Aquaporin-4-positive neuromyelitis optica in a male Caucasian patient: A rare demographic presentation
Neuromyelitis optica with a positive aquaporin-4 antibody is a rare autoimmune condition, which has a higher prevalence in females, and disproportionately affects Black and Asian persons with a typical age of first presentation between the ages of 30 and 40. We report a unique case of a 69-year-old...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
SAGE Publishing
2025-07-01
|
| Series: | SAGE Open Medical Case Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/2050313X251356911 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849428480904658944 |
|---|---|
| author | Monideep Ghosh Nesta Baxter Michael Homer-Ward |
| author_facet | Monideep Ghosh Nesta Baxter Michael Homer-Ward |
| author_sort | Monideep Ghosh |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Neuromyelitis optica with a positive aquaporin-4 antibody is a rare autoimmune condition, which has a higher prevalence in females, and disproportionately affects Black and Asian persons with a typical age of first presentation between the ages of 30 and 40. We report a unique case of a 69-year-old Caucasian male who presented following a fall along with generalised weakness, unilateral myotomal pain, and urinary dysfunction. His medical history included two previous venous thromboembolic events, for which he was anticoagulated with warfarin. Extensive investigations, including MRI of the whole spine and lumbar puncture, revealed longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis and a positive aquaporin-4 antibody, confirming neuromyelitis optica. The patient was treated with intravenous methylprednisolone, plasma exchange, and immunoglobulin therapy, followed by rehabilitation. This case highlights the importance of considering neuromyelitis optica in atypical patient demographics and that early recognition through neurological assessment, imaging, and antibody testing is critical in preventing severe disability. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-45c8ebf0343244b7af4a2f2f3cafacbe |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2050-313X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | SAGE Open Medical Case Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-45c8ebf0343244b7af4a2f2f3cafacbe2025-08-20T03:28:41ZengSAGE PublishingSAGE Open Medical Case Reports2050-313X2025-07-011310.1177/2050313X251356911Aquaporin-4-positive neuromyelitis optica in a male Caucasian patient: A rare demographic presentationMonideep Ghosh0Nesta Baxter1Michael Homer-Ward2Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, Portsmouth, UKNorfolk and Norwich University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Norwich, UKPortsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, Portsmouth, UKNeuromyelitis optica with a positive aquaporin-4 antibody is a rare autoimmune condition, which has a higher prevalence in females, and disproportionately affects Black and Asian persons with a typical age of first presentation between the ages of 30 and 40. We report a unique case of a 69-year-old Caucasian male who presented following a fall along with generalised weakness, unilateral myotomal pain, and urinary dysfunction. His medical history included two previous venous thromboembolic events, for which he was anticoagulated with warfarin. Extensive investigations, including MRI of the whole spine and lumbar puncture, revealed longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis and a positive aquaporin-4 antibody, confirming neuromyelitis optica. The patient was treated with intravenous methylprednisolone, plasma exchange, and immunoglobulin therapy, followed by rehabilitation. This case highlights the importance of considering neuromyelitis optica in atypical patient demographics and that early recognition through neurological assessment, imaging, and antibody testing is critical in preventing severe disability.https://doi.org/10.1177/2050313X251356911 |
| spellingShingle | Monideep Ghosh Nesta Baxter Michael Homer-Ward Aquaporin-4-positive neuromyelitis optica in a male Caucasian patient: A rare demographic presentation SAGE Open Medical Case Reports |
| title | Aquaporin-4-positive neuromyelitis optica in a male Caucasian patient: A rare demographic presentation |
| title_full | Aquaporin-4-positive neuromyelitis optica in a male Caucasian patient: A rare demographic presentation |
| title_fullStr | Aquaporin-4-positive neuromyelitis optica in a male Caucasian patient: A rare demographic presentation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Aquaporin-4-positive neuromyelitis optica in a male Caucasian patient: A rare demographic presentation |
| title_short | Aquaporin-4-positive neuromyelitis optica in a male Caucasian patient: A rare demographic presentation |
| title_sort | aquaporin 4 positive neuromyelitis optica in a male caucasian patient a rare demographic presentation |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/2050313X251356911 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT monideepghosh aquaporin4positiveneuromyelitisopticainamalecaucasianpatientararedemographicpresentation AT nestabaxter aquaporin4positiveneuromyelitisopticainamalecaucasianpatientararedemographicpresentation AT michaelhomerward aquaporin4positiveneuromyelitisopticainamalecaucasianpatientararedemographicpresentation |