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People who develop neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) later in life may go on to experience worse outcomes than those who have early-onset disease, a study in China has found. Worse outcomes included a higher frequency of inflammation of the thoracic spinal cord during relapses, more brain lesions and…

Levels of double-stranded DNA — dubbed dsDNA — are elevated in the fluid around the brain and spinal cord of people with severe neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), a small study suggests. These levels, which indicate cellular damage, may trigger more inflammation in NMOSD patients, potentially contributing to the…

People with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) who experience relapses are three times more likely to change their treatment regimen than those who have no relapses, a study found. Researchers also observed that people who experienced optic neuritis with or without brain symptoms, those with shorter disease duration, and…

People with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) have elevated levels of the pro-inflammatory protein AIMP1 in the bloodstream, and higher levels seem to correlate with worse disability, a study showed. These AIMP1 levels dropped markedly after anti-inflammatory therapy, but still remained higher among patients in remission than in people…

Tumor removal and immunosuppressive treatment can resolve neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) likely associated with different types of cancer positive for aquaporin 4 (AQP4) protein, according to data from three cases in China. Only two patients showed consistently high blood levels of antibodies against AQP4 (AQP4-IgG) — the most…

SAB Biotherapeutics’ DiversitAb platform has generated specialized antibodies against multiple regions of an abnormal self-reactive antibody, or autoantibody, associated with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). The new antibody-based therapy was found to effectively bind to the NMOSD-causing autoantibody and neutralize it in both in vitro (in lab dishes) and in vivo (inside a…

The CAR T-cell therapy CT103A appears safe generally and may ease disability and improve the quality of life in adults with relapsed or refractory neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) who test positive for antibodies against aquaporin-4 (AQP4), according to data from a small Phase 1 clinical trial. “In this…

The onset of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) at an older age is linked with a greater likelihood of spinal cord involvement at the first disease attack, fewer relapses, and greater disability, according to a study in China. “Age of disease onset correlates with clinical characteristics and prognostic outcomes…

The Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency has approved Uplizna (inebilizumab-cdon) for the treatment of adults with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) who test positive for antibodies against aquaporin-4 (AQP4-IgG). The Horizon Therapeutics’ therapy is the first and only man-made antibody against CD19 — a cell surface protein present…

The activation of two types of immune cells — called natural killer (NK) and natural killer T-cells (NKT) — may contribute to the abnormal immune attacks that drive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), a study suggested. The profile of these cells in NMOSD patients differed notably from that observed…