Progress in the management of pregnancy in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder.

Summary: Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is a rare immune system disease that mostly affects younger women. In the past, women with NMOSD had to stop taking their medications if they wanted to get pregnant, which often led to dangerous flare-ups of the disease after giving birth. Sometimes, this even meant they couldn't have children. Today, there is great news! Doctors have found that certain immune-calming drugs and new targeted therapies (called monoclonal antibodies) are safe and helpful during pregnancy. By working closely with their doctors, women with NMOSD can now safely plan for pregnancy, give birth, and breastfeed while keeping their disease under control.