Disease progression

The gut hormone GLP-1 may contribute to brain inflammation in people with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), leading to episodes of uncontrollable nausea, vomiting, or hiccups — a condition known as area postrema syndrome (APS), a new study suggests. These findings raise a crucial question about the use of…

The activity of an immune-regulating protein is significantly lower just before or during a relapse in people with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), a recent study has found. This discovery could lead to new ways to monitor disease activity and develop treatments. The protein, called the aryl hydrocarbon receptor…

People who develop neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) at 50 years or older are significantly more likely to experience worse recovery from relapses and faster disability progression than those with early-onset disease, a study in Germany showed. These increased risks were seen despite comparable relapse rates, more intensive relapse…

Smoking is associated with a significantly higher risk of residual disability from onset attack in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) patients with antibodies against the AQP4 protein, a new study showed. Similar results were seen for the presence of nonsmoking vascular risk factors (VRF) such as high blood pressure,…

Starting off-label treatment with tocilizumab after the first disease attack in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is more effective at reducing disability than switching to tocilizumab after other therapies fail to control the disease, a study shows. Still, the risk of relapse over three years remained the same regardless…

Regular maintenance treatment with low-dose rituximab is associated with less disability and fewer relapses among people with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) compared with receiving irregular doses of the preventive therapy, according to a two-year real-world study in China. “Regular [rituximab] treatment can significantly reduce the annual relapse rate, incidence…

Blood levels of markers of brain cell damage may be used to distinguish between attack and remission periods in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) patients, but analysis of these blood biomarkers should be done at specific times to get the best accuracy. Those are the findings from a study…

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…

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…

Children with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) who live in disadvantaged socioeconomic neighborhoods are more likely to have more severe disease-related disabilities, a study in the U.S. indicates. Two years after a diagnosis, Black pediatric patients had significantly more severe disability, as assessed with the standard Expanded Disability Status…