News

Elevated sex hormone progesterone in women tied to NMOSD risk

Women with elevated blood levels of the sex hormone progesterone have an increased risk of developing neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), according to a study that analyzed genetic variants associated with sex hormone levels. In a reverse analysis, having NMOSD appeared to lower testosterone and increase the sex hormone-binding…

Low vitamin D levels found in NMOSD patients, per study review

People with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) have significantly lower vitamin D levels in their blood than do healthy individuals, according to a meta-analysis of data from studies covering more than 900 people in Asia. While the findings don’t prove that vitamin D deficiency causes NMOSD, they call attention…

Dynamics of CAR T-cell therapy in NMOSD shown in study

Immune T-cells of the CAR T-cell therapy CT103A are able to rapidly eliminate disease-driving immune cells and reduce immune cells’ overall inflammatory activity in people with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), a study shows. “This study is the first in-depth single-cell … analysis of multiple types of body fluids…

Study links NMOSD to increased type 2 diabetes risk

The risk of developing type 2 diabetes is more than 50% higher among people with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) compared with matched people without the neurological condition, a study found. Results suggest that the risk of diabetes is particularly high in NMOSD patients who have receive treatment with…

AAN2024: No relapses with Ultomiris after more than 2.5 years

None of the neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) patients in the Phase 3 CHAMPION-NMOSD clinical trial have had a disease relapse while on Ultomiris (ravulizumab-cwvz) treatment for a median of more than 2.5 years. These findings were shared by Sean Pittock, MD, the trial’s principal investigator, at the…

Immune-related events linked to AQP4 are examined in study

International research has uncovered a series of immune-related events that might contribute to the abnormal immune responses against the aquaporin-4 protein (AQP4), which drives neuroinflammation in cases of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). Among the implicated immune cell types are natural killer T-cells (NKT), which seem to be first…

Twice-daily ginseng tablets lessen fatigue in NMOSD: Study

Three months of ginseng tablets taken twice a day lessened fatigue in people with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), a placebo-controlled Phase 3 clinical trial found. Ginseng is a plant that has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years. “This study revealed positive effects of ginseng…

Severe attack, relapse rate predict poor azathioprine, MMF response

A severe attack or a higher annual relapse rate before starting azathioprine or mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) was associated with a poor response in people with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), a small study shows. An unsatisfactory response to either treatment, defined as a severe relapse or two or more…

FDA approves Ultomiris to treat adults with AQP4-related NMOSD

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Ultomiris (ravulizumab-cwvz) to treat adults with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) who are positive for antibodies against the aquaporin-4 (AQP4) protein. About 75% of people with NMOSD produce antibodies that bind to AQP4, according to the therapy’s developer, Alexion…