Multiple Sclerosis Journal - Experimental, Translational and Clinical

BACKGROUND: People with multiple sclerosis (MS) have an increased risk of ischemic heart disease as compared to people without MS after accounting for traditional vascular risk factors. OBJECTIVE: We assessed whether subclinical atherosclerosis, an inflammatory disease of arteries, occurs in persons with MS who do not have traditional vascular risk factors, and whether the Framingham Score (FRS) predicted carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) similarly in people with and without MS...

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of dalfampridine in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder. METHODS: We included 15 consecutive patients, who were started on a treatment of dalfampridine 10 mg twice daily for 2 weeks. Efficacy assessment was based on walking ability improvement using Timed-25-Foot Walk and 12-item Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale tests. RESULTS: The mean Timed-25-Foot Walk score was reduced from 14.8 (±2...

BACKGROUND: Between 29% and 67% of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder patients have cognitive alterations. OBJECTIVE: To assess the frequency of cognitive impairment in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder in Mexico using the Brief International Cognitive Assessment for Multiple Sclerosis. METHODS: We evaluated 40 neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder patients and 40 healthy controls from Mexico. RESULTS: 28 (70...

BACKGROUND: Superficial white matter (SWM) is a particularly vulnerable area of white matter adjacent to cerebral cortex that was shown to be a sensitive marker of disease severity in several neurological and psychiatric disorders, including multiple sclerosis (MS), but has not been studied in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). OBJECTIVE: To compare the integrity of SWM between MS patients, NMOSD patients and healthy controls, and explore the correlation of SWM integrity with cognitive performance and overall disability...

BACKGROUND: Siponimod is approved for use in people with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (pwSPMS). An integrated digital platform, MSGo, was developed for pwSPMS and clinicians to help navigate the multiple steps of the pre-siponimod work-up. OBJECTIVE: To explore real-world onboarding experiences of siponimod amongst pwSPMS in Australia. METHODS: Retrospective, non-interventional, longitudinal, secondary analysis of data extracted from MSGo (20 April 2022)...

BACKGROUND: Many diets promoted specifically for multiple sclerosis have been suggested to improve disease activity. Dairy and gluten are two components for which the recommendations vary between these diets. Existing research into the association between these dietary components and disease activity has been conflicting. OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between dairy and gluten intake and disease activity in multiple sclerosis over a 2-year period, using no evidence of disease activity (NEDA) 3 status...

BACKGROUND: Walking capacity is important not only to persons with multiple sclerosis but also to clinical practice and research. The present study aims to compare the extent of impairments (relative to healthy controls) across three commonly used walking capacity outcomes in persons with multiple sclerosis. METHODS: In a two-hospital cross-sectional study, walking capacity was assessed using the timed-25-footwalk-test (timed 25-ft walk test; 'walking speed'), the six-minute-walk-test ('walking endurance') and the six-spot-step-test ('walking balance and coordination')...

The immunomodulatory effects of disease-modifying therapies for multiple sclerosis might affect the immune response to vaccines for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. We analyzed the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2-specific antibody response and lymphocyte profile before and after Ad26.COV2.S (Johnson & Johnson) vaccination in natalizumab-treated patients with multiple sclerosis. There was a 72-fold increase in mean anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 spike immunoglobulin G levels 4 weeks after vaccination and a 137-fold increase after 6 months...

BACKGROUND: Tremor affects up to 45% of patients with Multiple Sclerosis (PwMS). Current understanding is based on insights from other neurological disorders, thus, not fully addressing the distinctive aspects of MS pathology. OBJECTIVE: To characterize the brain white matter (WM) correlates of MS-related tremor using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). METHODS: In a prospective case-control study, PwMS with tremor were assessed for tremor severity and underwent MRI scans including DTI...

BACKGROUND: Imaging investigation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in multiple sclerosis (MS) is understudied. Development of noninvasive methods to detect pathological CSF changes would have a profound effect on MS diagnosis and would offer insight into MS pathophysiology and mechanisms of neurological impairment. OBJECTIVE: We propose magnetization transfer (MT) MRI as a tool to detect macromolecular changes in spinal CSF. METHODS: MT and quantitative MT (qMT) data were acquired in the cervical region in 27 people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (pwRRMS) and 38 age and sex-matched healthy controls (HCs)...

