Andrea Lobo,  —

Smoking is associated with a significantly higher risk of residual disability from onset attack in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) patients with antibodies against the AQP4 protein, a new study showed. Similar results were seen for the presence of nonsmoking vascular risk factors (VRF) such as high blood pressure,…

Switching from Soliris (eculizumab) to Enspryng (satralizumab) is a safe and effective approach for neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) patients testing positive for antibodies against the AQP4 protein. That’s according to data from five patients in the U.S. who switched treatments due to either preference for route…

Children with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) who live in disadvantaged socioeconomic neighborhoods are more likely to have more severe disease-related disabilities, a study in the U.S. indicates. Two years after a diagnosis, Black pediatric patients had significantly more severe disability, as assessed with the standard Expanded Disability Status…

Maintenance treatment with rituximab significantly reduced the number of relapses per year in people with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), and it remained effective after patients experienced relapses, according to a study from China. Relapses more frequently occurred within the first year after rituximab initiation, and their frequency decreased…

Age at disease onset and sex ratio — the ratio of males to females — among people with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) are influenced by the proportion of cases with antibodies against aquaporin-4 (AQP4). That’s according to a review study from an international team of researchers that sheds…

A severe attack or a higher annual relapse rate before starting azathioprine or mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) was associated with a poor response in people with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), a small study shows. An unsatisfactory response to either treatment, defined as a severe relapse or two or more…

Problems in the autonomic nervous system (ANS), which regulates involuntary bodily processes such as heart rate, blood pressure, and digestion, are very frequent among people with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), a study has shown. All 80 NMOSD patients in the study experienced ANS-related symptoms, and a greater burden…

Brain and spinal cord lesions resolve less often in children with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) than with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody disease (MOGAD), a related disorder, according to a small study. No significant differences in resolving lesions were seen between children with NMOSD and those with multiple…

Familial clustering of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) — having more cases within families than what would be expected — is more common than originally thought. That’s according to a new study whose findings highlight a complex genetic predisposition to the progressive autoimmune disease. Certain DNA variants were shared…

A global Phase 4 clinical trial of Enspryng (satralizumab), approved to treat the most common form of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), is enrolling newly diagnosed and other patients who could not or did not take part in Phase 3 trials of the therapy. In addition to people new…