References: 1. Piatek P, Domowicz M, Lewkowicz N, et al. C5a-preactivated neutrophils are critical for autoimmune-induced astrocyte dysregulation in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder. Front Immunol. 2018;9:1694. 2. Chamberlain JL, Huda S, Whittam DH, Matiello M, Morgan BP, Jacob A. Role of complement and potential of complement inhibitors in myasthenia gravis and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders: a brief review. J Neurol. 2021;268(5):1643-1664. 3. Jarius S, Ruprecht K, Wildemann B, et al. Contrasting disease patterns in seropositive and seronegative neuromyelitis optica: a multicentre study of 175 patients. J Neuroinflammation. 2012;9:14. 4. Mealy MA, Kessler RA, Rimler Z, et al. Mortality in neuromyelitis optica is strongly associated with African ancestry. Neurol Neuroimmunol Neuroinflamm. 2018;5(4):e468. 5. Kitley J, Leite MI, Nakashima I, et al. Prognostic factors and disease course in aquaporin-4 antibody-positive patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder from the United Kingdom and Japan. Brain. 2012;135(pt 6):1834-1849. 6. Wingerchuk DM, Zhang I, Kielhorn A, et al. Network meta-analysis of Food and Drug Administration-approved treatment options for adults with aquaporin-4 immunoglobulin G-positive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder. Neurol Ther. 2022;11(1):123-135.
In AQP4-IgG+ NMOSD,
Attacks destroy astrocytes and may be shattering to patients1-4
Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system in which recurrent relapses* can result in cumulative disability, potentially including blindness, paralysis, and, less frequently, premature death.1,2,5
AQP4-IgG+, aquaporin-4 immunoglobulin G positive.
This is a hypothetical patient.
NMOSD PATHOPHYSIOLOGY*The terms “attack” and “relapse” are used interchangeably.