[Prevention of relapse of neuromyelitis optica (NMO)].

Treatment of NMO and NMO spectrum disorders is divided into two objectives: one is to control the inflammatory damage in acute attacks, and other one is a maintenance treatment to avoid relapses. The former is based on high-dose intravenous corticosteroids and plasmapheresis, the latter is based on low-dose corticosteroids and non-specific immunosuppressants; like azathioprine, tacrolimus, cyclosporine, mycophenolate mofetil and mitoxantrone. New therapy strategies using monoclonal antibodies like rituximab: an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, and eculizumab: an anti-C5 monoclonal antibody, can also prevent relapse of NMO. On the other hand, interferon-β, natalizumab, and fingolimod, a modifying drug of multiple sclerosis, is not effective in NMO spectrum disorders.