azathioprine

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…

5 Years on Immunosuppressants May Reduce NMOSD Relapse Risk by 50%

Longer-term treatment with immunosuppressants may halve the risk of relapse, or of symptoms returning, in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), a study in China found. When taken non-stop for up to five years, such treatment reduced the risk of relapse in NMOSD patients, with a mild rebound when immunosuppressants…

Study: Rituximab Better Than MMF, Azathioprine in Preventing Relapses

Rituximab worked better than other treatments at preventing relapses in people with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) who have antibodies against aquaporin-4 (AQP-4), according to a recent Chinese report. As a first-line therapy for the autoimmune disease, Rituximab outperformed both azathioprine and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) in relapse prevention, the…

Analysis: First-line Rituximab Better Than MMF at Preventing Relapses

Rituximab may be a more effective immunosuppressive therapy for preventing a first relapse in people with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) than mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), a new meta-analysis found. The anti-CD20 antibody rituximab, commonly used off-label in NMOSD, also appears to work better than azathioprine, though the results failed…