NMOSD

Shingles may be rare trigger for developing NMOSD: Case report

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…

Disability assessment tool specific to NMOSD is needed: Study

People with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) who test positive for NMOSD-driving self-reactive antibodies against the AQP4 protein and Black patients are significantly more likely to have worse disability related to vision. These are the findings of a North American study that analyzed patient data with NMOSD-specific disability scales…

Low socioeconomic status tied to worse pediatric NMOSD outcomes

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…

Living with NMOSD has made me feel like a double agent

Having a rare disease such as neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), especially when it’s an invisible disease, is like being a double agent. While some people in my life know about my health challenges, I don’t broadcast them to everyone. In such cases, withholding my NMOSD thus becomes a…

Spinal cord attacks predict worse disability in NMOSD, MOGAD

Experiencing attacks marked by transverse myelitis, or spinal cord inflammation, significantly increases the chance of worse disability in people with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) patients and the related condition myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD). Those are the findings of a study analyzing data from a Portuguese national…

Maintenance rituximab treatment lowers NMOSD relapse frequency

Maintenance treatment with rituximab significantly reduced the number of relapses per year in people with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), and it remained effective after patients experienced relapses, according to a study from China. Relapses more frequently occurred within the first year after rituximab initiation, and their frequency decreased…

Area postrema syndrome at NMOSD onset tied to relapse risk

People having area postrema syndrome (APS), that is, uncontrollable nausea, vomiting, or hiccups, as the first symptom of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) are more likely to relapse sooner and more frequently than those having another first symptom. These are the main findings of a single-center study that retrospectively…

ECTRIMS 2023: NMOSD disability progresses faster than in MOGAD

People with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) experience faster disability progression with fewer attacks than those with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD), a related condition, according to a long-term analysis of German registry data. Notably, in all patients, experiencing inflammation in the optic nerve, which transmits signals between…

NMOSD could underlie neurological symptoms in lupus: Study

Certain neurological symptoms of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) occur at higher rates in patients who also have systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), according to a recent review study. Features of NMOSD, including longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis — a type of spinal cord inflammation — and involvement of certain…