Risk factors for academic difficulties in children with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody‐associated acute demyelinating syndromes

Aim To describe cognitive abilities through the evaluation of academic difficulties in children with acute demyelinating syndromes (ADS) and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) antibodies. Method This was an observational, retrospective study of a French paediatric cohort that included children aged 18 years and younger. Clinical, biological, and imaging data were collected and academic outcome was measured. Results Seventy‐six children were included in the study with a mean (SD) follow‐up of 4 years 7 months (6y 4mo). Median age at disease onset was 9 years 1 months (interquartile range=4y 7mo–13y 11mo; 36 females, 40 males). Thirty‐six children relapsed and 20 had academic difficulties at the last follow‐up. Academic difficulties, as well as deep grey matter and putaminal lesions (p=0.047 and p=0.006 respectively), were significantly more prevalent in children aged 10 years and younger (p=0.02). Using univariate binary regression analysis, we found that age at disease onset of 10 years and younger (odds ratio [OR] 3.72 [95% confidence interval {CI} 1.19–11.64]; p=0.024), acute disseminated encephalomyelitis at disease onset (OR 52.5 [95% CI 5.97–461.4]; p