NMOSD

A new study suggests particulate matter exposure exacerbated the severity of multiple sclerosis and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder, with significant clinical and radiological impacts.

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is a rare autoimmune CNS condition with distinct subtypes—AQP4-IgG positive, MOGAD, and double-negative—each requiring tailored diagnostic and treatment approaches.

Patients who started therapy immediately after the initial attack had a relapse risk of just 11% at 2 years and 20% at 6 and 8 years, compared to much higher rates (41% at 2 years, 56% at 8 years) in those who delayed therapy until a second attack.

Ultimately, the biomarkers' temporal patterns may help differentiate attacks from remission, with sGFAP being particularly useful in distinguishing genuine attacks from pseudoattacks.

A recent multicenter study showed that dried blood spot testing for neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder provided high accuracy and practicality in resource-limited settings.

A new study revealed stark racial and socioeconomic disparities in pediatric neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder outcomes, underscoring the need for targeted interventions.

In a longitudinal study lasting 2 years, impaired test performance in semantic fluency and congruent speed were observed in patients with MOGAD relative to healthy controls.

The phase 1 study, which is currently recruiting, includes a 4-week screening period, a 52-week treatment period, and a 4-year long-term extension to continue to test the effects of HG202.

HNSA-5487 exhibited lower pre-treatment anti-drug antibody levels and reduced ADA responses compared to imlifidase, indicating a favorable immunogenicity profile and strong potential for redosing, with no serious adverse events observed.

For the majority of patients who were either aquaporin-4-antibody seropositive or seronegative, rituximab was the first disease-modifying therapy administered for neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder.

The analysis revealed a significant link between the proportion of AQP4 antibody-positive cases and a higher female-to-male sex ratio in NMOSD.

Patients with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein IgG-associated disease with severer attacks had higher C5b-9 levels than those with milder attacks.

Research indicated that up to 46% of patients diagnosed with presumed autoimmune limbic encephalitis tested negative for all currently identified central nervous system antigens.

Recent findings showed that treatment with satralizumab was likely associated with a reduction in the concomitant use of immunosuppressive therapies in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder.

The study highlights a dramatic decrease in income for patients following disease onset and a significantly higher proportion of them requiring social welfare jobs or disability pensions.

Most relapses occurred before patients resumed immunotherapy after giving birth, suggesting that continued immunosuppression during pregnancy might help prevent attacks.

The study found a 98% agreement between treating physicians’ initial diagnoses and the new MOGAD criteria.

Investigators found that in melanomas in particular, interleukin-6 blockade seems to be effective in the management of immune-related adverse events from immune checkpoint inhibitors.

LETM and AQP4-IgG seropositivity were strong predictors of spinal movement disorders, while MOG-IgG and African American race are protective factors.

The study highlights tocilizumab's potential benefits and safety, even during SARS-CoV-2 infection.

A recent study showed significant retinal damage in patients with double-antibody seronegative neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders following optic neuritis.

Benjamin Greenberg, MD, a pediatric neurologist at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, provided commentary on a recently initiated online program dedicated to empowering those affected by rare neuroimmune disorders.

A recent study identified limitations in the Expanded Disability Status Score scale's ability to capture full disability spectrum in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein-antibody-associated disease.

Intravenous methylprednisolone combined with plasma exchange/immunoadsorption achieved better and continuous improvement than IVMP alone

Patients treated with at least 12.5 mg/day of oral prednisone for at least 3 months had an 88% reduction in the risk of relapse compared with those who did not receive this regimen.

The professor of neurology at the University of Virginia talked about the improvement and areas of unmet need in the diagnosis and treatment for neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder. [WATCH TIME: 6 minutes]

The professor of neurology at Mayo Clinic talked about how MOG antibody-associated disease can be diagnosed through specific antibody tests, highlighting its distinct clinical and MRI features. [WATCH TIME: 4 minutes]

The associate professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School talked about results from a recent study that evaluated the efficacy of inebilizumab versus rituximab in treating NMOSD.

The associate professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School discussed how clinicians face the challenging decision with their patients in choosing between off-label and approved medications for NMOSD. [WATCH TIME: 4 minutes]

The associate professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School talked about findings from a recent case series of patients with NMOSD initially on rituximab who then switched to inebilizumab. [WATCH TIME: 4 minutes]