Changes in Blood Cells and Complements During Relapse Prevention Therapies for Aquaporin-4 Antibody-Positive Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder

TL;DR

This study examines how different therapies affect blood cells and complement levels in a rare autoimmune disorder, finding distinct impacts based on treatment type.

Contribution

The study identifies specific effects of anti-IL-6R and anti-C5 therapies on complement suppression and blood cell counts in AQP4+ NMOSD patients.

Findings

Anti-IL-6R therapy reduces neutrophil and platelet counts and suppresses C3 and C4 complement levels.

Anti-C5 therapy strongly suppresses total complement activity (CH50) without affecting C3, C4, or blood counts.

Different therapies show distinct impacts on complement and blood cell parameters, which may influence drug mechanisms and side effects.

Abstract

In this study, blood cell counts and serum C3, C4, and CH50 values at baseline and after more than 6-month drug use were measured to elucidate changes in blood cells and complements during relapse prevention therapies for aquaporin-4 antibody-positive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (AQP4+ NMOSD). A total of 70 patients with AQP4+ NMOSD (87% female, median age 56 years) were enrolled. They were divided into the following treatment groups: glucocorticoids and/or immunosuppressants (GC/IS, n = 22), inebilizumab/rituximab (anti-CD19/20, n = 13), satralizumab (anti-IL-6R, n = 22), and eculizumab/ravulizumab (anti-C5, n = 13). At baseline, the blood counts and complement levels did not differ among the groups. At follow-up, the neutrophil and platelet counts in the anti-IL-6R group decreased from those at baseline (p < 0.0001 and p < 0.001, respectively). Compared with the GC/IS, anti-CD19/20, and anti-C5 groups, the anti-IL-6R group had lower levels of C3 (p < 0.0001, p < 0.01, and p < 0.05, respectively) and C4 (p < 0.0001, p < 0.01, p < 0.001, respectively). Furthermore, the anti-C5 group had significantly lower CH50 levels than the GC/IS, anti-CD19/20, and anti-IL-6R groups (p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001, p < 0.05, respectively). In addition, the anti-IL-6R group had lower CH50 levels than the GC/IS and anti-CD19/20 groups (p < 0.001 and p < 0.05, respectively). The present study demonstrated that anti-IL-6R therapy broadly and mildly suppressed the complement system and decreased the neutrophil and platelet counts. It also showed that anti-C5 therapy strongly suppressed total complement activity but did not affect the C3 and C4 levels or blood counts. These findings may have implications for the mode of action of the drugs and the risk of adverse drug reactions, including infections.

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