NMOSD

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…

Lesion resolution may distinguish NMOSD, MOGAD, MS in children

Brain and spinal cord lesions resolve less often in children with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) than with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody disease (MOGAD), a related disorder, according to a small study. No significant differences in resolving lesions were seen between children with NMOSD and those with multiple…

SPHERES registry to now include NMOSD patients’ biological samples

SPHERES, a real-world registry for neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), is now collecting biological samples from consenting participants. Launched by CorEvitas and the Guthy-Jackson Charitable Foundation (GJCF) in 2021, the registry had been collecting long-term clinical data, but not biological samples. “The launch of this biospecimen…