Male patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders: different clinical characteristics and worse steroid treatment response

Abstract

Background: Clinical data on male neuromyelitis optica spectrum (NMO) patients remain limited to date.

Objective: To analyze clinical characteristics, therapeutic responses, and outcomes in Chinese male NMOSD patients.

Methods: We retrospectively assessed clinical, demographic, treatment, and outcome data of male patients with NMOSD.

Results: We identified 52 male patients among 471 NMOSD patients. Male patients had more frequent optic neuritis (ON) attacks and less frequent myelitis than female patients. No-remission rates of high-dose intravenous steroid therapy were higher in male patients than in female patients.

Conclusion: Male NMOSD patients had different clinical characteristics and worse response to high-dose intravenous steroid therapy than female patients.

Keywords: Clinical characteristics; Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders; Sex; Steroid treatment.