MS News That Caught My Eye: A New Study about Lemtrada, An Easy Way to Improve Balance, A New PML Case Reported and Kudos to Us

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by Ed Tobias |

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Relapse after First Lemtrada Course No Indication of Poor Long-Term Outcome, Study Finds

Some MS patients being treated with Lemtrada report new exacerbation after they complete round one of the drug, and they wonder if this means the drug isn’t working. Magdalena Kegel reports on a new study that should be encouraging for those who, like me, are being treated with this drug.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients who experienced a relapse between their first and second rounds of Lemtrada (alemtuzumab) had good treatment outcomes over the long run, according to a Phase 3 clinical trial.

Those who relapsed after their first round ended up with annual relapse rates similar to those who didnā€™t after two years, researchers saidĀ at the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers Annual Meeting.Ā ThisĀ suggested that an early relapse did not indicate a poor long-term response to Lemtrada.

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Single Session of Ball-Throwing Exercise Improves Balance Control in MS, Study Shows

Balance is one of the problems that I’ve been dealing with for years. So, I was excited to read this story, written by Patricia Inacio, about a small study that reports that just a little work with a medicine ball can improve your balance. I’m going to have to try this.

Patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) regain part of their balance control after a single training session of ball-throwing exercises, finds a study supported by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Researchers presented theirĀ study, ā€œA Single-Session Training of Ball Throwing Exercise Improves Balance Control in Individuals with Multiple Sclerosis,ā€ at theĀ 2017 Annual Meeting of the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC), May 24-27 in New Orleans.

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PML Found in Ocrevus-Treated Patient Who Had Used Tysabri for 3 Previous Years

It’s uncertain whether it was treatment with Tysabri or Ocrevus that triggered this case of the PML brain infection. The patient’s doctor attributes it to Tysabri, but the manufacturer of Ocrevus is carefully studying this case. Magdalena KegelĀ provides the details, which many other MS patients and medical professionals will be watching carefully.

A multiple sclerosis (MS) patient treated in Germany withĀ Ocrevus (ocrelizumab)Ā has developed the dreaded brain infection progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML).Ā But it is not clear whether the recently approvedĀ Genentech/Roche-developed treatmentĀ is the cause.

The patient took the last dose of a three-year course of Tysabri (natalizumab)Ā in February. Tysabri is a known trigger of PML ā€” a severe brain infection caused by theĀ John Cunningham virus that leaves the majority of patients severely disabled or causesĀ their death.

In April,Ā the patient received one dose of Ocrevus as part of a German compassionate-use program. The person has not been otherwise identified.
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Healthline Names MS News Today One of the Best Multiple Sclerosis Blogs of 2017

Excuse me for tooting my own horn, but I’m proud to be among the columnists who write for MS News Today. In addition to my The MS Wire, there are 10 other columns that appear. If you haven’t sampled each of them, you should. Just open this story to find them all.

HealthlineĀ recently selectedĀ Multiple Sclerosis News TodayĀ as one of the Best Multiple Sclerosis Blogs of 2017, spotlighting its columns as ā€œthoughts from experts and patients from all kinds of backgroundsā€ and ā€œa source of inspiration for everyone.ā€

The team at Multiple Sclerosis News TodayĀ is delightedĀ to be included in this honor and would like to recognize the incredible dedication, courage, service, and passion of our columnists.

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Note:Ā Multiple Sclerosis News TodayĀ is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those ofĀ Multiple Sclerosis News Today, or its parent company, BioNews Services, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to multiple sclerosis.

 

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