Background: Whether antibody to myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) can be a diagnostic marker for multiple sclerosis (MS) is still controversial. Recent studies suggested that serum specific anti-MOG epitope antibody might be an MS specific marker. However, these studies did not include neuromyelitis optica (NMO) which might be proven to also have anti-MOG antibody. Hence, the present study was undertaken to investigate the clinical value of serum antibodies to 25 MOG epitopes in conventional MS (CMS) and NMO.
Methods: Serum anti-MOG epitope IgG was detected in 61 CMS patients, 54 NMO patients, and 77 healthy controls, using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
Results: Anti-MOG(27-38) IgG levels in both CMS and NMO patients were significantly higher than that in healthy controls (optical density (OD): 0.64 ± 0.38, 0.48 ± 0.23 vs. 0.19 ± 0.09; P = 0.000). CMS and NMO patients in relapse stage had significantly higher anti-MOG(27-38) IgG level than patients in remission stage (OD: 0.55 ± 0.14 vs. 0.24 ± 0.09, P = 0.027).
Conclusion: Although serum anti-MOG epitope IgG could not differentiate MS from NMO, it may be a useful marker for monitoring disease activity.