Columns The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias MS News that Caught My Eye Last Week: Mavenclad Analysis, Ocrevus and Vaccines, an MS Rehab Technique, a Cattle Toxin and MS MS News that Caught My Eye Last Week: Mavenclad Analysis, Ocrevus and Vaccines, an MS Rehab Technique, a Cattle Toxin and MS by Ed Tobias | May 7, 2018 Share this article: Share article via email Copy article link Mavenclad Effective in Treating Highly Active MS, New CLARITY Analysis Shows Mavenclad isn’t approved for use in the U.S. but it is approved in Canada, Europe, and other parts of the world. Here’s another positive study of the therapy. Hopefully, it won’t be much longer before Americans can also benefit from it. An additional analysis of data from the CLARITY study confirmed the long-term benefits of treatment with Mavenclad (cladribine tablets) for patients with highly active relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). The post-hoc analysis, “Efficacy of Cladribine Tablets in high disease activity subgroups of patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis: A post hoc analysis of the CLARITY study,” was published in the Multiple Sclerosis Journal. *** #AAN2018 — Ocrevus Lowers Immune Response to Vaccines in Relapsing MS, Phase 3 Trial Shows If you’re being treated with Ocrevus, it probably would be a good idea for you to have a chat with your neurologist if you’re planning to get some vaccinations, specifically tetanus, pneumonia, or flu. According to this study, Ocrevus treatment lowers the effectiveness of all three of those vaccines. Treatment with Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) is linked to a reduced immune response to vaccinations in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a Phase 3 trial. These results were recently presented at the 2018 American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Annual Meeting in Los Angeles, in a presentation titled, “Effect of Ocrelizumab on Vaccine Responses in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis.” *** Rehabilitation Technique Improves Limb Movement in MS Patients, Phase 2 Trial Shows This is a therapy that’s been used to improve limb use in patients who have had a stroke, a traumatic brain injury, or have cerebral palsy. This study suggests it also might be useful for people with MS. The technique involves restraining the stronger arm or leg so that the weaker one is forced to become stronger. The lead researcher calls the results “momentous.” Constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT), a rehabilitation technique originally developed for stroke patients, may also be effective in improving limb use in the daily activities of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, results from a Phase 2 trial show. Findings were reported in the study, “Phase II Randomized Controlled Trial of Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy in Multiple Sclerosis. Part 1: Effects on Real-World Function,” published in the journal Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair. *** Livestock Disease Toxin May Lead to Development of MS, Study Suggests Here’s something else that may have an impact on whether someone will develop MS. It’s a toxin found in soil that can seriously sicken sheep, goats, and cattle. As with most early studies, however, more research is needed. Exposure to epsilon toxin (ETX), which is mainly found in livestock, could be linked to the development of multiple sclerosis (MS), new research suggests. The study, “Evidence of Clostridium perfringens epsilon toxin associated with multiple sclerosis,” appeared in the Multiple Sclerosis Journal. *** Note: Multiple Sclerosis News Today 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 of Multiple Sclerosis News Today, or its parent company, BioNews Services, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to multiple sclerosis. Print This Page About the Author Ed Tobias People say to write what you know and Ed Tobias knows about MS. He's lived with the illness since 1980, when he was 32 years old. Ed's a retired, award-winning broadcast journalist and his column combines his four decades of MS experiences with news and comments about the latest in the MS community. In addition to writing his column, Ed is one of the patient moderators on the MS News Today Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram sites. He’s also the author of “The Multiple Sclerosis Toolbox: Hints and Tips for Living with M.S.” Ed and his wife split their time between the Washington, D.C. suburbs and Florida’s Gulf Coast, trying to follow the sun. Tags Cladribine, Mavenclad, Merck, rehabilitation Comments Roy Apuzzo Great concept. Please let me know of a PT locations in Las Vegas trained in this technique. I have a right leg paralyzed from MS and failed spine surgery,and need lot of correct PT. to rehab my legs so I can possible walk. Reply Ed Tobias Hi Roy, As the article says, constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) is only in a Phase 2 trial for use treating MS symptoms. I can only suggest that you might contact a PT office in the Vegas area to see if any of its therapists are trained in CIMT for other medical problems and see if they're willing to try it with you. Since it's not approved for MS, however, I doubt that any insurance would cover it for an MS patient. Ed Reply Farinho Diogo Shearch for PT with Bobath knowledge Reply Me Cladribine is currently available in the US as an off-label, generic drug. I took it starting in 2016. Concerned about high priced MS drugs? My full course of 9 self-administered subcutaneous injections cost less than $5000 (no insurance coverage). Really good MS drug. Reply MS'er I'm currently on Gilenya. Is this something I can request my neurologist (off-label generic) ? How do you feel today after your cladribine injections ? Has it improved any symptoms that existed before your dosage. Reply Lotta Is CMIT available in Oregon for a currently bedbound MS pt with relapsing remitting/primary - currently in diapers for both urinary and bowel incontinence following complicated burst appendicitis surgery. Reply Ed Tobias Lotta, Unfortunately, as the article says, constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) is only in a Phase 2 TRIAL for use treating MS symptoms. I can only suggest that you discuss CIMT with the patient's neurologist to see if any similar therapy is appropriate. Ed Reply Leave a comment Fill in the required fields to post. Your email address will not be published. Your Name Your Email Your Comment Post Comment
April 25, 2024 News by Margarida Maia, PhD Having MS may marginally increase likelihood of cervical cancer: Study
April 25, 2024 News by Marisa Wexler, MS MS patients prefer Tysabri injection to intravenous infusion: Study
April 24, 2024 News by Andrea Lobo, PhD Foralumab found to ease fatigue in SPMS patients in access program