BACKGROUND: People with multiple sclerosis (MS) often report dietary modifications; however, evidence on functional outcomes remains sparse. OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the impact of the low-saturated fat (Swank) and modified Paleolithic elimination (Wahls) diets on functional disability among people with relapsing-remitting MS. METHODS: Baseline-referenced MS functional composite (MSFC) scores were calculated from nine-hole peg-test (NHPT), timed 25-foot walk, and oral symbol digit modalities test (SDMT-O) collected at four study visits: (a) run-in, (b) baseline, (c) 12 weeks, and (d) 24 weeks...

We aimed to evaluate mortality and causes of death among Argentinean neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) patients and identify predictors of death. Retrospective study included 158 NMOSD patients and 11 (7%) patients died after 11 years of follow-up for a total exposure time of 53,345 days with an overall incidence density of 2.06 × 10.000 patients/day (95% CI 1.75-2.68). Extensive cervical myelitis with respiratory failure (45%) was the most frequent cause of death. Older age (HR = 2...

BACKGROUND: Ofatumumab is approved for treating relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS). Examining tolerability will enable understanding of its risk-benefit profile. OBJECTIVE: Report the tolerability profile of ofatumumab in RMS during treatment of up to 4 years and the effect of pre-medication. METHODS: Cumulative data from the overall safety population included patients taking continuous ofatumumab or being newly switched from teriflunomide...

BACKGROUND: Adverse childhood experiences are demonstrated risk factors for depression, a common co-morbidity of multiple sclerosis, but are understudied among people with multiple sclerosis. OBJECTIVE: Estimate the association between adverse childhood experiences and depression among 1,990 adults with multiple sclerosis. METHODS: Participants were members of Kaiser Permanente Northern California from two studies between 2006 and 2021 and were diagnosed with multiple sclerosis by a neurologist...

OBJECTIVES: The primary objective was to evaluate long-term treatment persistence and safety of natalizumab in Finnish multiple sclerosis patients. The secondary objectives were to assess patient characteristics, use of natalizumab-related safety protocol, and treatment persistence in patients with different anti-John Cunningham virus antibody statuses (John Cunningham virus status). MATERIALS & METHODS: All adult multiple sclerosis patients in the Finnish multiple sclerosis register who started natalizumab between 1/2006 and 12/2018 were included in this study and followed retrospectively until treatment discontinuation or end of follow-up (12/2019)...

BACKGROUND: Trials of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) for multiple sclerosis (MS) often include patients with minimal disability. Patient-reported outcome instruments used in these trials have often not captured physical and psychological treatment effects concomitant with observed clinical benefits. OBJECTIVE: To examine whether the Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale-29 (MSIS-29) captures changes in the impact of MS in a sample of patients enrolled in the Phase 3 ASCLEPIOS studies (ofatumumab vs...

BACKGROUND: Although upper respiratory infections (URIs) are linked to multiple sclerosis (MS) attacks, SARS-COV2 has not been compared to URIs for attack rates. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the attack rate and the results of neuroimaging in MS patients with URIs caused by COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 infections (NC-URI). METHODS: From May 2020 to April 2021, we followed 362 patients with relapsing-remitting MS in a prospective cohort design...

INTRODUCTION: Gait impairment is common in multiple sclerosis (MS), but difficult to evaluate in clinical practice. In this proof-of-concept observational study, we compared walking ability recorded by Google Maps Timeline to conventional clinical measures in people with MS. METHODS: We used open-access Google Maps Timeline to record the total number of days with walking activity, walking distance, walking time, and walking speed. Each Google Maps Timeline variable was included in a different stepwise linear regression model including all conventional clinical variables...

BACKGROUND: People over age 50-55 have historically been excluded from randomized clinical trials for multiple sclerosis (MS). However, more than half of those living with an MS diagnosis are over 55. OBJECTIVE: Explore the unique considerations of treating older people with MS (PwMS) using an iterative and structured Delphi-based assessment to gather expert opinions. METHODS: Eight MS neurologists with an interest in older PwMS developed a 2-round survey...

BACKGROUND: Computerized training in persons with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) seems to enhance working memory (WM)/information processing (IP), but factors associated with the efficacy of the treatment have not been sufficiently explored. Objective: To identify clinical and radiological characteristics associated with positive WM/IP training responses. METHODS: Radiological and neuropsychological assessments were carried out on a sample of 35 PwMs who were divided into "WM/IP-impaired" and "WM/IP-preserved...