Diagnostic criteria and treatment of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD)

Neuromyelitis optic spectrum disorders (NMOSD) are rare, severely disabling diseases of the central nervous system. They are characterized by periodic, unpredictable exacerbations that lead to an accumulation of irreversible neurologic damage. Despite existing possibilities for diagnosing NMOSD, it can be difficult to make the correct diagnosis in clinical practice. Current treatment options for NMOSD include drugs that affect the pathogenesis of the disease, including complement C5 inhibitors, with which experience is still limited, but published data from clinical trials demonstrate high efficacy of these drugs with an acceptable safety profile. The article reviews the main current approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of NMOSD.