News

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…

A U.S.-based registry of adults with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) shows that most patients are receiving biologic therapies, either approved or not approved for NMOSD, in real-world care, according to a study of its first 350 participants. The registry, called SPHERES, has enrolled about half of…

BAT4406F, an experimental treatment in the pipeline of Bio-Thera Solutions, reduced the number of circulating immune B-cells that produce disease-causing antibodies in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), translating into less disability for a small group of Chinese patients. That’s according to data from a Phase 1 clinical…

Biologic immunosuppressants are more effective than conventional immunosuppressants for people with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMSOD) with self-reactive antibodies against the AQP4 protein. That’s according to real-world data from a Japanese study comparing biologic therapies — Soliris (eculizumab), Enspryng (satralizumab), Ultomiris (ravulizumab), Uplizna (inebilizumab), and…

Self-reactive antibodies linked to other autoimmune diseases are more common in people with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) than in those with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD), a related condition. In fact, the frequency of any other autoimmune disease was nearly six times higher in adults with NMOSD…

Shingles is caused by an infection of the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), but in rare cases, it may trigger neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), a new study reports. The study’s researchers said clinicians should look for possible signs of NMOSD in patients being treated for shingles, even though developing NMOSD…