Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD) is an inflammatory disorder mainly affecting the optic nerve, spinal cord, and brain. This disorder is characterized by immune-mediated demyelination of MOG proteins located on the myelin sheaths in the central nervous system.

As a result of enhanced clinical testing capabilities, MOG antibodies are being detected in children with central nervous system demyelinating diseases, including pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis (POMS). Due to a lack of understanding of the function of the MOG glycoprotein, MOGAD pathogenesis is not well understood. Early accurate diagnosis of MOGAD is vital because prognosis and treatment differ from those for POMS and other demyelinating syndromes. Therefore, comparing the genetic basis of confirmed MOGAD cases to POMS could provide insight into differences in their pathophysiology and ultimately provide a greater understanding of MOGAD. In this episode, Doctor Amin Ziaei, MD, PhD, University of California – San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, discusses his research which compares the genetic basis of POMS to confirmed MOGAD cases.