News

Regular maintenance treatment with low-dose rituximab is associated with less disability and fewer relapses among people with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) compared with receiving irregular doses of the preventive therapy, according to a two-year real-world study in China. “Regular [rituximab] treatment can significantly reduce the annual relapse rate, incidence…

Blood levels of markers of brain cell damage may be used to distinguish between attack and remission periods in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) patients, but analysis of these blood biomarkers should be done at specific times to get the best accuracy. Those are the findings from a study…

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…

Initiatives are underway worldwide to mark NMOSD Awareness Month, with the goal of boosting awareness of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD/NMO) and spotlight people who live with the rare neurological disease. March has been recognized as NMOSD Awareness Month since 2016 in the U.S. and elsewhere. Leading the charge…

People with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) who test positive for self-reactive antibodies against the aquaporin 4 (AQP4) protein are more likely to be women, and have an earlier disease onset and more relapses than those who test negative. That’s according a single-center study in Argentina that also showed…

A predictive model based on laboratory and clinical risk factors for relapses in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) was found to accurately discriminate NMOSD patients experiencing a relapse within one year of diagnosis from those without a relapse, a study showed. The identified risk factors were numbers and ratios…

People with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) have significantly higher levels of the signaling molecule CXCL13 in their blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), the liquid surrounding the brain and spinal cord, a study shows. Also, CXCL13 levels were significantly associated with disability, with higher levels being detected in NMOSD…

Cedars-Sinai was designated a Center of Excellence in Rare Neuroimmune Disorders due to its efforts at advancing care and research for rare immune-mediated diseases of the central nervous system (brain, spinal cord and optic nerve), such as neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). The designation was awarded by the patient advocacy…

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.

Soliris (eculizumab) may help relieve symptoms during severe attacks in the acute phase of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) when other treatments are ineffective, according to a case series study from Japan. The study included five patients who had experienced severe NMOSD attacks that did not respond well…