News

‘Double-positive’ NMOSD patient safely treated with ofatumumab

A rare case of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) in a patient positive for antibodies against both aquaporin-4 (AQP4) protein and the myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) was successfully treated with ofatumumab, a B-cell depleting medication approved for multiple sclerosis (MS), a case study reported. According to its researchers, this case represents…

NLR immune cell ratio may be NMOSD inflammation biomarker

People with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) have a significantly higher neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), an immune cell-based marker of inflammation, than healthy people, a review study showed. A higher NLR ratio was also significantly associated with a greater chance of relapse, severe disability, and new or enlarging lesions on…

Blood Proteins May Be Biomarkers for Diagnosis in Early NMOSD

Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and the ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCHL1) enzyme appear to get shed into the bloodstream in the early stages of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), a study found — suggesting that these blood proteins may one day be used to diagnose the autoimmune disease…

NMOSD, MOGAD Medical Care Maintained in COVID-19 Pandemic

Access to care and the use of healthcare services during the COVID-19 pandemic were generally kept up in people affiliated with specialized centers in Germany and Austria who had neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody disease (MOGAD), a study showed. Moreover, “patients’ satisfaction with medical…

Increase in Double-stranded DNA Found in NMOSD Brain Fluid

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…

Treatment Changes More Common in NMOSD Patients with Relapses

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…