NMOSD is often misdiagnosed as MS, leading to adverse clinical outcomes1

Misdiagnosis leads to ineffective treatment, leaving patients vulnerable to future attacks and potentially permanent disability2

MS treatment icon MS treatment icon MS treatment icon

Some treatments for MS (eg, interferon-beta, natalizumab, S1P receptor modulators) can exacerbate NMOSD, leading to adverse outcomes such as increased attack frequency and worsening symptoms2,3

NMOSD and MS each follow a distinct clinical course

Recurring NMOSD attacks with incomplete recovery, even after the first attack4,5

Bar chart illustrating the relationship between NMOSD relapse activity and the incomplete recovery from disability that occurs over time, even after the first attack

Bar chart illustrating the relationship between NMOSD relapse activity and the incomplete recovery from disability that occurs over time, even after the first attack

MS relapses with near complete recovery, following a progressive course4,5

Bar chart illustrating the relationship between MS relapses and near complete recovery from disability over time following a progressive disease course

Bar chart illustrating the relationship between MS relapses and near complete recovery from disability over time following a progressive disease course

Explore the initial presentation
of NMOSD Initial Presentation

S1P, sphingosine 1-phosphate.

  1. Mealy MA, Wingerchuk DM, Greenberg BM, Levy M, et al. Epidemiology of neuromyelitis optica in the United States: a multicenter analysis. Arch Neurol. 2012;69(9):1176-1180.
  2. Mealy MA, Mossburg SE, Kim S-H, et al. Long-term disability in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder with a history of myelitis is associated with age at onset, delay in diagnosis/preventive treatment, MRI lesion length and presence of symptomatic brain lesions. Mult Scler Relat Disord. 2019;28:64-68. doi:10.1016/j.msard.2018.12.011
  3. Traub J, Häusser-Kinzel S, Weber MS. Differential effects of MS therapeutics on B cells—implications for their use and failure in AQP4-positive NMOSD patients. Int J Mol Sci. 2020;21:1-30. doi:10.3390/ijms21145021
  4. Huda S, Whittam D, Bhojak M, Chamberlain J, Noonan C, Jacob A, et al. Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders. Clin Med. 2019;19(2):169-176.
  5. Kawachi I, Lassmann H. Neurodegeneration in multiple sclerosis and neuromyelitis optica. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2016;88:137-145.