Eur J Neurol. 2022 May 22. doi: 10.1111/ene.15413. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To determine the extent of sudomotor dysfunction in people with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (pwNMOSD) and to compare findings with a historical cohort of people with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (pwRRMS).
METHODS: We enrolled 48 pwNMOSD from four clinical centers. All participants completed the Composite Autonomic Symptom Score-31 (COMPASS-31) to screen for symptoms of sudomotor dysfunction. Sudomotor function was assessed using the quantitative sudomotor axon reflex test (QSART). The results were compared with a historical cohort of 35 pwRRMS matched for age, sex and disease duration.
RESULTS: symptoms of sudomotor dysfunction, defined by a score in the COMPASS-31 secretomotor domain >0, were present in 26 (54%) of pwNMOSD. The QSART-confirmed a sudomotor dysfunction in 25 (52.1%) of pwNMOSD; in 14 thereof (29.2%) sudomotor dysfunction was moderate or severe. No difference was observed between pwNMOSD and pwRRMS in any of the studied parameters. However, symptomatic sudomotor dysfunction was more frequent in pwNMOSD (n=8, 22.9%) compared to pwRRMS (n=1, 3%; p=0.028). In a multivariable logistic regression analysis, statistically significant predictors for symptomatic sudomotor failure were age and diagnosis of NMOSD.
CONCLUSIONS: Sudomotor dysfunction is common in pwNMOSD and more often symptomatic compared to pwRRMS.
PMID:35598288 | DOI:10.1111/ene.15413