Review of Satralizumab for Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder: A New Biologic Agent Targeting the Interleukin-6 Receptor

Currently, three monoclonal antibodies (MABs) have received regulatory approval from the federal agency, the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA), for the medical management of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). Satralizumab was the third approved therapy after MABs like eculizumab and inebilizumab for NMOSD, an uncommon but severe enfeebling autoimmune neurological disease. Satralizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody, exerts its action in NMOSD by acting against cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6), a foremost mediator in the pathological process of NMOSD. Two pivotal clinical trials carried out in NMOSD patients had established that satralizumab significantly decreased the rate of relapse in patients suffering from NMOSD as opposed to placebo. The trials also demonstrated that satralizumab is relatively safe. Thus, satralizumab provides an efficacious and safe treatment option for this rare, disabling central nervous system (CNS) disease. Our review aimed to elucidate the pharmacological characteristics of satralizumab and illustrate the available evidence regarding its safety and efficacy in patients with NMOSD.

Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder: A Rare Case of Transverse Myelitis and Autonomic Dysfunction

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is a demyelinating central nervous system disease commonly presenting with optic neuritis and transverse myelitis. Its pathology is mediated by serum aquaporin 4 immunoglobulin G (AQP4-IgG) and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) antibodies. It can present in a relapsing and monophasic pattern and is diagnosed using the diagnostic criteria published in 2015 by the international panel on neuromyelitis optica (NMO) diagnosis. We describe the case of a 25-year-old man who had a history of painful eye movement and complete loss of vision affecting his left eye for which he was diagnosed with optic neuritis two months prior to presentation. The patient presented with transverse myelitis followed by a picture of autonomic dysfunction in the form of labile blood pressure and heart rate readings associated with profuse sweating as well as significant MRI findings. Neuromyelitis optica was diagnosed with positive AQP4-IgG and longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis. Treatment was initiated with pulse steroid and plasmapheresis followed by oral prednisolone and azathioprine following which the patient's condition stabilized.

A Case With New-Onset Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder Following COVID-19 mRNA BNT162b2 Vaccination

INTRODUCTION

In the midst of the coronavirus disease of 2019 pandemic, active immunization by effective vaccination gained utmost importance in terms of global health. The messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines are novel strategies requiring clinical surveillance for adverse events.

CASE REPORT

We report a 43-year-old previously healthy female with an optic neuritis attack 24 hours following immunization with the second dose of coronavirus disease of 2019 mRNA BNT162b2 vaccine. A second transverse myelitis attack together with an elevated anti-AQP-4 antibody titer confirmed the diagnosis of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder.

CONCLUSION

Our case identifies the BNT162b2 vaccine as a possible trigger for neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder. This rare and potentially coincidental event has no implications for vaccine administration practices. However, further research is needed to elucidate the effects of mRNA vaccines on humoral and cell-mediated immunity.

Recurrence of COVID-19 in a Patient With NMO Spectrum Disorder While Treating With Rituximab: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

INTRODUCTION

In the context of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) are vulnerable to develop COVID-19 due to the immunosuppressive therapy. The objective of this study is to describe a known case of NMOSD on rituximab who experienced 2 episodes of COVID-19.

CASE REPORT

A 25-year-old woman, a known case of NMOSD on rituximab was diagnosed with asymptomatic COVID-19. Eight months later, following her last infusion of rituximab, she developed moderate COVID-19. After a partial recovery, she exhibited exacerbation of respiratory symptoms leading to readmission and invasive oxygenation. She was eventually discharged home after 31 days. Her monthly neurological evaluation did not reveal evidence of disease activity. She later received intravenous immunoglobulin and the decision was made to start rituximab again.

