August 18, 2023 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Early treatment after first MS-like attack reduces long-term risk People who experience a first attack of multiple sclerosis (MS)-like disease are less likely to experience long-term disability progression if they start Ā treatment within the first few months, a new study reports. “When it comes to MS treatment, the earlier the better,” Alvaro Cobo-Calvo, MD, PhD, co-author of the…
August 11, 2023 Columns by John Connor What I should’ve been told about clinically isolated syndrome and MS In 2007, at age 47, I had my first-ever consultation with a neurologist. It was during my longest-ever hospital stay, as of then ā a whopping eight days. It amazed me that some of my fellow patients in the ward managed to gather themselves and struggle outside for a ciggy,…
March 9, 2022 Columns by Beth Ullah Lyrics and Loving Myself: Rediscovering My Lost Voice āMost of the time, the greatest rewards come from doing the things that scare you the most. Maybe you’ll get everything you wish for. Maybe you’ll get more than you ever could have imagined. Who knows where life will take you? The road is long, and in the end, the…
February 25, 2022 News by Marisa Wexler, MS #ACTRIMS2022 ā Paramagnetic Rim Lesions ‘Highly Specific’ Markers of MS Paramagnetic rim lesions, a specific form of inflammatory damage to the brain, are rarely found in people with disorders other than multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a study in adults with suspected MS. Its findings suggest that looking at PRLs could be useful for diagnosing the disease. Brain Renner,…
February 17, 2022 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD Fatigue Severity in MS Predicted by Shrinkage of Certain Brain Regions Lower-than-normal volumes of certain brain regions at disease onset ā indicating shrinkage, or atrophy, in those regions ā are significantly associated with current and future fatigue severity in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), a study in Germany shows. Some of these regions also were found to be central brain…
February 7, 2022 Columns by Ed Tobias MS News That Caught My Eye Last Week: Predicting Disease Progression, Temelimab, Trigeminal Neuralgia Combined Data May Predict Personās Risk of Advancing From CIS to MS Clinically isolated syndrome is sometimes called “early MS.” It’s the diagnosis used when someone’s symptoms don’t quite look like MS, but it does appear that MS is lurking. It may take years for an actual…
February 2, 2022 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Combined Data May Predict Person’s Risk of Advancing From CIS to MS A novel algorithm that combines genetic, environmental, and clinical data could be useful for predicting whether people with a first onset ofĀ multiple sclerosis (MS)-like disease ā known as clinically isolated syndrome (CIS)Ā ā will experience relapses or a worsening of their disease over time. The…
March 18, 2021 News by Margarida Maia, PhD Mavenclad Quickly Reduces MRI Lesions in Early MS, ORACLE-MS Data Show Mavenclad (cladribine) reduces the number and volume of lesions in patients at risk of multiple sclerosis (MS) after a first clinical demyelinating event, a study based on Phase 3Ā trial data found. A demyelinating event occurs when myelin ā the protective coating around nerve fibers ā experiences damage; this…
September 21, 2020 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD Pregnancy Delays Likely MS Onset by About 3 Years, Large Study Finds After a pregnancy or childbirth, most women who went on to develop clinically isolated syndrome (CIS)Ā did so about three years later than those who were never pregnant, a large and multicenter study reported. Multiple pregnancies or births, however, were not seen to further affect CIS onset. More research is…
July 30, 2020 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD Healthy Diet May Lower Risk of Relapse After 1st Myelin Attack, Study Suggests A “prudent” diet rich in fresh fruit, non-fried fish, whole grains, vegetables, and nuts may lower the likelihood of a relapse in people with a first demyelinating event, a major risk factor forĀ multiple sclerosis (MS), a study in Australia suggests. While the researchers did not find a strong link…
July 7, 2020 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD Study: Mavenclad Shows Long-term Effectiveness at Preventing MS Relapses, Disease Progression MavencladĀ (cladribine) prevents relapses and disease progression in more than half of patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) for at least five years after the last dose, according to a real-life study from Italy. These findings, based on real-world data from Italian MS patients previously treated…
