Correlation Analysis Between The Level Of Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein In Cerebrospinal Fluid In Neuromyelitis Optica And Clinical Characters

Objective:To investigate the level of glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP) in cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) obtained from patients with relapse neuromyelitis optica(NMO) and analysis correlations between the CSF-GFAP level and the spinal lesion length or expanded disability status scale(EDSS) score in relapse NMO patients,to seek another biological marker for the demyelinating lesions which is serum antibody of AQP-4 negative associated with brain damage of optic neuritis and longitudinally extensive spinal cord lesions.Methods:25 cases of relapse NMO, 23 cases of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis(RRMS),5 cases of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis(ADEM),15 cases of myelopathy and 13 cases of other neurologic disease(OND),which were collected in the First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University from Feb 2013 to Oct 2014,the level of GFAP in CSF were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA),compared among the five group patients. The first four groups of patients in the acute phase performed EDSS score and magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) examination,compared EDSS score in the first four groups of patients, analysis correlations between the CSF-GFAP level and the spinal lesion length or EDSS score in NMO patients.Results:(1) The CSF-GFAP level in relapse NMO group were significantly higher than those in RRMS group,ADEM group,myelopathy group and OND group(P<0.001);(2) EDSS score in relapse NMO group were higher than those in RRMS group,ADEM group and myelopathy group(P<0.001).(3) There were positive correlations between the CSF-GFAP level and the spinal lesion length and expanded disability status scale(EDSS)score(r=0.67,P<0.001;r=0.62,P<0.001).Conclusions:The CSF-GFAP level were significantly higher and degree of disability was heavier in the acute phase of relapse NMO. There were positive correlations between the CSF-GFAP levels and the spinal lesion length or EDSS score in the acute phase of relapse NMO.Astrocytic damage is severe in the acute phase of NMO, CSF-GFAP as a biomarker in NMO.