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Ask the ExpertAuthor: Siegel Rare Neuroimmune Association (SRNA)
The goal of our Ask the Expert podcast series is to share the latest research and information on rare neuroimmune disorders and provide an avenue for individuals diagnosed with these disorders and their family members to ask questions to experts who specialize in these disorders. The podcasts are moderated based on questions submitted by our community. We would like to hear from you. If there are topics that you would like us to address in our podcasts, you can share your thoughts by sending an email to info@wearesrna.org and please use SRNA Podcast in the subject. Language: en-us Genres: Health & Fitness, Medicine Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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ABCs of MOGAD 301. Significance of Brain Lesions in Pediatric MOGAD
Episode 1
Monday, 19 January, 2026
In this episode, Krissy Dilger of SRNA interviewed Dr. Vivien Xie regarding the significance of brain lesions in pediatric MOG antibody disease (MOGAD). Dr. Xie explained the autoimmune nature of MOGAD and the common occurrence of optic neuritis in young patients [00:01:28]. She described her study comparing children with optic neuritis who had brain lesions to those who did not, revealing that brain lesions often did not result in additional symptoms [00:02:41]. The findings suggested that brain lesions didn't significantly impact long-term outcomes, which may provide reassurance for patients with concerning MRI results [00:06:43]. Finally, they discussed the study’s implications for better understanding different phenotypes of MOGAD and improving patient prognosis. Future research directions include more detailed MRI analysis and cognitive outcome assessment [00:12:29]. You can read about this multicenter study here:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41167051/. This work was completed with philanthropic support from the Global Autoimmune Institute and Fighting Fires with Owen.Vivien Xie, MD, is a pediatric neurologist and neuroimmunology fellow at Children’s National Hospital and MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. Originally from Baltimore, she earned her undergraduate degree in biology from the University of Maryland, College Park and her medical degree from the University of Maryland School of Medicine. She then completed a child neurology residency at Children’s National Hospital, where she discovered a passion for helping young patients and their families navigate rare and often life-long neuroimmunologic disorders. Dr. Xie's research interests include pediatric multiple sclerosis and MOG antibody–associated disease, with publications and presentations spanning national and international conferences. She is a committed academic clinician dedicated to advancing clinical trials and research initiatives to improve diagnosis and care for children with rare neuroimmunologic conditions.00:00 Introduction01:28 Understanding MOG Antibody Disease02:41 Research Motivation and Background05:33 Study Design and Methodology06:43 Key Findings and Implications12:29 Future Research Directions14:10 Conclusion and Acknowledgements
