Anti-AQP4 antibody testing

An international team of researchers has identified three genetic variants significantly associated with higher odds of developing neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) with self-reactive antibodies against the AQP4 protein. The data also suggest that, in terms of genetic risk factors, AQP4-positive NMOSD is more similar to systemic autoimmune diseases…

For a rare group of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) patients who test negative for two self-reactive antibodies, being older than 32 at disease onset may increase the risk of relapses, a study found. In contrast, spinal cord involvement, with or without optic nerve inflammation, at disease onset was…

People with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) who are negative for typical disease-driving antibodies show several differences in clinical features compared with antibody-positive NMOSD patients, but responses to conventional treatments seem largely comparable, according to a new study. “Our findings support the utility of conventional [immune-suppressing treatments] in this…

People testing negative for self-reactive antibodies against aquaporin-4 (AQP4-IgGs) — the type of antibody most commonly linked to neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) — rarely become positive for these antibodies on subsequent tests. These are the findings of a real-world study in the U.S. involving 451 people suspected of…

Higher blood levels of the glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) are significantly associated with shrinkage in certain brain regions of people with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) who have antibodies against the AQP4 protein, a study showed. This association was not observed in people with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated…

People with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) who test positive for self-reactive antibodies against the aquaporin 4 (AQP4) protein are more likely to be women, and have an earlier disease onset and more relapses than those who test negative. That’s according a single-center study in Argentina that also showed…

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…

Early use of immunosuppressive therapy — when compared with a later treatment start — was associated with fewer relapses and reduced disability among neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) patients with self-reactive antibodies against the AQP4 protein, a study from China showed. The data demonstrated a time-dependent treatment efficacy, with…

Testing for the self-reactive antibodies that drive most cases of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) in dried blood spots (DBS) is as accurate as testing blood samples, a study shows. The findings suggest the dried blood spot technique could be a viable alternative to conventional blood sample testing for…