title: Treatment of Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder: Acute, Preventive, and Symptomatic.
abstract: Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is a rare, autoimmune disease of the central nervous system that primarily attacks the optic nerves and spinal cord leading to blindness and paralysis. The spectrum of the disease has expanded based on the specificity of the autoimmune response to the aquaporin-4 water channel on astrocytes. With wider recognition of NMOSD, a standard of care for treatment of this condition has condition based on a growing series of retrospective and prospective studies. This review covers the present state of the field in the treatment of acute relapses, preventive approaches, and therapies for symptoms of NMOSD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 N. Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA.
authors.forename: Remi A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Kessler
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 N. Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA.
authors.forename: Maureen A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Mealy
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 N. Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA. mlevy@jhmi.edu.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Levy
keywords: Azathioprine; Eculizumab; Immunosuppression; Mycophenolate; Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder; Rituximab