What Causes NMOSD
Understanding NMOSD attacks is a first step toward managing your condition
NMOSD is a chronic autoimmune disease
When you have NMOSD, your body attacks its own healthy cells. Anti-AQP4 antibody-positive NMOSD attacks usually affect the optic nerve, spinal cord, and sometimes the brain stem. Each attack can lead to new or worsening disability, so it’s important to let your doctor know if you think you’ve had an attack.
NMOSD attacks can result in:
Optic neuritis, which may cause pain in the eye and vision loss
Transverse myelitis, which may cause weakness or paralysis of arms and legs
Numbness, which may also cause a loss of bladder and bowel control
Severe nausea, vomiting, and hiccups
What’s behind an attack
The complement system is part of the body's immune system. In a healthy person, the complement system helps to defend against bacteria, viruses, and other threats.
Most people with NMOSD have anti-AQP4 antibodies, which can activate the complement system during an attack. Once activated, a part of the system called C5 proteins mistakenly attack and damage healthy cells in the central nervous system (CNS).
The attack begins
When an attack begins, anti-AQP4 antibodies attach to CNS cells and mistakenly activate the complement system.
The complement system activates
The complement system sets off a chain reaction that creates C5 proteins.
C5 proteins cause damage
C5 proteins attack healthy cells, resulting in CNS damage.
Navigate your NMOSD
NMOSD is a rare disease and can be difficult to understand. Attend an event to learn about NMOSD from a disease expert.