CONCLUSIONS

Our case raises the possibility of persistent virus shedding and reactivation of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 in a patient with NMOSD and rituximab therapy. We aimed to emphasize a precise consideration of management of patients with NMOSD during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Neuromyelitis Optica in a Healthy Female After Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 mRNA-1273 Vaccine

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder is an autoimmune demyelinating disease with high relative prevalence in the East Asian population. Clinical manifestations include optic neuritis, longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis, area postrema syndrome, brainstem syndromes, and diencephalic syndromes. In this case report, we present a case of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder that developed 10 days after the first dose of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 mRNA-1273 vaccine. The patient was a previously healthy White female, completely independent and functional at baseline. She presented with bilateral lower-extremity numbness/tingling, weakness, and urinary retention. Although her neuromyelitis optica IgG was negative, the MRI was consistent with neuromyelitis optica involving and spanning longitudinally the C6-T2 vertebrae. She was treated with IV steroids and her symptoms improved. Given the novelty of the COVID-19 vaccines and the paucity of literature regarding their adverse effects, case reports such as ours provide unique information that aids healthcare providers in accurately diagnosing and treating patients, ultimately minimizing long-term neurologic deficits.

Longitudinally Extensive Transverse Myelitis: A Retrospective Study Differentiating Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder From Other Etiologies

Background Longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis (LETM) is characterized by contiguous immune-mediated inflammatory lesion of the spinal cord extending more than three vertebral segments. Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is the most common and important cause of LETM. This study aims to evaluate the demographic profile, clinical presentations, neuroimaging features, laboratory parameters, and etiologies of LETM and differentiates NMOSD from other etiologies of LETM. Methodology This retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Neurology, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal. After receiving clearance from the ethical committee, a retrospective chart review was conducted and records of all the inpatient LETM cases admitted from March 2018 to June 2020 were obtained. From the patient records, the following information was extracted: the demographic profile, clinical presentations, neuroimaging features, cerebrospinal fluid analysis, serum anti-aquaporin-4 (AQP4) immunoglobulin G status, hemogram, infectious disease profile, inflammatory markers, and auto-immune panels. Descriptive analysis of data was performed with SPSS statistics 23.0 version (IBM Corp, Armonk, NY, USA). Results In our study, the mean age of LETM patients was 36.58 years, and 12 out of 19 (63.15%) patients were young, with an age less than 40 years. A total of 13 (68.40%) patients were male, with a male-to-female ratio of 2.16. Seven (36.80%) patients had a clinical diagnosis of NMOSD with anti-AQP4 antibody-positive status, four (21.10%) had unknown etiology, three (15.8%) had post-infectious transverse myelitis, and three (15.80%) had a diagnosis of idiopathic transverse myelitis. There was a single case (5.30%) of cervical spondylotic myelopathy and leukemic transverse myelitis each. The common presenting symptoms of LETM were bladder dysfunction, paraparesis, quadriparesis, and visual impairment. Visual involvement, either unilateral or bilateral, was common in NMOSD and LETM of unknown etiology category. Similarly, brain lesion was common in patients with NMOSD and LETM of unknown etiology category. Conclusion LETM is a heterogeneous disorder with diverse etiologies and clinical presentations. NMOSD is an important cause of LETM that predominantly affects females. Optic neuritis can be seen in LETM of various etiologies, but it is more common in anti-AQP4-positive NMOSD patients. Brain lesions in LETM are common in anti-AQP4-positive NMOSD.

Optic Perineuritis in Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder

Optic perineuritis (OPN) involvement in demyelinating disease is rarely encountered. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of bilateral OPN associated with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). We present a case of a healthy young gentleman who presented with OPN, initially presumed to have a young stroke but later diagnosed to be NMOSD. Early neuroimaging is essential to help distinguish optic neuritis (ON), and prolonged treatment of systemic immunosuppression is the mainstay of treatment.

A case report of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder with peripheral neuropathy as the first episode

RATIONALE

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSDs) represent recurrent autoimmune diseases, generally beginning with optic nerve neuritis or acute transverse myelitis.

PATIENT CONCERNS

A 57-year-old male with long-term alcohol intake was hospitalized because of limb numbness. EMG examination showed the peripheral sensory nerve was in demyelination and an axonal injury was found. His symptoms could not be improved by vitamin B injection but were later significantly attenuated by dexamethasone treatment. Four months later, symptoms of optic neuritis in the left eye appeared, and 6 months later he exhibited peripheral neuropathy with acute myelitis.

DIAGNOSES

He was diagnosed NMOSD.

