Page 52 - Read Online

Zhang et al. Neuroimmunol Neuroinflammation 2019;6:8 Neuroimmunology and
DOI: 10.20517/2347-8659.2019.06 Neuroinflammation

Review Open Access

Current immunotherapies for multiple sclerosis
and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders: the
similarities and differences

Lu Zhang , Jing-Yuan Tian , Bin Li 1,2
1
1
1 Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050000, Hebei, China.
2 Key Laboratory of Hebei Neurology, Shijiazhuang 050000, Hebei, China.

Correspondence to: Dr. Bin Li, Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Key Laboratory of Hebei
Neurology, Shijiazhuang 050000, Hebei, China. E-mail: jack511@163.com

How to cite this article: Zhang L, Tian JY, Li B. Current immunotherapies for multiple sclerosis and neuromyelitis optica spectrum
disorders: the similarities and differences. Neuroimmunol Neuroinflammation 2019;6:8.
http://dx.doi.org/10.20517/2347-8659.2019.06

Received: 13 Feb 2019 First Decision: 12 Mar 2019 Revised: 8 Apr 2019 Accepted: 15 Apr 2019 Published: 16 May 2019
Science Editor: Athanassios P. Kyritsis Copy Editor: Cai-Hong Wang Production Editor: Huan-Liang Wu

Abstract
Multiple sclerosis (MS) and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) are autoimmune demyelinating diseases
of the central nervous system. Neuromyelitis optica was considered a variant of MS until the discovery of NMO-IgG in
2004, which changed our understanding of the pathophysiology of NMOSD. This review focuses on the similarities and
differences in the immune treatments of MS and NMOSD.

Keywords: Multiple sclerosis, neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders, pathophysiology, treatment, disease-modifying drugs

INTRODUCTION
Multiple sclerosis (MS) and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) are chronic immune-
mediated demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) with distinct immunological and
[1-3]
pathological features . MS is common in Western countries (incidence, > 100 per 100,000 in the European
and North American populations), where it is the most common non-traumatic disabling disease among
[4]
young people. However, MS is not common in Asia (incidence, 0-20 per 100,000 in Asian populations) .
[5]
Interestingly, the farther away one goes from the equator, the higher is the prevalence of MS . MS generally
progresses from a period of relapses and remissions to progressive disability. The pathogenetic mechanism

© The Author(s) 2019. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use,
sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, for any purpose, even commercially, as long
as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license,
and indicate if changes were made.

www.nnjournal.net