https://doi.org/10.1177/1352458508101935
https://doi.org/10.1177/1352458508101935...
) and one was carried out in the federal capital, Brasília1919 Del Negro MC, Marinho PBC, Papais-Alvarenga RM. Neuromyelitis optica: phenotypic characteristics in a Brazilian case series. Arq Neuro-Psiquiatr. 2017 Feb;75(2):81-6. https://doi.org/10.1590/0004-282X20160193
https://doi.org/10.1590/0004-282X2016019...
. All of these five studies described the predominance of NMOSD among individuals of non-white skin color, but none of them described their ancestry.

According to the national census of 2010, 46.7% of Brazilians identified themselves as being of mixed ancestry1414 Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística. Síntese de indicadores sociais: Uma análise das condições de vida da população brasileira. Rio de Janeiro: IBGE; 2010.. The state of Goiás, located in the Midwestern region, is at the “heart of Brazil” and surrounds the Brasilia federal district. It is the seventh-largest state in Brazil, with an approximate area of 340,126 km22 Pandit L, Asgari N, Apiwattanakul M, Palace J, Paul F, Leite MI, et al. Demographic and clinical features of neuromyelitis optica: A review. Mult Scler. 2015 Jun;21(7):845-53. https://doi.org/10.1177/1352458515572406
https://doi.org/10.1177/1352458515572406...
1414 Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística. Síntese de indicadores sociais: Uma análise das condições de vida da população brasileira. Rio de Janeiro: IBGE; 2010.. According to an autosomal genetic study, the population of Goiás is derived from miscegenation between three main ancestral groups: 3% native Amerindians, 83.7% Europeans (mainly Portuguese), and 13.3% afro-descendants, typically from sub-Saharan Africa1616 Gigonzac TCV, Cruz AD da. Caracterização genética da população do estado de Goiás baseada em marcadores STRs autossômicos e do cromossomo Y [thesis]. Goiânia: Universidade Federal de Goiás; 2013.,1717 Godinho NM de O. O impacto das migrações na constituição genética de populações latino-americanas [thesis]. Brasília: Universidade de Brasília; 2008.. The prevalence of multiple sclerosis in the state of Goiás had been reported to be 22.4/100.0001515 Ribeiro TAGJ, Duarte AL, da Silva DJ, Borges FE, da Costa VM, Papais-Alvarenga RM, et al. Prevalence of multiple sclerosis in Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil. Arq Neuro-Psiquiatr. 2019 May;77(5):352-6. https://doi.org/10.1590/0004-282X20190032
https://doi.org/10.1590/0004-282X2019003...
, but the prevalence of NMOSD remained unknown until now. Through the present research, it was shown that the estimated prevalence of NMOSD in Goiás was 0.79/per 100,000 inhabitants.

Although the predominance of HLA-DRB1*03 and DRB3 in mulattos with NMO/NMOSD in southeastern Brazil has been well described2424 Bichuetti DB, Falcão AB, Boulos F de C, Morais MM de, Lotti CB de C, Fragomeni M de O, et al. The profile of patients followed at the Neuroimmunology Clinic at UNIFESP: 20 years analysis. Arq Neuro-Psiquiatr. 2015 Apr;73(4):304-8. https://doi.org/10.1590/0004-282X20150004
https://doi.org/10.1590/0004-282X2015000...
, little is known about the possible HLA haplotypes of Amerindians, or about their correlations with the incidence and prevalence of this disease. Thus, the Amerindian genotype may resemble that of afro-descendants due to the high miscegenation of the Brazilian population, especially in the central-western region, where the proportions of Amerindians and blacks are high1414 Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística. Síntese de indicadores sociais: Uma análise das condições de vida da população brasileira. Rio de Janeiro: IBGE; 2010..

