Use of brain MRI and gene expression atlases to reconstruct the pathophysiology of autoimmune neurological disorders: The proof-of-concept of NMOSD
The understanding of disease pathophysiology is pivotal for tailored treatments. The spatial distribution of brain damage relies on the regional antigen expression and the local balance of susceptibility and protective elements.
Analysis of healthcare utilization before the diagnosis of radiologically isolated syndrome
Previous studies have shown that people with multiple sclerosis (MS) had frequent healthcare visits up to 10 years before being diagnosed but with no information from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of the connection with the radiologically isolated syndrome (RIS).
Multiple Sclerosis Cognitive Scale (MSCS): A brief psychometrically robust metric of patient-reported cognitive difficulty
Existing metrics of patient-reported cognitive difficulties in multiple sclerosis (MS) are lengthy, lack psychometric rigor, and/or fail to query prevalent expressive language deficits.
A head-to-head comparison of the effects of aerobic versus resistance training on physical capacity and physical function in people with multiple sclerosis: Results from the MSBOOST trial
Exercise is a safe and effective way to improve physical function in people with multiple sclerosis (PWMS).
DISCOntinuation of disease-modifying therapies in MS: The DISCOMS extension trial
In the DISCOMS (DISCOntinuation of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) in multiple sclerosis (MS)) randomized clinical trial, we could not demonstrate that discontinuing MS DMTs in older, stable adults was not inferior to continuing DMTs. Relapses were rare in both groups, and most new disease activity was one to two new brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) lesions unassociated with clinical changes.
Before the before: Is there a prodrome in patients with radiologically isolated syndrome?
Acute eculizumab treatment in a pediatric patient with AQP4-IgG+ NMOSD
Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is a rare autoimmune disorder that occurs in children and adults.
Evaluation of the predictive value of CSF-restricted oligoclonal bands on residual disability and risk of relapse in adult patients with MOGAD: MOGADOC study
The clinical course of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) antibody-associated disease (MOGAD) is variable. However, robust markers of poor outcome and/or relapse risk are still missing.
Assessing pain in multiple sclerosis: Test-retest reliability of patient-reported outcome measures and accuracy of screening tools
Pain is a common symptom of multiple sclerosis (MS). The reliability of outcome measures for pain and the accuracy of screening tools are essential for treatment purposes.
Paramagnetic rim lesion formation is predicted by the initial gadolinium-enhancing lesion diameter
Paramagnetic rim lesions (PRLs) are a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) marker of compartmentalized intraparenchymal inflammation.
The confavreux lecture: The radiologically isolated syndrome diagnosis, prognosis and perspectives
Radiologically isolated syndrome (RIS) is the earliest documented stage in the disease continuum of multiple sclerosis (MS). It is discovered incidentally in individuals who are asymptomatic but have typical lesions in the brain or spinal cord suggestive of autoimmune inflammatory demyelination. The revised 2023 RIS criteria aim to secure an accurate and timely diagnosis due to the presence of imaging mimics. These criteria require having at least one T2-weighted hyperintense lesion in one of the four suggestive MS locations along with two of the following three features: spinal cord lesion, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)-restricted oligoclonal bands, or new T2 or gadolinium-enhancing lesion observed on a subsequent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study. Once the diagnosis is confirmed, established risk factors, including age, lesion location and CSF, significantly improve prognostic stratification, which is crucial for immunoactive interventions. Recent clinical trials have shown that oral disease-modifying treatments can delay or prevent the first clinical event in RIS patients. Consulting with an MS team for each RIS case is strongly recommended to enhance care and disease surveillance. The revised 2024 McDonald criteria will classify individuals with additional CSF and advanced MRI biomarkers as having preclinical MS, highlighting the importance of vigilance in this area.
Upper cervical spinal cord atrophy in MS: Sex, menopause, and neurodegeneration
Spinal cord (SC) atrophy is a key imaging biomarker of progressive multiple sclerosis (MS). Progressive MS is more common in men and postmenopausal women.
Opportunistic enteroviral infections in MS patients treated with anti-CD20 therapies
Neurofilament heavy chain in secondary progressive multiple sclerosis
Biomarkers are needed to track progression in MS trials. Neurofilament heavy chain (NfH) has been underutilized due to assay limitations.
Navigating pregnancy in women with NMOSD in the monoclonal antibody era
Testing for myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibodies: Who, what, where, when, why, and how
Testing for myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein immunoglobulin G antibodies (MOG-IgG) is essential to the diagnosis of MOG antibody-associated disease (MOGAD). Due to its central role in the evaluation of suspected inflammatory demyelinating disease, the last 5 years has been marked by an abundance of research into MOG-IgG testing ranging from appropriate patient selection, to assay performance, to utility of serum titers as well as cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) testing. In this review, we synthesize current knowledge pertaining to the "who, what, where, when, why, and how" of MOG-IgG testing, with the aim of facilitating accurate MOGAD diagnosis in clinical practice.
Positive impact of cladribine tablets on reducing brain atrophy in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: A longitudinal study
Measuring brain volume changes over time is an objective and dependable surrogate marker for the pathological processes that damage the brain in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). These measures are particularly valuable for monitoring the long-term impact of immunomodulatory treatments such as cladribine.
Multi-disciplinary research will be the key to stop, restore, and end MS
The past 25 years have brought extraordinary advances in our understanding of MS pathogenesis and the subsequent development of effective therapies. Collaborative genetics efforts have uncovered the association of 236 common DNA variants with disease susceptibility and the first association with disease severity, paving the way to more effective therapies, particularly for progressive forms of the disease. In parallel, and in addition to established environmental disease triggers or modifiers, new collaborative work has revealed new associations with components of the gut microbiome. This research opened a new and exciting prospect for exploring the gut-brain axis, with the potential to also provide new pharmacologic targets and diet-based therapies. Finally, with the availability of massive amounts of information and unprecedented computer power, a new wave of artificial intelligence (AI)-based research is sprawling. These investigations will result in statistically powerful predictive models to identify individuals at risk even years before the disease is clinically apparent. Furthermore, using approaches like semantic representation and causal inference, some of these approaches will be explainable in biomedical terms, thus making them trusted and facilitating their implementation in the clinical setting. The common thread that characterizes all of these advances is multi-disciplinary collaboration among scientists in the form of formal consortia, working groups, or ad hoc partnerships. This may be the "secret sauce" of modern science and the best strategy to stop, restore, and end MS.
Reliability of paramagnetic rim lesion detection at 1.5T MRI in multiple sclerosis patients
Paramagnetic rim lesions (PRL) are valuable for diagnosing and prognosing multiple sclerosis (MS) and detectable at 7T and 3T MRI. For translation into clinical practice, it is essential assessing their visibility on 1.5T clinical scanners.
Eculizumab treatment during pregnancy in a patient with AQP4-IgG-seropositive NMOSD: A case report
Eculizumab proved a strong anti-inflammatory effect in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD), rare autoimmune diseases affecting the central nervous system in which aquaporin 4-immunoglobulin G (AQP4-IgG) is the main pathogenic antibody. Pregnancy in NMOSD patients is considered at high-risk for neurological and gynecological outcomes, requiring a careful consideration about treatment maintenance. In this case report, we describe a successful pregnancy, resulting in the birth of a healthy child, in a young woman with AQP4-IgG-seropositive NMOSD who was maintained on eculizumab during all pregnancy.