Abstract
Background
The risk factors for headaches associated with Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD) have not been systematically documented.
Objectives
We aim to describe the risk factors for headaches occurring in MOGAD.
Results
The prevalence of headaches was 26.3% at onset and 31.4% during the whole course, with headaches more frequently observed during the initial attack (p = 0.002). More patients with headaches experienced cerebral cortical encephalitis (CCE, at onset and all attacks, p < 0.001), elevated MOG-IgG titres (at onset, p = 0.013, all attacks p = 0.038), increased cerebrospinal fluid total protein (TP, all attacks, p = 0.011), more cortical lesion (all attacks, p = 0.046), leptomeningeal enhancement (at onset and all attacks, p = 0.001) and tumefactive demyelination (all attacks, p = 0.025) on MRI. The univariate analysis and multivariable analysis illustrated that the dominant features associated with headaches were CCE event (p = 0.007), leptomeningeal enhancement (p = 0.048), and tumefactive demyelination on MRI (p = 0.013). MOGAD patients often experienced CCE events and leptomeningeal enhancement on MRI simultaneously (p < 0.001).
Conclusion
CCE, leptomeningeal enhancement and tumefactive demyelination are the dominant factors associated with headache in MOGAD.