Katherine Poinsatte, PhD,  Science Writer—

People who are Asian or Pacific Islander and Black are more likely to have neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) and test positive for self-reactive antibodies against aquaporin-4 (AQP4) than white people, a U.S.-based study suggests. The prevalence of anti-AQP4 antibody-positive NMOSD was also higher among women and Hispanic people.

Biologic immunosuppressants are more effective than conventional immunosuppressants for people with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMSOD) with self-reactive antibodies against the AQP4 protein. That’s according to real-world data from a Japanese study comparing biologic therapies — Soliris (eculizumab), Enspryng (satralizumab), Ultomiris (ravulizumab), Uplizna (inebilizumab), and…

People with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) who test positive for NMOSD-driving self-reactive antibodies against the AQP4 protein and Black patients are significantly more likely to have worse disability related to vision. These are the findings of a North American study that analyzed patient data with NMOSD-specific disability scales…

Testing for the self-reactive antibodies that drive most cases of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) in dried blood spots (DBS) is as accurate as testing blood samples, a study shows. The findings suggest the dried blood spot technique could be a viable alternative to conventional blood sample testing for…

About half of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) patients who test positive for self-reactive antibodies, or autoantibodies, against the AQP4 protein — a hallmark of the autoimmune disease — have at least one other type of autoantibody, according to a new study from South Korea. Many of these other…

The risk of losing income increases dramatically within a few years after the onset of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) in patients positive for antibodies against aquaporin-4 (AQP4), compared with the general population. That’s according to a nationwide study in Denmark that also showed AQP4-related NMOSD was strongly associated…