News

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…

A significant proportion of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) patients in the U.S. lost employment, work hours, and wages after their diagnosis, as motor and visual disability and symptoms like pain and fatigue hurt their productivity, a study has found. Older patients, those using mobility aids, and those…

People with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) who have experienced only one relapse tend to underestimate their risk of future relapses, but patients who’ve had multiple relapses tend to overestimate this risk, a small study has found. The findings underscore the importance of clear communication with healthcare providers so…

Under normal circumstances, immune B-cells train T-cells, another type of immune cell, on which targets not to attack, preventing the development of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), according to a study in mice. This training occurs in the thymus gland, a small organ behind the breastbone that works as…

March 1 kicks off NMOSD Awareness Month, which aims every year to shed light on the experiences of people living with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). The Sumaira Foundation (TSF) has led the month-long advocacy initiative in the U.S. since 2016, promoting efforts to spread knowledge about the…

People with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) are at an increased risk of being diagnosed with another autoimmune disease — specifically lupus or Sjögren’s syndrome — according to a large-scale analysis of inpatient hospitalization data in the U.S. In fact, NMOSD patients had a 12 times higher…

Two blood markers — neurofilament light chain (NfL) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) — provide complementary clinical information about neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), a review study highlights. “Based on the results of several studies, both NfL and GFAP are considered to have their own strengths as clinical…

A new study of disease prevalence estimates that about 22,000 people in the U.S. were living with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) in 2022. The findings also suggest that the progressive autoimmune disease is most common in Black women, as compared with other U.S. demographics. For Asian American women,…

People who develop neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) at an older age are more likely to experience spinal cord inflammation and less likely to have eye nerve involvement, not only in the first attack but also in subsequent relapses, a study has found. In addition, data show “different relapse…

Tocilizumab, an anti-inflammatory medication used off-label for neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), can help prevent relapses (flare-ups) and ease disability while being generally safe, according to a meta-analysis. The study, “Tocilizumab treatment in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders: Updated meta-analysis of efficacy and safety,” was published in the journal…