Myasthenia gravis (MG) and achalasia could coexist at the same time, according to a study recently published in the Egyptian Journal of Neurology, Psychiatry and Neurosurgery. “In addition, it has raised neurologists’ knowledge and awareness of achalasia in patients of MG complaining of recurrent vomiting and dysphagia resistant to standard therapy, which includes thymectomy and rapid…
Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) appears to be associated with worse outcomes than myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD), regardless of ethnicity, in the Latin American population, according to a recently published study in Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders. Although there are different pathological mechanisms involved in NMOSD and MOGAD, the former being astrocytopathy and…
A 7-day delay in methylprednisolone administration in patients with optic neuritis due to neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), multiple sclerosis (MS), or double-seronegative optic neuritis (DN-ON) significantly decreases the odds of gaining visual recovery, according to a recently published study in Vision. Optic neuritis can be caused by several diseases, including NMOSD, MS, and DN-ON.…
Decrements in oculomotor ranges after repeated saccadic and pursuit movements may be a sensitive and specific tool for the diagnosis of myasthenia gravis (MG), according to a study published in the Journal of Neurology. Quantitative analysis of saccadic and smooth pursuit fatigability using video-oculography (VOG) was able to distinguish between patients with MG and healthy…
Patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) that have an onset of the condition at a younger age, polysystem involvement in the first attack, and increased or unchanged titer of aquaporin-4 (AQP4-IgG) are most likely to experience relapse under treatment with immunosuppressants, a study found. The study suggested a higher efficacy treatment than immunosuppressants might…
Patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) are commonly misdiagnosed, leading to delays in treatment initiation, according to an international study published in Neurology and Therapy. The study, which analyzed clinical records from the United States, Germany, Italy, Brazil, South Korea, and China, found that roughly 25% of aquaporin-4 (AQP4) immunoglobulin G (IgG)-seropositive adults with…
Inebilizumab-cdon (Uplizna®) could be effective for treating neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) without carrying major consequences regarding immune function against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), according to a news release from Horizon Therapeutics. “Patients treated with Uplizna appear to not be more susceptible to COVID-19 infections or to develop waning immunity from prior vaccinations due to…
Vaccination significantly reduces the rate of hospitalization and death due to COVID-19 in patients with myasthenia gravis, according to a new study published in the journal Muscle and Nerve. This study adds to the existing evidence of the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination in these patients and further supports their use. There is little…
Using 1 gram rituximab as maintenance therapy for inflammatory neurologic conditions such as neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) and multiple sclerosis (MS) appears to be effective maintenance therapy. In contrast, 2 grams seem excessive, according to a recently published study in Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders. Several studies have widely established the efficacy of rituximab…
There are differences related to age and thymoma among patients with myasthenia gravis in terms of aberrant plasmacytoid and conventional dendritic cell distribution, according to a new study published in Neuroimmunomodulation. These differences could contribute to impaired immune tolerance and lead to the onset of the disease, the authors of the study said. To identify…
