Cognitive performance of neuromyelitis optica patients: comparison with multiple sclerosis

The aim of the present research was to investigate cognitive pattern of patients with neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and to compare it with multiple sclerosis (MS) patients' performance. Methods: Fourteen NMO, 14 relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), and 14 healthy control patients participated in the investigation. Neuropsychological functions were evaluated with the Brief Repeatable Neuropsychological Battery for MS; Symbol Digit Modalities Test; Digit Span; and Semantic Fluency. Results: Fifty-seven percent of NMO patients and 42.85% of the MS ones had abnormal performance in at least two cognitive tests. The NMO Group showed abnormal performance in verbal fluency, verbal and visual memories, with greater attention deficits. NMO patients outperformed healthy control in the paced auditory serial addition test (PASAT). However, no difference was found between NMO and RRMS patients. Conclusions: The NMO Group showed more dysfunction in attention and verbal fluencies than in verbal and visual memories. When compared with the MS patients, a similar dysfunction pattern was found. O objetivo da presente pesquisa foi investigar o padrao cognitivo de pacientes com neuromielite optica (NMO) e compara-lo com o desempenho de pacientes com esclerose multipla (EM). Metodos: Quatorze pacientes com NMO, 14 com esclerose multipla recorrente remitente (EMRR) e 14 participantes do Controle saudaveis participaram da presente investigacao. As funcoes neuropsicologicas foram avaliadas com a Bateria Breve de Testes Neuropsicologicos de Rao, Teste Simbolo Digit e a Fluencia Semântica. Resultados: Cinquenta e sete por cento dos pacientes com NMO e 42,85% daqueles com EM apresentaram desempenho anormal em pelo menos dois testes cognitivos. O Grupo NMO apresentarou desempenho anormal na fluencia verbal e nas memorias visual e verbal, com maiores deficits de atencao. Pacientes com NMO superaram os controles saudaveis em PASAT. No entanto, nao foi encontrada diferenca entre os pacientes com NMO e aqueles com EMRR. Conclusoes: O Grupo NMO mostrou mais disfuncao nas fluencias de atencao e verbais do que nas memorias verbal e visual. Quando comparados com os pacientes com EM, um padrao de disfuncao semelhante foi encontrado.