Other epidemiological features shown among the NMO/NMOSD patients in the present study corroborate the results described by Flanagan et al.1010 Flanagan EP, Cabre P, Weinshenker BG, Sauver JS, Jacobson DJ, Majed M, et al. Epidemiology of aquaporin-4 autoimmunity and neuromyelitis optica spectrum. Ann Neurol. 2016 May;79(5):775-83. https://doi.org/10.1002/ana.24617
https://doi.org/10.1002/ana.24617...
, with a predominantly female (81.2%) and non-Caucasian (83.3%) population. The profile identified among patients who were followed up for 20 years of age at a reference center in São Paulo, southeastern Brazil, was that NMOSD accounted for 15.3% of demyelinating disorders2424 Bichuetti DB, Falcão AB, Boulos F de C, Morais MM de, Lotti CB de C, Fragomeni M de O, et al. The profile of patients followed at the Neuroimmunology Clinic at UNIFESP: 20 years analysis. Arq Neuro-Psiquiatr. 2015 Apr;73(4):304-8. https://doi.org/10.1590/0004-282X20150004
https://doi.org/10.1590/0004-282X2015000...
.

35% of the patients with NMOSD were positive for autoantibodies, with no significant differences in their concentrations between the groups. This proportion may have resulted from the following events: [I] 77% of the patients were taking azathioprine, which has the role of suppressing the immune response and may decrease the detection of autoantibodies through laboratory tests11 Weinshenker BG, Wingerchuk DM. Neuromyelitis Spectrum Disorders. Mayo Clin Proc. 2017 Apr;92(4):663-79. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2016.12.014
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2016.12...
; [II] the low sensitivity of the ELISA used in this study (60%) led to the occurrence of false negatives2525 Waters PJ, McKeon A, Leite MI, Rajasekharan S, Lennon VA, Villalobos A, et al. Serologic diagnosis of NMO: A multicenter comparison of aquaporin-4-IgG assays. Neurology. 2012 Feb;78(9):665-71; discussion 669. https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0b013e318248dec1
https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0b013e318248...
; and [III] patients in the early stages of the disease may not yet have seroconverted or, because they are in the process of seroconverting, they may have low concentrations of AQP4-IgG, especially if the laboratory test used presented low sensitivity2626 Jiao Y, Fryer JP, Lennon VA, Jenkins SM, Quek AML, Smith CY, et al. Updated estimate of AQP4-IgG serostatus and disability outcome in neuromyelitis optica. Neurology. 2013 Oct;81(14):1197-204. https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0b013e3182a6cb5c
https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0b013e3182a6...
3030 Barroso-Sousa R, Barry WT, Garrido-Castro AC, Hodi FS, Min L, Krop IE, et al. Incidence of endocrine dysfunction following the use of different immune checkpoint inhibitor regimens a systematic review and meta-analysis. J JAMA Oncol. 2018 Feb;4(2):173-82. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaoncol.2017.3064
https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaoncol.2017.3...
. Thus, it is extremely necessary to improve the laboratory test for detection of AQP4-IgG that is used by the state government of Goiás.

In conclusion, this study reported on the demographics, clinical characteristics, treatments, and outcomes of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) at a tertiary-level reference center in Goiás, Midwestern Brazil, over the last 24 months. A higher prevalence of this disease was found among Amerindian descendants. The estimated prevalence of NMOSD in Goiás was 0.79/per 100,000 inhabitants, and NMOSD accounted for 9.37% of the cases of demyelinating diseases seen in the reference center (CRIEM.) The predominant phenotype of NMOSD in Goiás consists of women, non-whites, the median age of onset in the fourth decade of life, relapsing course, and permanent moderate disability. These data may be useful in assessing the overall status of NMOSD among Amerindian descendants. Thus, studies on Amerindian HLA should be conducted to more accurately determine the reasons that lead to the higher prevalence of NMOSD among the descendants of native Americans.

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Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    24 June 2022
  • Date of issue
    May 2022

History

  • Received
    17 Dec 2020
  • Reviewed
    16 Feb 2021
  • Accepted
    24 Feb 2021
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