May 15, 2020 News by InĆŖs Martins, PhD EBV Infections Evident in All 901 MS Patients in German Study Supporting evidence that infection with Epstein-Barr virusĀ (EBV) could be one of the root causes ofĀ multiple sclerosis (MS), a recent study found all of its 901 early disease patients carry antibodies against this virus, meaning that all are or have been exposed to it. The study, “…
November 21, 2019 News by Iqra Mumal, MSc Immunoadsorption May Be Superior to Plasma Exchange in Treating Steroid-resistant Relapses in MS A blood-cleansing process known as immunoadsorption appears to be superior to plasma exchange in treating relapses that donāt respond to conventional steroid therapy in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) or clinically isolated syndrome (CIS), a study reports. These findings were reported in āSafety and efficacy of immunoadsorption…
September 16, 2019 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD #ECTRIMS2019 – Newer DMTs More Effective Than Older Injectables in Pediatric MS, Study Says Using newer disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) as an initial treatment for children and adolescents with multiple sclerosis (MS) or clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) is associated with fewer relapses and brain lesions compared to the use of older and injectable DMTs, according to a real-world study in the U.S.
August 19, 2019 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Imaging That Captures Damage to Brain in CIS Helps in Determining Likelihood of MS, Study Says Imaging techniques that measure damage to the brain, in addition to those that detect lesions, may be useful in predicting likely disease progression in people with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS), a study found. The study, “Early imaging predictors of longer term multiple sclerosis risk and severity…
July 24, 2019 News by Alejandra Viviescas, PhD Conversion to MS Among Taiwanese with CIS Low and Disease Course Mild, Study Finds The percentage of Taiwanese who develop multiple sclerosis (MS) after an episode of clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) is lower than that reported for other ethnicities, and those who do progress are likely to have a milder disease course, a study found, supporting how factors like geography and genetics…
April 9, 2019 News by Ana Pena PhD Menstruation Onset, Pregnancies and Breastfeeding Habits Don’t Influence MS Risk, Study Suggests A woman’s age at her first menstruation, or becoming pregnant and breastfeeding does not substantially influence the long-term risk of multiple sclerosis (MS) or the risk of increased disability, a study of a large number of patients withĀ clinically isolated syndrome…
April 8, 2019 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD Mayzent ‘Will Change Lives’ of MS Patients Transitioning to SPMS, Novartis Says The “regulatory environment” favoredĀ Mayzent (siponimod) beingĀ approved as an oral treatment for people withĀ relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS) ā specifically,Ā clinically isolated syndromeĀ (CIS),Ā relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosisĀ (RRMS), and activeĀ secondary progressive MSĀ (SPMS) ā a top executive with NovartisĀ said, althoughĀ the pharmaceutical company had requested a label covering all with SPMS. Dan…
March 28, 2019 News by Larry Luxner MS Patient Groups React Favorably to Mayzent Approval, But Question Therapyās Price Tag National organizations that represent patients with multiple sclerosisĀ (MS) welcome the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s March 26 approvalĀ of Novartis’Ā oral therapy MayzentĀ (siponimod) ā but they complain that, at $88,500 per year, the treatment is overpriced. The Multiple Sclerosis Society of AmericaĀ (MSSA) is clearly upbeat about the…
October 12, 2018 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD #ECTRIMS2018 ā In CIS Patients, Early Lesions in Specific Brain Area Linked to Worse Disability 30 Years Later, Study Shows Lesions in the infratentorial region of the brain at the onset ofĀ clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) and lesions in white matter one year after CIS onset are associated with worse disability 30 years later, a study reports. The study, āEarly MRI predictors of long-term multiple sclerosis outcomes:…
