{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,9]],"date-time":"2026-06-09T15:27:53Z","timestamp":1781018873932,"version":"3.54.1"},"reference-count":0,"publisher":"Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences","issue":"6","content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Pak J Med Sci"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background &amp; Objectives: Neuromyelitis Optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is an autoimmune inflammatory disease involving optic nerves and spinal cord. The association of NMOSD with anti-nuclear antibodies and autoimmune disorders has been reported. This study was conducted to determine frequency of anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) in patients with NMOSD and to observe for the development of symptoms related to autoimmune disorders on follow up.\nMethodology: After approval from Institutional Review Board, this cross-sectional study was conducted at Immunology Department, Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad, Pakistan and after informed verbal consent from patients, serum samples were tested by indirect immunofluorescence for anti-aquaporin four antibodies (AQP-4) and ANA. Clinical data of patient was collected via a structured questionnaire. Follow-up of 6-12 months was conducted in patients who were positive for ANA.\nResults: Total 248 patients were included in this study of which 32 were positive for AQP4- Antibodies (mean age 32.4 \u00b1 14.1 years), out of which ANA was positive in 17 (53%) patients whereas in AQP-4 negative group, ANA was positive in 70 (32%) patients. At one year follow-up, in AQP-4 and ANA positive group, two patients were diagnosed with autoimmune thyroid disorders and one patient was diagnosed with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.\nConclusion: In this study, we concluded that ANA were observed more frequently with AQP-4 antibody positivity. Considering this, detection of ANA in AQP-4 antibody positive patients may help in establishing early diagnosis of an accompanying autoimmune disease leading to early diagnosis and an overall favorable outcome in patients.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.12669\/pjms.42.6.15417","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,9]],"date-time":"2026-06-09T14:47:36Z","timestamp":1781016456000},"page":"1630-1634","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Anti-nuclear antibodies in patients with suspicion of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder: Frequency and significance"],"prefix":"10.12669","volume":"42","author":[{"given":"Farva","family":"Jalil","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Shafain","family":"Sheikh","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Arsalan","family":"Ahmad","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Tahir Aziz","family":"Ahmed","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"4935","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,9]]},"container-title":["Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.pjms.org.pk\/index.php\/pjms\/article\/download\/15417\/11517","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/www.pjms.org.pk\/index.php\/pjms\/article\/download\/15417\/11517","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,9]],"date-time":"2026-06-09T14:47:36Z","timestamp":1781016456000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.pjms.org.pk\/index.php\/pjms\/article\/view\/15417"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,9]]},"references-count":0,"journal-issue":{"issue":"6","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,9]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.12669\/pjms.42.6.15417","relation":{},"ISSN":["1681-715X","1682-024X"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1681-715X","type":"electronic"},{"value":"1682-024X","type":"print"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,9]]}}}