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. 2020 Dec;267(12):3565-3577.
doi: 10.1007/s00415-020-10026-y. Epub 2020 Jul 4.

Treatment of MOG antibody associated disorders: results of an international survey

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Treatment of MOG antibody associated disorders: results of an international survey

D H Whittam et al. J Neurol. 2020 Dec.

Abstract

Introduction: While monophasic and relapsing forms of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody associated disorders (MOGAD) are increasingly diagnosed world-wide, consensus on management is yet to be developed.

Objective: To survey the current global clinical practice of clinicians treating MOGAD.

Method: Neurologists worldwide with expertise in treating MOGAD participated in an online survey (February-April 2019).

Results: Fifty-two responses were received (response rate 60.5%) from 86 invited experts, comprising adult (78.8%, 41/52) and paediatric (21.2%, 11/52) neurologists in 22 countries. All treat acute attacks with high dose corticosteroids. If recovery is incomplete, 71.2% (37/52) proceed next to plasma exchange (PE). 45.5% (5/11) of paediatric neurologists use IV immunoglobulin (IVIg) in preference to PE. Following an acute attack, 55.8% (29/52) of respondents typically continue corticosteroids for ≥ 3 months; though less commonly when treating children. After an index event, 60% (31/51) usually start steroid-sparing maintenance therapy (MT); after ≥ 2 attacks 92.3% (48/52) would start MT. Repeat MOG antibody status is used by 52.9% (27/51) to help decide on MT initiation. Commonly used first line MTs in adults are azathioprine (30.8%, 16/52), mycophenolate mofetil (25.0%, 13/52) and rituximab (17.3%, 9/52). In children, IVIg is the preferred first line MT (54.5%; 6/11). Treatment response is monitored by MRI (53.8%; 28/52), optical coherence tomography (23.1%; 12/52) and MOG antibody titres (36.5%; 19/52). Regardless of monitoring results, 25.0% (13/52) would not stop MT.

Conclusion: Current treatment of MOGAD is highly variable, indicating a need for consensus-based treatment guidelines, while awaiting definitive clinical trials.

Keywords: MOG; MOGAD; Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein; Survey.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Neurologists’ preferences for escalation of acute attack therapies in MOGAD. Mean preference scores were calculated as follows: 6 points were given if ranked 1st, 5 points if ranked 2nd, and so on, with 0 points if not ranked at all. The total number of points for each therapy was then divided by the total number of respondents (52). Higher scores therefore indicate earlier use by more respondents. PE plasma exchange or immunoadsorption, HDCS high dose corticosteroids, IVIg intravenous immunoglobulin, RTX rituximab, CYC cyclophosphamide
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
How frequently do neurologists’ treat a first attack of MOGAD with oral corticosteroid therapy for greater than 3 months?
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
How frequently do neurologists start steroid-sparing maintenance therapy after an onset attack of MOGAD?
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
How frequently do neurologists start steroid-sparing maintenance therapy after two or more attacks of MOGAD?
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Popularity of individual steroid-sparing maintenance therapies as first-, second- and third-line treatments for a 38-year-old male with relapsing MOGAD. PE plasma exchange or immunoadsorption, IVIg intravenous immunoglobulin
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Popularity of individual steroid-sparing maintenance therapies as first-, second- and third-line treatments for a 6-year-old female with relapsing MOGAD. IVIg intravenous immunoglobulin
Fig. 7
Fig. 7
Neurologists’ preferences for individual steroid-sparing maintenance therapies to treat a 16-year-old female with relapsing MOGAD. Respondents were asked to rank eight different maintenance therapies in order of preference. No rank was given if the respondent would not consider using that therapy. Rankings were then converted to mean scores. PE plasma exchange or immunoadsorption, IVIg intravenous immunoglobulin
Fig. 8
Fig. 8
Neurologists’ perceptions of the effectiveness of individual maintenance therapies at preventing relapses of MOGAD. Respondents were asked to rank ten different maintenance therapies in order of their perceived efficacy. No rank was given if the respondent had no experience of using that therapy in MOGAD. Rankings were then converted to mean scores. The percentage of respondents with experience of using each therapy is given in parentheses. PE plasma exchange or immunoadsorption, IVIg intravenous immunoglobulin; *Prednisolone dose up to 0.5 mg/kg/day

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