A 5-Year Follow-up of Rituximab Treatment in Patients With Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder

Abstract

Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is an autoimmune inflammatory disease of the central nervous system characterized by severe attacks of optic neuritis and longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis. Recently, the demonstration of a pathogenic role for the anti–aquaporin 4 (AQP4) antibody in NMO has marked a major advance in the understanding of the disease.¹ The critical role of B cells in the pathogenesis of NMO previously has been suggested by an association with the anti-AQP4 antibody.²