Patients
Patients with relapsing–remitting MS (n = 16) [1] and anti-aquaporin 4 (AQP4) antibody-positive NMOSD (n = 16) [2] were included in this study. Fifteen patients (nine men; six women; mean age, 61.4 years) with other neurological disorders (ONDs), including nine patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and six with spinocerebellar degeneration, were recruited as controls. The following patient variables were reviewed: gender, age, disease duration, Kurtzke’s expanded disability status scale (EDSS) scores, the presence of serum anti-AQP4 antibody [15], positivity for oligoclonal bands, CSF cell counts, CSF protein, CSF/serum albumin ratio (albumin quotient, Qalb), and immunomodulatory treatment at the time of sampling. The ethics committee of the Chiba University School of Medicine in Chiba, Japan, approved the study (Approved No. 842). Written informed consent was obtained from all study subjects.