Active clinical trials for "Neuromyelitis Optica"

The overall objective is to evaluate the tolerability/safety and preliminary efficacy of CINRYZE® (C1 esterase inhibitor [human]) as add-on therapy for treatment of acute optic neuritis and/or transverse myelitis in NMO and NMOSD. Primary Objective: To evaluate the safety and tolerability of 3-5 doses of 1000 - 2000 Units intravenous CINRYZE in NMO/NMOSD patients during an acute exacerbation. Secondary Objectives: To determine the frequency of adverse events with CINRYZE in this patient population. To determine the effect of CINRYZE on NMO clinical scores (Expanded Disability Status Scale and Low Contrast Visual Acuity). To compare the change in MRI lesion size and extent following a course of CINRYZE.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether eculizumab long-term use is safe and effective in patients with relapsing NMO.

To establish a large, longitudinal collection of high quality samples and data from subjects with MS, selected other demyelinating diseases (Transverse Myelitis (TM), Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO) or Devic's, Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis (ADEM), and Optic Neuritis (ON)), and related and unrelated unaffected controls. Samples and data will be available as a shared resource to scientists researching the causes, sub-types, and biomarkers of MS and related demyelinating diseases.

This study is designed to treat your disease with an autologous stem cell transplant using a regimen of immune suppressant drugs and chemotherapy to reset your immune system and to determine if your disease will go into long-term remission.

CAR-T therapy was proposed and has been recently used for cancer treatment. It has been hailed for its promising remission rates after early stage clinical trials for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. However, CAR-T therapy is seldom used for autoimmune diseases. Researchers only use it for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD), that include the neuromyelitis optica (NMO), are a group of inflammatory disorders of the central nervous system characterized by episodes of immune-mediated demyelination and axonal damage mainly involving optic nerves and spinal cord. 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. NMO has the characteristics of high recurrence rate and poor prognosis. In the conventional treatment options, NMOSD could be treated with corticosteroids and immunosuppressive drugs immunosuppressant (e.g. azathioprine, mycophenolate mofetil, rituximab). But these drugs could barely completely cure NMOSD. And now, chimeric antigen receptor modified T cell infusion maybe an effective treatment to solve these problems. The rationale for using CAR-T therapy in NMOSD is based on the known roles of B cells, antibody production and plasma cells in the pathophysiology of NMOSD. 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. Emerging evidence indicates that peripheral B cells are activated during a relapse and plasmablast production of anti-AQP4 antibodies spikes. The investigators infuse tanCART19/20 to completely deplete B cells. The purpose of this study is to assess the safety and efficacy of this tanCART19/20 in the treatment of NMOSD.

Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO) is a rare, devastating demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS) that has different causes and treatments from the more common demyelinating disease multiple sclerosis (MS). Current NMO therapies are nonspecific and have varying and often suboptimal benefit. The investigators will evaluate whether use of alpha1-antitrypsin (A1AT, an FDA-approved medication for patients with congenital deficiency of A1AT associated with emphysema) can benefit acute attacks of NMO, improving patient disability and quality of life.

This is both a prospective and retrospective study of patients with a known diagnosis of optic neuritis (ON) only, multiple sclerosis (MS) with ON, or neuromyelitis spectrum disorder (NMOSD) with ON. There will be no requirement for blinding (patient or assessor) and data collected with the Reflex app will be compared against other data that track optic nerve functional status, such as optical coherence tomography (OCT), visual fields (VF), low-contrast sensitivity, MRI orbits/brain and visual evoked potentials (VEP). Patients who have any diagnosis of ON, with or without a diagnosis of MS or NMOSD and who have had testing using other modalities such as VEPs, VF, low-contrast sensitivity studies, OCT, and MRI of brain or orbits will be included as retrospective subjects in the study. In this cohort, RAPD assessments will be completed and compared to against the data that has accrued as noted.

Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is an autoimmune inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system that leads to blindness and paralysis. Since disability accrues incrementally related to attacks, attack prevention with immunosuppressive therapy is the mainstay of preventing disability. However, there is no standard immunosuppressive treatment strategy for NMO relapse prevention. In a previous study, the investigators provided evidence supporting the use of azathioprine plus a low dose corticosteroid as an effective strategy which is associated with a reduction in the risk of relapse in Chinese patients with NMO, but azathioprine has bone marrow suppression and other side effects. Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is a new immunosuppressant with rapid onset, fewer side effects and other advantages. In recent years, MMF has been used in different immune-related neurological diseases; some literature shown the possible efficacy of MMF in NMO treatment. In this research, a multi-center (Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Centre of Sun Yat-sen University, Nangfang Hospital of Southern Medical University) study will carry out to evaluate the efficacy and safety of mycophenolate mofetil therapy in NMO spectrum disorders.

The treatment protocol consisted of 12 mg/m2 MITO intravenous infusions every 3 months for 2 years. Dosage was adjusted according to side effects. Neurological assessment including the determination of the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score and ophthalmologic evaluations were performed every 3 months and during relapses. Flow cytometric analysis, brain and spinal cord MRI was performed at baseline, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months.

OBJECTIVES: I. Evaluate the effectiveness of plasma exchange in the treatment of acute severe attacks of inflammatory demyelinating disease in patients who have failed intravenous steroid therapy.