MS News That Caught My Eye Last Week: MMJ Chewing Gum, Hair Loss, Botox for Bladder Problems, MS Progression Prediction

Hair Loss Seen in RRMS Patients Using Aubagio Often Temporary and Mild, Study Says

I read a lot of questions on multiple sclerosis (MS) social media groups from people who are worried about hair loss caused by their disease-modifying therapy (DMT). Aubagio (teriflunomide) is one DMT with a known hair loss side effect. (Fortunately, I didn’t notice any loss when I was treated with Aubgio). This real-world study, paid for by the company that markets Aubagio, should be reassuring to those Aubagio patients whose hair is thinning.

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Hair thinning in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients using Aubagio is usually mild and temporary and does not require stopping treatment, a small real-world study reports.

The research, “Real-World Observational Evaluation of Hair Thinning in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis Receiving Teriflunomide: Is It an Issue in Clinical Practice?,” was published in the journal Neurology and Therapy.

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Low-dose Botox Treatment Improves Urinary Symptoms in MS Patients, Study Finds

I hope that this Phase 3 trial moves into an approval for this treatment because I’d certainly love to have something that would improve my bladder problems. This treatment, a monthly injection of low-dose Botox, seems to be a patient-friendly way to ease such issues without some of the complications the higher dose presents.

Results from a Phase 3 clinical trial show that urinary symptoms can be reduced significantly after treatment with low-dose Botox (100 units) in patients with MS.

That finding was reported in the study “Low-dose onabotulinumtoxinA improves urinary symptoms in noncatheterizing patients with MS,” published in the journal Neurology. 

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MedChew RX Shows Stability and Potential for Effectiveness in Early Tests, Company Reports

Many people with MS have reported that some medical marijuana products can help with MS spasticity and muscle cramping. A company is testing MMJ in chewing gum form. It’s working on beginning a clinical trial in Holland soon.

AXIM Biotechnologies announced that tests on its cannabinoid-based chewing gum — MedChew Rx — showed both product stability and effective release of medicinal molecules, with a high percentage of its pharmaceutical ingredients available.

These test results may be of importance, as the company is planning to bring MedChewRx into clinical trials as a treatment for pain and spasticity in MS patients.

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Number, Location, Size of Lesions on MRI Can Predict Progression to MS, Study Shows

It’s becoming more evident, research shows, that early treatment is a key to slowing MS progression. But, as known by many of us whose diagnosis took a long time, pinning a specific MS diagnosis can be tough. This study suggests that counting, locating, and measuring lesions on an MRI scan can do a lot to help confirm a diagnosis.

The number, location, and size of lesions can help predict the risk of progression from clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) to MS within one year, a new study shows.

The study, “MRI in predicting conversion to multiple sclerosis within 1 year,” was published in the journal Brain and Behavior.

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