Study of seasonality of attacks in MOG antibody-associated disease

Abstract

Background: Seasonal variation in attacks of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM¹) is reported in some studies. Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) antibodies are found in up to 50 % of ADEM cases. Despite this, there has been no adequately powered study of seasonality in MOG antibody-associated disease (MOGAD). We sought to determine whether there was an effect of season on incidence of total attacks and onset attacks of MOGAD.

Methods: We searched the large national Oxford-based NMO Service database to identify attacks of MOGAD occurring between 2010 and 2021. Month of each attack was extracted and Edwards' test of seasonal variation was applied to determine whether there was a seasonal effect on total attacks and onset attacks.

Results: Neither incidence of total attacks nor incidence of onset attacks varied significantly by month.

Conclusion: There is no evidence of seasonal fluctuations in the incidence of MOGAD attacks in the UK.

Keywords: Demyelination; MOGAD; Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein; Seasonality.