Table 1 Comparisons of demographic factors, clinical parameters, anti-AQP4 antibody status and MRI features between the good and poor three-month EDSS outcome groups

Onset age (years)

43.1 ± 17.6

42.6 ± 9.1

0.74

Onset to nadir time (days)

7.9 ± 6.5

8.7 ± 6.1

0.71

Initial symptoms

0.68

 Optic neuritis

2

2

 Spinal cord lesions

7

11

All-limb muscle power (MRC score)

17.4 ± 3.7

14.7 ± 2.5

0.01

Upper-limb muscle power (MRC score)

4.8 ± 0.4

4.5 ± 0.6

0.10

Lower-limb muscle power (MRC score)

3.9 ± 1.6

2.9 ± 1.1

0.01

EDSS scores at the nadir

4.3 ± 2.5

7.9 ± 1.4

<  0.01

Three-month all-limb muscle power (MRC scores)

19.1 ± 0.9

16.2 ± 2.6

< 0.01

Three-month upper-limb muscle power (MRC scores)

4.9 ± 0.2

4.5 ± 0.5

0.02

Three-month lower-limb muscle power (MRC scores)

4.6 ± 0.4

3.6 ± 1.2

<  0.01

Three-month EDSS scores

2.5 ± 0.7

5.8 ± 1.3

< 0.01

Sphincter incontinence (Y:N)

2:7

6:7

0.25

Follow-up period (Months)

108.1 ± 25.5

74.4 ± 58.6

0.12

Relapse episodes

4.6 ± 2.6

5.7 ± 5.9

0.97

Anti-AQP4 antibody level (Unit/mL)

67.4 ± 81.4

125.1 ± 98.2

0.27

Anti-AQP4 antibody status (Negative: Positive)

2:7

1:12

0.33

 The length of spinal cord lesions (vertebral body span)

4.9 ± 1.7

4.9 ± 1.4

0.84

 Axial anterior pattern (Y:N)

1:8

2:11

0.77

 Axial central pattern (Y:N)

5:4

8:5

0.78

 Axial lateral pattern (Y:N)

5:4

6:7

0.66

 Axial posterior pattern (Y:N)

3:6

7:6

0.34

 Bright spotty lesions (Y:N)

5:4

9:4

0.51

 Gd enhancement (Y:N)

7:2

7:6

0.64