Commentary
Video
Treatment and Diagnosis of MOG-Associated Disorders in Pediatric vs Adult: E. Ann Yeh, MD
Author(s):
The professor of pediatrics in neurology at the University of Toronto discussed differences in disease course, treatment strategy, and trial challenges of MOG-associated disorders in pediatric versus adult patients. [WATCH TIME: 5 minutes]
WATCH TIME: 5 minutes
"Treatment strategies in the pediatric population may be a little different from those in the adult population. One of the most important things we have to remember is to go back to this concept of monophasic disease. Most children have monophasic disease. Therefore, we start off with a watch-and-wait kind of approach.”
At the 2025 Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) Annual Meeting, held May 28-31, 2025, in Phoenix, Arizona, the session "MOGAD in Focus: Diagnostic Criteria and Treatment Strategies" offered a comprehensive overview of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD). Chaired by Eoin P. Flanagan, MD, a professor of neurology at Mayo Clinic, the session began with Giulia Fadda, MD, assistant professor at the University of Ottawa, who outlined key diagnostic criteria and clinical red flags critical to recognizing MOGAD.
Then, Flanagan followed with a review of current treatment options and emerging therapies aimed at improving disease management. Additionally, E. Ann Yeh, MD, a professor of pediatrics in neurology at the University of Toronto, addressed the distinct challenges in diagnosing and treating pediatric patients with MOGAD, emphasizing age-specific considerations. The session concluded with an interactive panel discussion and Q&A with the speakers, highlighting evolving best practices and knowledge gaps in MOGAD care.
During the meeting, Yeh sat down with NeurologyLive® to outline the diagnostic similarities and key clinical differences between pediatric and adult MOG-associated disorders. Although both groups undergo similar diagnostic evaluations, she noted that pediatric patients may be more likely to present with a monophasic disease course. Ann emphasized the difficulty in determining optimal therapy duration because of the need to balance relapse prevention with the risks of long-term medication use. In the conversation, she also highlighted regulatory and enrollment challenges in conducting clinical trials in rare pediatric populations.
Click here for more coverage of CMSC 2025.
