Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40775082›Full record

ArticleJournal of neurology2025

Immunotherapies in neuromyelitis optica: Bayesian network meta-analysis.

Nevin John, Andy Lim, Shevita Ram Sunthar, Leon Zhang, Joan Cheng, Julie Boktor, Victor Chong, Henry Ma, Thanh G Phan

Abstract readNetwork Meta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of neurology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Nevin JohnDepartment of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, 246 Clayton Road, Clayton, VIC, Australia. Nevin.john@monash.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9834-4498
Andy LimDepartment of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, 246 Clayton Road, Clayton, VIC, Australia.
Shevita Ram SuntharDepartment of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, 246 Clayton Road, Clayton, VIC, Australia.
Leon ZhangDepartment of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, 246 Clayton Road, Clayton, VIC, Australia.
Joan ChengDepartment of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, 246 Clayton Road, Clayton, VIC, Australia.
Julie BoktorDepartment of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, 246 Clayton Road, Clayton, VIC, Australia.
Victor ChongDepartment of Neurology, Monash Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Henry MaDepartment of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, 246 Clayton Road, Clayton, VIC, Australia.
Thanh G PhanDepartment of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, 246 Clayton Road, Clayton, VIC, Australia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThere are numerous immunotherapies that are effective in preventing relapses in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMO-SD). With head-to-head clinical trials between immunotherapies lacking, Bayesian network meta-analysis can be used to compare treatment interventions. Previous network meta-analyses have compared monoclonal antibodies but either not included newer complement inhibitors or earlier immunotherapies such as rituximab or tocilizumab.

objectiveTo compare immunosuppressive treatments used in relapse prevention in NMO-SD.

methodsPubMed, EMBASE and Scopus were searched for randomised controlled trials until 20th September, 2024. Search terms strategy included neuromyelitis optica, antibody and relapse. Randomised controlled trials testing immunotherapies used in relapse reduction in NMO-SD were included. Of 550 studies screened, 8 clinical trials initially met inclusion criteria. The study was performed according to PRISMA guidelines by multiple observers. Bayesian fixed-effect network meta-analysis was conducted. The primary outcome was time to relapse. The secondary outcome was annualised relapse rate. Sensitivity analysis was undertaken in seropositive patients. Treatments were ranked using a probability measure called surface under the cumulative rank curve (SUCRA).

resultsEight studies were included that contained a total 851 patients [716 (84%) seropositive]. There were six treatment interventions-ravulizumab, eculizumab, tocilizumab, rituximab, inebilizumab, satralizumab and the control arm (placebo/azathioprine). Ravulizumab was the ideal treatment (HR 0.00 (95%CrI 0.00-0.03), SUCRA 0.99) with a 98% probability of being the superior treatment in increasing time to relapse in NMO-SD. This was supported by secondary analysis of annualised relapse rate and the sensitivity analysis in seropositive patients. DISCUSSION: These findings suggest that ravulizumab had the highest probability of being the most superior treatment in decreasing relapse risk in NMO-SD.

Indexed as

Immunosuppressive AgentsImmunotherapyNeuromyelitis OpticaAntibodies, Monoclonal, HumanizedBayes TheoremHumansRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicAntibodies, Monoclonal, HumanizedImmunosuppressive AgentsDemyelinating disordersNeuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder

Identifiers

PMID40775082
PMCPMC12331795

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.