August 8, 2018 News by Iqra Mumal, MSc Number, Location, Size of Lesions on MRI Can Predict Progression to MS, Study Shows The number, location, and size of lesions can help predict the risk of progression from clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) to multiple sclerosis (MS) within one year, a new study shows. The study, āMRI in predicting conversion to multiple sclerosis within 1Ā year,ā was published in the journal…
August 3, 2018 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD Blood Levels of IgG3 Antibodies May Predict Faster Shift to MS in Clinically Isolated Syndrome Patients, Study Says Higher-than-usual levels of specific antibodies in the blood of patients with clinically isolated syndromeĀ (CIS) may predict a faster progression toĀ multiple sclerosisĀ (MS), an Australian study reports.Ā The specific antibody is known as IgG3, anĀ immunoglobulin known to promote inflammation. The study, āHigher Serum Immunoglobulin G3 Levels May Predict…
July 26, 2018 News by Diogo Pinto Brain Changes in CIS Patients May Be to Blame for Depression, Reduced Quality of Life, Study Suggests Changes in the brains of patients with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS), the first clinical presentation of multiple sclerosis (MS), may be partly responsible for depressive symptoms and reduced quality of life in these patients, a study shows. The study with that finding, āHealth-related quality of life, neuropsychiatric…
May 14, 2018 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD B-Cell Changes May Predict Conversion from Clinically Isolated Syndrome to MS, Study Suggests B-cell alterations in peripheral blood may predict the conversion of clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) to multiple sclerosis (MS), a recent study suggests. Conducted in Turkey, the study, āPeripheral blood memory B cell frequency predicts conversion from clinically isolated syndrome to multiple sclerosis,ā was published in…
October 27, 2017 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD #MSParis2017 – Multiple Sclerosis Can Stay Mild for Decades, 30-year British Study Shows After the first round of symptoms,Ā multiple sclerosis can stay mild without causing major problems for decades, a 30-year British study indicates. Karen K.Ā Chung of theĀ University College London Institute of NeurologyĀ discussed the findings atĀ the ECTRIMS-ACTRIMS meetingĀ in Paris, which started Oct. 25 and runs until 28. His presentation was titled āDoes…
October 26, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD #MSParis2017 – Types of Brain and Spinal Cord Lesions Help Determine if MS Develops, Study Reports The types of brain and spinal cord inflammation patches that occur in a precursor condition to multiple sclerosis help determine whether a person develops MS in the next 15 years, a British neurologist reported today. Wallace J. Brownlee of the University College London Institute of NeurologyĀ made the observation in…
July 14, 2017 News by Joana Fernandes, PhD Breastfeeding May Be Linked to Reduced Risk of MS, Study Suggests Women who breastfeed for 15 months or longer may have a lower risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS) than those who breastfeed for shorter periods or not at all, according to a recent study. The study also suggests that women who had their first…
June 15, 2017 News by Janet Stewart, MSc High Salt Consumption Has No Effect on Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms or Prognosis, Study Finds Eating a diet high in salt won’t worsen or speed up multiple sclerosis (MS) symptoms, concludes a study of MS patients with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS).Ā That contradicts earlier studies by researchers from Argentina, Vermont and elsewhere who warned of a possible link between high sodium consumption and MS. The…
June 2, 2017 News by Alice MelĆ£o, MSc Acne Therapy Reduces Rate of Multiple Sclerosis Progression, Canadian Study Reports A common acne medicine called minocyclineĀ can reduce the rate of multiple sclerosis progression in patients who are at early stages of the disease, according to a Phase 3 clinical trial. The finding was from the MinoCIS trial (NCT00666887) of minocycline, which goes by the brand name Mynocan and other…
October 20, 2016 News by Alice MelĆ£o, MSc Relapses and Dislike of Needles Among Reasons MS Patients Stop Betaferon Treatment Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with more advanced disease, as evidenced by disability, and those more frequent relapses or aversion to needles are among the groups of peopleĀ at higher risk of discontinuing Betaferon (interferon beta-1b) treatment, researchers report. These findings may help to alert clinicians toĀ those least likely to adhere to…