The aim of this study is to explore the effect of inebilizumab on NMOSD-related neuropathic pain.

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) related neuropathic pain is difficult to relieve even after prolonged treatments with multiple anti-neuropathic pain medications, and it is of high incidence.

Two NMOSD patients, who had refractory neuropathic pain despite prolonged treatments with multiple anti-neuropathic pain medications, were treated with inebilizumab. The severity of pain was assessed by the Short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ) and LANSS score. Additionally, 11 patients with NMOSD-related neuropathic pain who had received immunosuppressant treatment served as historical controls, assessed with the same measurements. Patients were interviewed and assessed prospectively at the start of immunosuppressant therapy and after a 6-months follow-up.

At the baseline, the SF-MPQ scores were 18 and 15 in the patients with inebilizumab, with an average SF-MPQ score of 17.18±6.48 in the control group. After a 6-months follow-up, the reduction in SF-MPQ score was 11 scores each for the two patients with inebilizumab, while the average reduction of SF-MPQ score was 3.73 in the control group. The reduction scores of LANSS for the two patients with inebilizumab were 18 and 0 , respectively, compared to an average reduction of 2.73 in the control group. No significant adverse events were observed in either group.

Inebilizumab shows superior efficacy in the improvement of NMOSD-related neuropathic pain compared to conventional treatments.