Table 4 Comparison of brain and spinalcord MRI between anti-AQP4 (+) and anti-AQP4 (-) patients during follow-up

Brain MRIs

Lesions in other brain regions

 Juxtacortical

0/14 (0)

2/17 (11.76 %)

2/31 (6.45 %)

0.488

 Subcortical

1/14 (7.14 %)

5/17 (29.41 %)

6/31 (19.35 %)

0.185

 Infratentorial

14/14 (100 %)

17/17 (100 %)

31/31 (100 %)

Spinal cord MRI

 Segments

5 (3–7)

2 (0–4)

3.5 (0–8)

0.001

 Cervical

10/14 (71.43 %)

13/17 (76.47 %)

23/31 (74.19 %)

0.750

 Thoracic

7/14 (50 %)

5/17 (29.41 %)

12/31 (38.71 %)

0.242

 Cervical and thoracic

3/14 (21.43 %)

1/17 (5.88 %)

4/31 (12.90 %)

0.199

 LETM

9/14 (64.29 %)

3/17 (17.65 %)

12/31 (38.71 %)

0.012

Meet Barkhof criteria

0/14 (0 %)

5/17 (29.41 %)

5/31 (16.13 %)

0.185