Materials and methods for evaluating and treating neuromyelitis optica (nmo)

Abstract

The invention provides prognostic methods for evaluating the severity of NMO and NMO-associated diseases as well as methods of treating NMO and NMO-associated diseases.

1 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A method of treating an individual that has neuromyelitis optica (NMO), comprising administering eculizumab to the individual. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the eculizumab is administered intravenously. 
     
     
         15 . A method of treating an individual that has NMO, comprising the steps of:
 identifying an individual that is serologically positive for aquaporin-4 (AQP4)-IgG autoantibody; and   administering an effective amount of eculizumab to the individual.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the treating comprises reducing the severity of attacks in the individual. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the administering step results in a reduction in the severity of attacks in the individual. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the eculizumab is administered intravenously. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising administering a glutamate receptor antagonist to the individual. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said glutamate receptor antagonist is selected from the group consisting of 1-amino-3,5-dimethyl-adamantane, 1-aminoadamantane, (+)-3-methoxy-17-methyl-(9α, 13α, 14α)-morphinan, 17-methyl-9a,13a,14a-morphinan-3-ol, 2-(2-chlorophenyl)-2-methylamino-cyclohexan-1-one, 1-(1-phenylcyclohexyl) piperidine, (±)cis-2-[(dimethylamino)methyl]-1-(3-methoxyphenyl) cyclohexanol hydrochloride, and 6-(Dimethylamino)-4,4-diphenylheptan-3-one. 
     
     
         21 . A method of treating an individual that has NMO, comprising the steps of:
 determining the complement activating capacity of aquaporin-4 (AQP4)-IgG autoantibody in a biological sample from the individual; and   administering an effective amount of eculizumab to the individual.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the treating comprises reducing the severity of attacks in the individual. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the administering step results in a reduction in the severity of attacks in the individual. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the treating comprises reducing the risk of relapse in the individual. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the administering step results in a reduction in the risk of relapse in the individual. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the eculizumab is administered intravenously. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising administering a glutamate receptor antagonist to the individual. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said glutamate receptor antagonist is selected from the group consisting of 1-amino-3,5-dimethyl-adamantane, 1-aminoadamantane, (+)-3-methoxy-17-methyl-(9α, 13α, 14α)-morphinan, 17-methyl-9a,13a,14a-morphinan-3-ol, 2-(2-chlorophenyl)-2-methylamino-cyclohexan-1-one, 1-(1-phenylcyclohexyl) piperidine, (±)cis-2-[(dimethylamino)methyl]-1-(3-methoxyphenyl) cyclohexanol hydrochloride, and 6-(Dimethylamino)-4,4-diphenylheptan-3-one.