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

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.