Lindsey Shapiro, PhD, science writer —

Age, sex, and spinal lesions may be risk factors for developing pain due to nerve damage — called neuropathic pain — in people with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), according to a new study. Specifically, an older age at disease onset, female sex, and a greater number of lesions…

Women with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) who received immunosuppressive treatment during pregnancy or were at least 32 years old when they conceived may be at a lower risk of pregnancy-associated relapses, a systematic review study has found. Data also showed the risk of relapse is highest in the…

Key players in B-cell signaling pathways and related inflammatory molecules were elevated in the blood of people with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) compared with healthy people, a study found. The findings suggest that targeting this signaling pathway could show therapeutic promise in NMOSD, the researchers noted. The study,…

Rituximab worked better than other treatments at preventing relapses in people with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) who have antibodies against aquaporin-4 (AQP-4), according to a recent Chinese report. As a first-line therapy for the autoimmune disease, Rituximab outperformed both azathioprine and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) in relapse prevention, the…

The video series “Imagine My Life With NMO” has been launched by the Sumaira Foundation to help others in understanding what daily life can be like with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). In the series, Sumaira Ahmed, the European foundation’s creator and a NMOSD patient, interviews other patients, their loved…

Enspryng (satralizumab) and tocilizumab — two interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor inhibitors that prevent inflammation — are generally safe and effective for the treatment of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), a recent meta-analysis reported. Researchers determined these results by analyzing safety and efficacy outcomes across…

Asymptomatic, or “silent,” MRI lesions are not common during disease remission in patients with aquaporin-4 antibody neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (AQP4-NMOSD) and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody disease (MOGAD), but are associated with imminent relapse when they do occur, according to a recent U.K. study. “Results of…