Predictors of clinical response to interferon 1b therapy in patients with multiple sclerosis [2008] - 278KB
by T Hosokawa, H Nakajima, T Ikemoto, M Sugino, F Kimura, T Hanafusa, T Takahashi
Background and Objective: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic and progressive inflammatory immune-mediated demyelinating disease. Interferon-β1b (IFN-β1b) treatment is effective in ameliora...

Plasma exchange is efficient for lowering anti-aquaporin-4 antibody titers in neuromyelitis optica [2008] - 143KB
by I Nakashima, T Takahashi, S Nishiyama, Y Itoyama, K Fujihara
Background and Objective: Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is an inflammatory CNS disease associated with serum anti-aquaporin-4 antibody (AQP4-Ab). The symptoms of NMO are often severe and are often resist...

Hypercomplementemia at relapse in patients with anti-aquaporin-4 antibody [2008] - 296KB
by H Doi, T Matsushita, N Isobe, T Matsuoka, M Minohara, H Ochi, J Kira
Background: Asian patients with opticospinal multiple sclerosis (OSMS) have similar features to the relapsing‑remitting form of neurmyelitis optica (NMO) in Western populations. Since anti-aquap...

Marked Increase of CSF GFAP in neuromyelitis optica: An astrocytic damage marker [2008] - 149KB
by T Misu, R Takano, K Fujihara, T Takahashi, S Sato, Y Itoyama
Background: Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is a neurologic inflammatory disease associated with autoimmunity to aquaporin-4 (AQP4)1, predominantly localized in astrocytic foot processes. In immunopatholog...