Infusion Therapy for NMOSD
Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is a rare autoimmune disease that primarily affects the central nervous system, particularly the optic nerves and spinal cord. If a doctor has diagnosed you or a loved one with NMOSD, SOLIRIS®, UPLIZNA®, or ULTOMIRIS® infusion therapy is an effective treatment option. We offer SOLIRIS, UPLIZNA, and ULTOMIRIS infusion therapy for NMOSD at our CPS Infusion centers to patients that have been referred to us by their doctors.
What Is NMOSD?
NMOSD is sometimes referred to as Devic's disease. It is distinct from multiple sclerosis (MS), although both conditions involve inflammation and damage to the central nervous system. Some of the primary signs of NMOSD include optic neuritis, which results in inflammation of the optic nerves, causing vision impairment or loss; as well as transverse myelitis, the inflammation of the spinal cord, causing weakness, numbness, and in some cases, paralysis.
Diagnosing NMOSD
The diagnosis of NMOSD begins with a clinical evaluation. Your neurologist will perform an examination, checking for neurological symptoms, vision changes, and spinal cord-related issues. Providing details about the onset and progression of symptoms is crucial to a proper diagnosis. A check of your medical history will reveal any previous episodes of optic neuritis, transverse myelitis, or other neurological symptoms.
Blood tests will be performed to check for the presence of Aquaporin-4 (AQP4) and Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein (MOG) antibodies. In addition, imaging studies such as an MRI or Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) may be performed, along with a Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Analysis.
Treating NMOSD with Infusion Therapy
Your primary care physician will work with your neurologist to develop the treatment plan that is right for you. Treatment of NMOSD is designed to manage symptoms, prevent relapses, and slow the progression of the disease. Corticosteroids, long-term immunosuppressive medications, drugs prescribed for specific symptoms (pain, spasticity, and bladder dysfunction), and physical therapy are all possible treatment options for patients. Adults that are anti-aquaporin-4 (AQP4) antibody positive may be good candidates for SOLIRIS, UPLIZNA, or ULTOMIRIS infusion therapy.
SOLIRIS® Infusion Therapy For NMOSD
The complement system of the immune system normally activates proteins that work with your immune system to keep you healthy and help destroy harmful invading cells. But in patients with anti-AQP4 antibody-positive NMOSD, it can trigger a chain reaction to a group of complementary proteins. This can result in inflammation and membrane attack complex, in which these proteins create holes in cell membranes, causing them to burst and die. This is dependent on the dissolution of complement factor C5 into two subunits: C5a and C5b.
How It Works
An FDA-approved prescription, SOLIRIS (eculizumab) is used to treat adults with NMOSD who are anti-AQP4 antibody positive. SOLIRIS works by binding to C5 and preventing it from breaking down into two units, thus suppressing and membrane attack complex and cell death.
UPLIZNA® Infusion Therapy for NMOSD
Damage to certain vital components of the central nervous system (CNS), such as the myelin sheath, nerve cells, and astrocytes, can be the result of anti-AQP4 antibodies attacking healthy cells, such as the B cells, which help the body’s immune system to work. When these cells are damaged, inflammation prevents neurons from communicating messages from the brain and spinal cord, and with each other. This causes the creation and progression of NMOSD.
How It Works
UPLIZNA can be prescribed to adults with NMOSD who are anti-AQP4 antibody positive. It lowers the level of B cells in a patient’s body, calming the overactive immune response. This is the mechanism through which researchers believe UPLIZNA prevents anti-AQP4 from attacking healthy tissues.
ULTOMIRIS® Infusion Therapy For NMOSD
The anti-AQP4 antibody affects the complement system in a manner that is believed to incorrectly attack and damage healthy cells in the central nervous system. When the complement protein C5 breaks down into two subunits, C5a and C5b, it can attack the cells membranes and cause the cells to die.
How It Works
ULTOMIRIS can be prescribed to adults with NMOSD who are anti-AQP4 antibody positive. It works by targeting part of the complement system, binding to and blocking the C5 protein, which contributes to damaging cells in the central nervous system and also plays an important role in activating other proteins of the complement system.
What to Expect?
The medication to we administer and the dosing is determined by your specialist. The infusion treatment typically takes about 90 minutes. You will be brought to one of our comfortable treatment rooms where one of our certified nurses will administer your treatment under the guidance of our doctor.
Why Patients and Physicians Choose Us for Infusion Therapy
We make it easy for patients and referring doctors to send patients to CPS infusion for SOLIRIS, UPLIZNA, and ULTOMIRIS treatment. First, our care coordinators work with the patient’s insurance provider to get maximum coverage for this treatment. If any out-of-pocket costs are required, we will inform you upfront and offer financial assistance options if available. In addition, our team wants to provide everyone with personalized, patient-centered care in a comfortable, non-hospital setting.