Dr Matiello presented an abstract at the American Academy of Neurology meeting in May 2007. The main goal of the study was to determine whether NMO-IgG, an antibody test, was associated with differences in outcome in patients with recurrent optic neuritis, a syndrome that may herald either MS or neuromyelitis optica, or may occur without other neurological manifestations. Dr Matiello and colleagues found that patients who tested positive for the antibody had a more severe visual disability and a higher risk of having episodes of transverse myelitis. To read the abstract, please click here.

Dr Matiello, along with his colleagues Dr Jacob, Dr Wingerchuk and Dr Weinshenker from the Mayo Clinic, USA, has also recently published an article about neuromyelitis optica (NMO) in the lastest issue of Current Opinion in Neurology. NMO is a demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS) which was once classified as a form of MS. The authors review the recent advances in the clinical, radiologic and pathologic features that distinguish NMO from MS and, most importantly, the discovery of a specific antibody called NMO-IgG and its molecular target in the CNS. They believe that those discoveries may enhance the understanding of idiopathic demyelinating diseases and their treatment. Please click here to read the abstract of the article.

For more information about Dr Matiello and his work please click here. For details about the Du Pré Fellowship please click here or email Zoe Burr.