January 11, 2018 Columns by Tamara Sellman The MS Alphabet: Prednisone, Ptosis, PwMS, and Other ‘P’ Words (Part 2 of 7) Editorās note: Tamara Sellman continues her occasional series on the MS alphabet with the second column in a series of seven referencing terms starting with the letter “P.” Symptoms of MS Ptosis Commonly referred to as “droopy eyelid,” ptosis (pronounced TOE-sis) sags…
January 11, 2018 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Newly Diagnosed MS Patients Stay Longer on Rituxan Than Other Therapies, Study Finds Multiple sclerosis patients whose first treatment is Genentech'sĀ Rituxan (rituximab) stay on it longer than other disease-modifying drugs that patients start with, a Swedish study reports. When they stop taking Rituxan, Ā it usually isn't for lack of effectiveness or side effects...
January 9, 2018 Columns by Ed Tobias Diagnosing MS Faster and Better As we all know, MS is difficult to diagnose. Put another way, it’s easy to misdiagnose. There’s no single diagnostic test for MS. Neurologists use their clinical examination, the patient’s medical history, and lab tests. They also rely on MRI imaging of the brain and sometimes of the…
January 3, 2018 News by Alice MelĆ£o, MSc Global Expert Panel Proposes Updating McDonald Criteria to Diagnose MS An international panel of multiple sclerosis (MS) experts has proposed revising theĀ McDonald criteria guidelines to improve and expedite the diagnosis of this disease. Co-chaired by Dr. Jeffrey Cohen of the Cleveland ClinicĀ and Dr. Alan Thompson of the University College London, the 30-member panel reviewed newly available research…
December 12, 2017 News by Janet Stewart, MSc Using Balloons to Increase Blood Flow from Brain Fails to Help MS Patients, Trial Finds Using balloons to enlarge veins so that more blood flows out of the brain and spinal cord fails to help multiple sclerosis patients, according to a clinical trial in Italy. Researchers said the procedure did not improve their functioning or reduce their brain lesions ā areas where toxic protein build-ups…
December 8, 2017 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Novartis’ Gilenya Improves Cognition, Reduces Relapses and MS Lesions, Phase 4 Trial Shows Ā Novartis' Gilenya and interferon beta-1b-based therapies stop multiple sclerosis patients' cognitive decline, a Phase 4 clinical trial shows. Gilenya (fingolimod) also reduces patients' relapses and the number of their brain lesions ā areas where a protein coating that protects nerve cells has deteriorated, researchers found.
December 7, 2017 Columns by Laura Kolaczkowski Advances in MRI Readings My neurologist orders an annual MRI to see if any major changes have occurred, and last year my imaging included NeuroQuant software. NeuroQuant is still relatively unknown in the multiple sclerosis patient community. It is a measuring software that gives us real numbers we can comprehend instead of subjective…
December 4, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Blood Test That Helps Predict MS Disease Activity Might Lower Need for MRI Scans, Study Suggests A blood test may someday replace some of the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans taken by people with multiple sclerosis (MS) Ā ā offering an easy, cheap alternative for monitoring disease activity. A study by Norway’s University of BergenĀ found that blood levels of a factor called neurofilament light chain, released…
October 30, 2017 News by Alice MelĆ£o, MSc #MSParis2017 – RADIANCE Trial Data Shows Ozanimod’s Potential Over Interferon Beta-1a for Relapsing MS Celgene‘s investigative drug ozanimod has been shown to be more efficient thanĀ an intramuscular injection of interferon beta-1a (marketed as AvonexĀ by Biogen) in reducing relapses and disease progression in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS), according to results of the two-year Phase 3 RADIANCE trial. The findings were…
October 27, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD #MSParis2017 ā Phase 3 Trial Data Show Ozanimod Safe, Effective in MS Patients Ozanimod (RPC1063) was seen to lower relapse rates and reduce brain and spinal cord lesions among patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS) participating in a Phase 3 study of the treatment. Giancarlo Comi,Ā from theĀ Vita-SaluteĀ San RaffaeleĀ University, in Italy, announced the results in a presentation during the ongoing…
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…
September 12, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Swedish Study Suggests Stem Cell Transplants as Possible Treatment for Aggressive RRMS Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplants for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) are superior to currently approved disease-modifying drugs,Ā according to a Swedish studyĀ published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry. In addition, says the review, the procedure’s safety profile has improved in the last decade, and is now just…
June 27, 2017 Columns by Ed Tobias If My MRI Is Stable, Why Is My Walking Getting Worse? During a routine exam with my neurologist recently, I asked her a question I’d never thought to ask before: “Why do you order regular MRIs of my brain, but not of my spine?” Interestingly, within a few days of my exam, a Harvard Med School study was…
June 21, 2017 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD Harvard Study Finds No Link Between Clinical Exams and MRIs in Some MS Patients Physical disability may have no link toĀ brain lesion volume in some patients with multiple sclerosis (MS),Ā concludes a recent study led by Dr.Ā Rohit Bakshi, aĀ neurology and radiology professor atĀ Harvard Medical School. The study, āCharacterizing Clinical and MRI Dissociation in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis,ā appearedĀ in the Journal…
