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What is the life expectancy of a person with NMOSD?
What is the life expectancy of a person with NMOSD?
NMO (Devic's disease) is a rare autoimmune disorder that affects the optic nerve and spinal cord. Learn about the symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment options for NMO, and how it affects life expectancy.
- Overview
- Neuromyelitis optica life expectancy
- Types of NMO
- NMO treatments and life expectancy
- Does a cure exist?
- Clinical trials
- The takeaway
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The autoimmune condition neuromyelitis optica (NMO) may affect the optic nerve, spinal cord, and brain. Life expectancy varies based on a person’s age, race, disabilities caused by NMO, and rate of relapses. Early and ongoing treatment greatly improves outlook and survival rates.
In NMO, an autoimmune disorder, a person’s immune system attacks the optic nerves and spinal cord, and sometimes the brain. The condition is also called Devic’s disease or NMO spectrum disorder.
NMO occurs relatively rarely. According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, NMO affects about 4,000 people in the United States and 250,000 people worldwide.
Survival rates for NMO vary greatly based on several factors, such as:
•the type of NMO a person has
•the disability they experience from NMO attacks
The life expectancy of a person with NMO varies widely.
Past studies have suggested that the natural 5-year mortality rate for NMO is about 22–30%, according to a 2021 research review. More recent research suggests that with treatment the rate declines to 3–7%.
Mortality depends on several factors, including:
•a person’s age
•disabilities they have, caused by NMO
•rate of relapses
There are two types of NMO:
•Monophasic NMO: This single acute attack of NMO lasts for about 1 month and does not recur within 3 years. It occurs very rarely. In fact, a 2020 study that followed people with NMO for a longer period of time suggests the condition might not actually exist.
•Relapsing NMO: This chronic form of NMO involves flare-ups and periods of remission.
Relapsing NMO is significantly more likely to result in disability and death.
According to a 2019 study, each NMO attack can result in additional disabilities and increased risk of disability-related mortality, especially in people who have AQP4 antibodies. About 80% of people with NMO test positive for AQP4 antibodies, per a 2019 review.
Each attack also provides an opportunity for NMO to impact the spine or brain. The 2018 study mentioned earlier suggests that 70% of deaths occur when a relapse has affected a person’s brainstem or upper cervical spinal cord (or both) within the past 12 months.
Early and ongoing treatment for NMO may have the best results in improving NMO life expectancy.
People with NMO who do not treat the condition have about a 90% likelihood of a relapse. Each NMO attack is usually severe.
NMO treatments aim to manage attacks as they happen and prevent future attacks. Early treatment may help significantly improve outlook.
Types of NMO treatments include:
•Intravenous corticosteroids: These manage an ongoing attack.
•Plasma exchange: Healthcare professionals typically recommend this if corticosteroids aren’t enough to manage an attack. It involves filtering blood to remove certain antibodies linked to NMO symptoms.
No cure exists for NMO at this time. However, treatment can help improve a person’s outlook and reduce the likelihood of further disability or death.
A 2019 study suggests that early diagnosis and treatment improves NMO outlook. The researchers note that people who experienced severe spinal or optical issues at the first attack had a much better outlook with early treatment.
Clinical trials look at new treatments for health conditions such as NMO. In these studies, researchers test medications and therapies for safety and effectiveness.
Clinical trials are ongoing and require that a person meets certain criteria to join. An individual interested in joining a trial should talk with a healthcare professional first.
A doctor can help by:
•reviewing the requirements to determine eligibility
•determining whether a clinical trial would be a good option for the person
•recommending ongoing trials that are recruiting participants
NMO is an autoimmune disease that attacks the optical nerves, spinal cord, and occasionally the brain.
Although some people may have only one attack in their lifetime, most will experience recurring attacks. People usually experience severe attacks, and each attack increases the risk of disabilities and death.
Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is an autoimmune disorder that affects the optic nerves, spinal cord, and brain. Life expectancy depends on the type of NMO, disabilities, relapses, and treatment. Learn more about NMO types, causes, treatments, and clinical trials.
NMO is much more likely to affect women and people assigned female at birth, who make up about 80% to 90% of cases. It usually affects people between the ages of 30 and 40. NMO in children is very uncommon, making up only 5% or so of cases.
Nov 23, 2022 · Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is a central nervous system disorder that causes inflammation in nerves of the eye and the spinal cord. NMO is also called neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) and Devic disease. It occurs when the body's immune system reacts against its own cells.
Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is a rare autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system and can cause paralysis and blindness. Learn about the symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment, and complications of NMO, also known as Devic's disease.
Jul 26, 2020 · Vs. MS. Living with NMO. Life expectancy. Diet. Outlook. Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is a chronic health condition that affects nerves in the eyes, spinal cord, and sometimes brain. It’s also...
With NMO, life expectancy and prognosis vary. Relapses may be more or less severe over time, while death often occurs due to complications of this disease.
