Comparison of Relapse and Treatment Failure Rates Among Patients With Neuromyelitis Optica: Multicenter Study of Treatment Efficacy

摘要: Importance Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is an inflammatory disease of the optic nerves and spinal cord that leads to blindness paralysis. Effective immunosuppression standard care for relapse prevention. Objective To compare treatment failure rates among patients receiving 3 most common forms NMO: azathioprine, mycophenolate mofetil, rituximab. Design, Setting, Participants We performed a retrospective, multicenter analysis relapses in 90 with NMO spectrum disorder treated mycophenolate, and/or rituximab at Mayo Clinic Johns Hopkins Hospital during past 10 years. Main Outcome Measure Annualized rates. Results Rituximab reduced rate up 88.2%, 2 achieving complete remission. Mycophenolate by 87.4%, 36% rate. Azathioprine 72.1% but had 53% despite concurrent use prednisone. Conclusions Relevance Initial rituximab, and, lesser degree, azathioprine significantly reduces patients. Patients whom initial fails often achieve remission when switched from one another these drugs.