OUTCOMES

Immunotherapy improved his peripheral neuropathy and myelitis symptoms.

LESSONS

NMOSD patients could represent peripheral neuropathy as the first episode.

Comprehensive analysis of patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) combined with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection and seropositive for anti-aquaporin-4 antibody

Previous research indicated the association between hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection/vaccination and the onset of demyelinating diseases. However, most of these studies were single case reports, and comprehensive data are still scarce. Here we present a comprehensive analysis of 10 patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) combined with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection and seropositive for anti-aquaporin-4 antibody (AQP4-Ab). Demographic, clinical, laboratory, neuroimaging, outcome, and follow-up data of the 10 patients were retrospectively analyzed. The median age at the onset of NMOSD was 35 years (range 25-43). Nine patients were female (90%). All patients were positive for HBsAg and had been diagnosed with CHB earlier than with NMOSD. One patient had an autoimmune disease. All patients had normal thyroid function. Paresthesia and visual impairment were the most common clinical symptoms. The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) parameters (protein and glucose) were normal in 10 cases, whereas slightly higher CSF white blood cell count was detected in 3 patients. The brain and spinal cord magnetic resonance imaging findings were abnormal in 8 patients. All patients were treated with hormone and immunosuppressive therapy, and anti-HBV agents. Patients with detectable serum HBV DNA were more prone to liver damage after receiving high doses of corticosteroids. In 8 patients, the symptoms improved before they were discharged. Two patients with optic neuritis (ON) maintained the symptoms. A month later, 1/8 patient had recurrence of symptoms, and one ON patient progressed to NMO. Overall, the characteristics of NMOSD patients with CHB and seropositive for AQP4-Ab are usually nonspecific. Abnormal liver function test results in NMOSD patients should be a warning of possible CHB infection, and the treatment should be modified accordingly.

Gaze palsy, hypogeusia and a probable association with miscarriage of pregnancy--the expanding clinical spectrum of non-opticospinal neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders: a case report

BACKGROUND

Neuromyelitis optica is characterised by optic neuritis, longitudinally-extensive transverse myelitis and presence of anti-aquaporin-4 antibodies in the serum. However, non-opticospinal central nervous system manifestations have been increasingly recognised. Awareness of the widening clinical spectrum of neuromyelitis optica (unified within the nosology of 'neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders') is key to earlier diagnosis and appropriate therapy. We report 2 patients to illustrate the varied clinical manifestations of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders while postulating an effect of anti-aquaporin-4 antibodies on the miscarriage of pregnancy. This is the first report of horizontal gaze palsy as a presenting symptom of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders.

CASE PRESENTATION

Patient 1: A 17-year-old Sri Lankan female presented with hypersomnolence, lateral gaze palsy and loss of taste of 1 week duration. Two years previously she had presented with intractable hiccups and vomiting followed by a brainstem syndrome. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a lesion in the left cerebellum extending into the pons while lesions in bilateral hypothalami and medulla noted 2 years ago had resolved. Autoimmune, vasculitis and infection screens were negative. Anti-aquaporin-4 antibodies were detected in serum. All her symptoms resolved with immunosuppressive therapy. Patient 2: A 47-Year-old Sri Lankan female presented with persistent vomiting lasting over 3 weeks. Three years previously, at 25-weeks of her 4(th) pregnancy, she had presented with quadriparesis and was found to have a longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis from C2 to T2 vertebral levels, which gradually improved following intravenous steroid therapy. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a hyper-intense lesion in the area postrema and longitudinally extensive atrophy of the cord corresponding to her previous myelitis. Autoimmune, vasculitis and infection screens were negative. Anti-aquaporin-4 antibodies were detected in serum. Her vomiting subsided with immunosuppressive therapy. Her second pregnancy had resulted in a first-trimester miscarriage.

CONCLUSION

The clinical spectrum of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders has expanded beyond optic neuritis and myelitis to include non-opticospinal syndromes involving the diencephalon, brainstem and cerebrum. Our report highlights the varied central nervous system manifestations of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders and miscarriage of pregnancy possibly related to anti-aquaporin-4 antibodies.