AAN 2021 | Predictive and prognostic biomarkers for pediatric MOGAD and NMOSD

Brenda Banwell, MD, FAAN, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, discusses the importance of prognostic and predictive biomarkers in pediatric myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody disease (MOGAD) and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). MOGAD is an inflammatory, demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS) that, in many children, occurs as a single attack. Identifying biomarkers that can distinguish patients likely to show chronic relapsing disease rather than a single event is of critical importance. To date, no predictors of second attacks are available. Patients with NMOSD suffer from repeated attacks leading to accumulating neurological damage, necessitating the identification of antibodies that can predict treatment success in an individual. This interview took place during the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) 2021 Annual Meeting.