Marisa Wexler, MS, senior science writer —

A history of smoking is associated with poorer recovery from disease relapses in people with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), a study reports. Findings indicate that patients who smoke or are past smokers are more likely to have neurological lesions that persist months after the relapse, and that these…

When the immune system launches an attack to fight off a cytomegalovirus infection, immune cells may accidentally target aquaporin-4 (AQP4), a protein found at the surface of neuron-supporting cells. That’s the hypothesis suggested by researchers who analyzed the immune cell receptors of people with and without neuromyelitis optica spectrum…

Older age, a poor response to steroids, and the need for a blood-cleaning procedure known as plasma exchange all were found to increase the likelihood of a diagnosis of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) among people experiencing a first optic neuritis attack, a small study shows. These findings led…

An international team of experts has published evidence-based recommendations for how to best treat people with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) who are positive for aquaporin-4 immunoglobulin G (AQP4-IgG), the most common type of disease-driving antibody. The consensus statements were described in the study “International Delphi…

Eating more oily fish and raw vegetables may decrease a person’s risk of developing neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), according to a new study of the autoimmune disease that used genetic data. While most foods reviewed in the study — including beef, bread, cheese, wine, poultry, and also coffee…

Committee-based assessments are reliable for identifying disease attacks in people with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) in the N-MOmentum clinical trial, which tested the approved therapy Uplizna (inebilizumab-cdon), a new study shows. The study, “Attack adjudication in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder: Substantiation of criteria by…

Ultomiris (ravulizumab) has been approved by the European Commission to treat adults with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) who test positive for antibodies against aquaporin-4 (AQP4). “Effective NMOSD management hinges on reducing relapses – even a single relapse may cause irreversible disabilities leaving patients unable to move, speak…

Antibodies against aquaporin-4 (AQP4) are detectable in the blood several years before symptoms occur in most people with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), according to a U.S. study. Tammy Smith, MD, PhD, of the University of Utah, presented the findings at the recent American Academy of Neurology (AAN) annual…

Experts in Germany have published recommendations to help clinicians diagnose neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) and distinguish it from other disorders with similar symptoms. The guidelines were detailed in “Update on the diagnosis and treatment of [neuromyelitis] optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) – revised recommendations of the…

Living with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) and resulting disability can make it hard to find and keep employment, according to a small U.S. study that nonetheless involved patients from more than a dozen states. Group discussions with 20 people with the rare autoimmune disease — of varying races…