Baseline sera for the NMO and MS patients were collected within an average of 8 years (0 to 42 years) (MOG vs. AQP4 vs. seronegative: 17 (3 to 32), 6 (0 to 42), 7 (0 to 15) years) and 14 years (3 to 37 years) of the first inflammatory episode, respectively. This evidence concerns the gene AQP4 and neuromyelitis optica.