Variable results after rituximab in neuromyelitis optica. Lindsey JW, Meulmester KM, Brod SA, Nelson F, Wolinsky JS. Abstract Our objective was to assess the efficacy of rituximab (RTX) in neuromyelitis optica (NMO)
Overview Management of voiding dysfunction in neurologic disorders can substantially improve the quality of life as well as the health of patients. A systematic review of the pattern of voiding dysfunction leads to an understanding of the underlying mechanism, which, in turn, allows the treating physician to develop a strategy for managing it. Neurourology, although a relatively new field of study, has revolutionized the management of a vexing problem that affects millions of patients.
Dujmovic I, Mader S, Schanda K, Deisenhammer F, Stojsavljevic N, Kostic J, Berger T, Drulovic J, Reindl M? Temporal dynamics of cerebrospinal fluid anti-aquaporin-4 antibodies in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders. [JOURNAL ARTICLE] J Neuroimmunol 2011?Feb?10. Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) are associated with anti-aquaporin-4 autoantibodies (AQP4-IgG).
The availability of natalizumab for the treatment of multiple sclerosis has revolutionised the practice of neurology in at least one salient way: we now spend much more time thinking about progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). The reasons for this increased attention are not difficult to identify
Background: Antibodies to aquaporin-4 (AQP4-Ab), known as NMO-IgG, are a sensitive and specific marker for neuromyelitis optica (NMO).
Objective: To study antibody-independent contributions of B cells to inflammatory disease activity, and the immune consequences of B-cell depletion with rituximab, in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).Methods: B-Cell effector-cytokine responses were compared between MS patients and matched controls using a 3-signal model of activation. The effects of B-cell depletion on Th1/Th17 CD4 and CD8 T-cell responses in MS patients were assessed both ex vivo and in vivo, together with pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic studies as part of 2 rituximab clinical trials in relapsing–remitting MS.Results: B Cells of MS patients exhibited aberrant proinflammatory cytokine responses, including increased lymphotoxin (LT):interleukin-10 ratios and exaggerated LT and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) secretion, when activated in the context of the pathogen-associated TLR9-ligand CpG-DNA, or the Th1 cytokine interferon-y, respectively
The detection of aquaporin-4 (AQP4) antibodies in neuromyelitis optica (NMO) led to a breakthrough in diagnosing NMO. To date, different assays to detect these antibodies are available.
Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is a severe inflammatory CNS disorder of putative autoimmune aetiology, which predominantly affects the spinal cord and optic nerves. Recently, a highly specific serum reactivity to CNS microvessels, subpia and Virchow–Robin spaces was described in patients with NMO [called NMO–IgG (NMO–immunoglobulin G)]
PURPOSE: Recent immunopathologic and MRI findings suggest that tissue damage in neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is not limited to spinal cord and optic nerve, but also in brain.
OBJECTIVE: Resting-state brain activity in neuromyelitis optica (NMO) patients can give clues to the pathophysiology of the disorder, and may be helpful in diagnosis; however, it has been less explored using functional MRI (fMRI). In the current study, we used a regional homogeneity (ReHo) method to investigate NMO-related modulations of neural activity in the resting state. METHODS: Resting-state fMRIs acquired in 17 NMO patients as well as in 17 age- and sex-matched normal controls were compared.