A pilot study comparing treatments for severe attacks of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders: Intravenous methylprednisolone (IVMP) with add-on plasma exchange (PLEX) versus simultaneous ivmp and PLEX.

Background: Our previous retrospective study demonstrated that NMOSD patients with an acute attack who did not respond to IVMP alone, however, showed further significant improvement after treatment with PLEX at 6 month-follow-up.

Objective: To compare the efficacy between treatments with intravenous methylprednisolone (IVMP) with subsequent add-on plasma exchange (PLEX) and a combination of simultaneous IVMP and PLEX in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) patients with a severe acute attack.

Method: We conducted a prospective, randomized, controlled, pilot study of the treatments for a severe acute attack in NMOSD patients.

Beneficial effect of plasma exchange in acute attack of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders.

Background: Plasma exchange (PLEX) is routinely performed in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) patients with an acute attack who do not respond to corticosteroids treatment.

Objective: To compare treatment outcomes in NMOSD patients with an acute attack between the two groups.

Methods: We retrospectively studied 67 attacks from 52 NMOSD patients.