View clinical trials related to Neuromyelitis Optica.
Filter by:Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorders (NMOSD) is characterized by the pathogenic anti-AQP4 antibody, which can be produced by specific plasma cells. The patients who are not responsive to rituximab treatment may be due to the presence of short-lived and long-lived plasma cells. Previous studies confirmed that the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib (Velcade®, approved for therapy of multiple myeloma) eliminated both plasmablasts and plasma cells by activation of the terminal unfolded protein response. Treatment with bortezomib may help deplete plasma cells producing auto-antibodies. Therefore, the rationale for using bortezomib in NMOSD is in that bortezomib may help eliminate autoreactive plasma cells and reduce anti-AQP4 antibodies titers. It is noted that bortezomib may protect astrocytes from NFκB-dependent inflammatory damage in early events in NMOSD pathogenesis. The purpose of this study is to determine if the drug bortezomib contributes to reduce the average relapsing rates (ARRs) and alleviate neurological disability in NMOSD patients.
Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is an autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system. Patients have relapses (also known as attacks) which are often quite severe and leave them with significant disability. Without treatment, within 5 years 50% of NMO patients are blind in one or both eyes or require walking assistance (cane, walker or wheelchair). NMO has only been relatively recently described and is fairly rare. Most NMO patients' immune systems produce abnormal antibodies against aquaporin-4 (AQP4), which is found in certain cells in the central nervous system. When these AQP4 antibodies bind to AQP4, they trigger a cascade of events involving the immune system which eventually leads to damage to the nervous system. This ultimately leads to disability, some of which is permanent. Until now, treatments for NMO have been mostly focused on decreasing production of this AQP4 antibody. However, recent experiments in animal models of NMO have shown the importance of what happens inside the central nervous system after the antibody binds to the nervous system cell. Specifically, researchers have noted the importance of a specific cell type, eosinophils, in causing damage in NMO lesions. In a recent study, researchers showed they could prevent damage from NMO by blocking eosinophils using cetirizine, which is a popular over-the-counter allergy medicine. Cetirizine is already known to be safe and well-tolerated in the general population. In this study, the researchers plan to add cetirizine on to patients' current NMO treatment. The researchers aim to show that it is safe, well-tolerated, and that with cetirizine, NMO patients have less relapses and therefore less disability over the course of the year following initiation of treatment. The researchers also plan to study how cetirizine changes the immunological profile in NMO patients by examining blood and cerebrospinal fluid.
Devic's neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is rare. Epidemiological and demographic data are poor, based mainly on monocentric cohorts. Moreover, NMO might be difficult to distinguish from multiple sclerosis and begin with atypical or incomplete clinical presentations. Therefore, NMO is still underdiagnosed. The constitution of a nationwide and prospective cohort, including not only NMO but also clinical syndromes suggestive of a first episode (DNMO-spectrum disorders (SDs)), should allow to gather a critical mass of cases and answer questions that could not have been addressed at the level of a single centre. Objectives: The main objective is to describe the clinical, radiological and biological features of NMO spectrum disorder (NMO, isolated longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis (LETM), relapsing or not; isolated atypical optic neuritis (ON)) and their evolution. The second aim is to create a biobank dedicated to NMO (serum, whole blood for RNA and DNA extraction, cerebrospinal fluid), to promote translational research in the field. Methods: NOMADMUS is a prospective, multicentre, observational study of patients NMOSD and related disorder in France. Prevalent cases are included retrospectively and then followed prospectively. Incident cases are included from disease onset and followed prospectively. A minimal set of data has been defined and synthesized on specific paper forms derived from the European database for multiple sclerosis (EDMUS) forms. Patients are systematically tested regarding their AQP4-IgG and MOG-IgG status. All the data are centralised in a EDMUS-derived database in Lyon, the EDEN software. All cases are validated and classified by an expert committee.
First in human study to assess the tolerability and safety profile of treatment with dendritic cell in patients with multiple sclerosis or neuromyelitis optica.
Ublituximab (also known as LFB-R603) is a monoclonal antibody that specifically binds to the trans-membrane antigen CD20. The binding induces immune response that causes lysis of B cells. The rationale for using ublituximab in neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is based on the known roles of B cells, antibody production and plasma cells in the pathophysiology of NMO. NMO is characterized by the presence of an anti-Aquaporin-4 (AQP4) antibody, which can only be produced by differentiation of B cells to plasma cells. Because these anti-AQP4 antibodies may be pathogenic, B cells recognizing AQP4 may be directly involved in the disease process as well. B cells also play a role as potent antigen presenting cells in NMO. The strongest evidence of the importance of B cells in NMO comes from studies of B cell depletion, most commonly with anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, rituximab (Rituxan®). Rituximab has been shown in five retrospective and two prospective studies to be effective in reducing NMO relapses up to 90% and achieving remission in up to 80% of patients solely by its action on CD20+ B cells, despite no change in plasma cell population and anti-AQP4 antibody titers. These human trials strongly suggest a critical role for B cells in the pathophysiology of human disease. While typically used in the prevention of disease, B-cell depletion may be beneficial in the treatment of an acute relapse as well. Emerging evidence indicates that peripheral B cells are activated during a relapse and plasmablast production of anti-AQP4 antibodies spikes. B cells are also found within acute lesions of the spinal cord and optic nerve suggesting roles both in the blood and in the central nervous system during a relapse.
Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is a demyelinating and degenerative disorder of the central nervous system affecting vision and brain and spinal cord function which leads to accumulating disability with a 5 year-mortality of approximately 30%. Survivors are typically left with severe morbidity secondary to blindness, quadriparesis and respiratory failure. No agent has been found to be highly effective in halting disease activity.Based on recent outcomes of Multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells in autoimmune diseases including multiple sclerosis, and based on the mechanisms of neuromyelitis optica, the investigators anticipate that mesenchymal stem cells transplantation may provide lasting disease stability for neuromyelitis optica patients.
To compare the efficacy of inebilizumab (MEDI-551) versus placebo in reducing the risk of an neuromyelitis optica/neuromyelitis optica- spectrum disorders (NMO/NMOSD) attack in participants with NMO/NMOSD.
Transverse myelitis (TM) is an inflammatory disorder of the spinal cord that leads to disabilities of gait. Dalfampridine, a sustained-release potassium inhibitor has been shown to be effective in improving gait and other neurologic functions in multiple sclerosis. Dalfampridine has the potential to improve neurologic function in patients with transverse myelitis as this rare disorder shares a similar pathogenic process with multiple sclerosis. The in a clinical trial to test the efficacy of dalfampridine in TM. The clinical trial that the investigators propose to conduct will focus on TM and will evaluate the dalfampridine in primary neurologic outcome, 25-foot timed walk, and several secondary outcomes including valid behavioral and neurophysiological tests. This is a re-launch of the previous trial, which now includes additional behavioral and clinical testing.
The objectives of this study are to evaluate the efficacy, safety, pharmacodynamic, pharmacokinetic and immunogenic profiles of satralizumab in participants with NMO and NMOSD.
The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy, safety, pharmacodynamic, pharmacokinetic, and immunogenic profiles of satralizumab, compared with placebo, in addition to baseline immunosuppressive treatment in participants with NMO and NMOSD.