May 31, 2017 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD #CMSC17 – Lemtrada’s 2 Year Therapy in RRMS Sustains Efficacy for Over 6 Years Without Additional Treatment Taking Lemtrada (alemtuzumab) for two years inhibitedĀ magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) disease activity in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) for more than six years, theĀ CARE-MS I clinical trial extension study found. Researchers presented their study,Ā āDurable Efficacy of Alemtuzumab on MRI Disease Activity Over 6 Years in Treatment-Naive RRMS Patients With…
April 28, 2017 News by Joana Fernandes, PhD Siponimod Slows Progression of MS Disability, Phase 3 Clinical Trial Shows SiponimodĀ slows the progression of multiple sclerosis patients’ disability, a Phase 3 clinical trial indicates. The therapy reduced the risk of disability progression in patients with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) by 21 percent over three months, researchers said. At six months, the reduction was 26 percent, they said. Researchers…
April 27, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Genentech Highlights Rapid Actions of MS Therapy Ocrevus at AAN Meeting Within the first two months of treatment, Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) reduced relapses in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients by more than half compared to those on Rebif, and almost completely prevented new brain lesions, according to data underscoring the drug’s rapid effects. Researchers from San Francisco-basedĀ Genentech and its Swiss parent…
February 23, 2017 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD #ACTRIMS2017 – Early MS Evidence Found in Asymptomatic First-degree Relatives of Patients First-degree relativesĀ of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients may develop asymptomatic disease, suggesting the need to further evaluate family members to develop timely prevention strategies. The study,Ā āInvestigating early evidence of multiple sclerosis in a prospective study of high risk family members,ā was presented at the Americas Committee for Treatment and…
February 2, 2017 News by admin Long-term Treatment with Gilenya Found to Limit Lesions, Relapses in Japanese MS Patients Continuous treatment with Gilenya (fingolimod)Ā helps limit relapses and detectable lesions in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, according to a three-year, follow-upĀ studyĀ in Japan. The results confirmĀ the findings of trials conducted in predominantly Caucasian populations. The findings were reported in the study, āLong-term efficacy and safety of fingolimod in…
January 20, 2017 Columns by Jamie Hughes Fighting MS on Our Own Terms: Vive La Resistance! Thereās one thing you need to know about my family ā weāre weird. We laugh at inopportune times. We can go entire days just speaking to one another in movie quotes. Sarcasm is a love language to my clan. And we can make just about anything ā and I…
September 22, 2016 News by Joana Fernandes, PhD #ECTRIMS2016 – Treatment for Relapsing MS, Ozanimod, Shows Efficacy in 2-Year Extension of Phase 2 Study Results from the extension period of aĀ Phase 2 trial,Ā assessingĀ ozanimod as a potential treatment for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, showed that the drug can effectively and safely improve clinical measures of RRMS after two years of treatment. The announcement was made by Celgene International SĆ rl, a subsidiary of Celgene Corporation,…
September 19, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD #ECTRIMS2016 – Brain MRI Scans Can Predict Which Patients Will Progress into SPMS The presence of certain brain and spinal cord lesions can be used to predict if an MS patient with clinically isolated syndrome will progress into relapsing or secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) within 15 years. Researchers agree that knowing which patients who will rapidly deteriorate will help physicians tailor both…
September 19, 2016 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD #ECTRIMS2016 – Vitamin D3 Oil Supplements May Benefit MS Patients in Early Disease Stages Patients with relapsing-remittingĀ multiple sclerosis (RRMS) might benefit from cholecalciferol (vitamin D3)Ā oil as an add-on therapy in the early phases of the disease. This findingĀ was presented in an oral presentation, āHigh dose cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) oil as add-on therapy in subjects with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis receiving subcutaneous interferon Ī²-1a,ā given atĀ theĀ 32nd…
June 6, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD #CMSC16 – Ocrevus (Ocrelizumab) in PPMS Prevented Disability Progression, Lowered MRI Lesion Volume, Study Shows Data recently presented at the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) 2016 Annual Meeting showed that Roche/Genentechās investigational drugĀ ocrelizumab (Ocrevus) lowered the risk of disability progression in primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS), a condition for which no approved treatments exist. The study was presented during the “…
May 10, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Severe Rebound Effects Found in ‘Relevant’ Number of MS Patients After Stopping Fingolimod Rebound symptoms after stoppingĀ fingolimod (Gilenya) treatment affect a “clinically relevant” number of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients,Ā a study byĀ University of California, San Francisco, researchers reported. The study called attention to the need for determining the best method of sequencing or stopping MS treatments, and highlighted the need to identify factors…
March 31, 2016 News by admin Diabetic Oral Drugs Like Metformin Eased MS Symptoms in People with Both Diseases, Study Reports New research from Argentina explores the idea that controlling symptoms of type 2 diabetes (metabolic syndrome) can also beneficially impact multiple sclerosis (MS) disease progression. The study,“Immunologic Effects of Metformin and Pioglitazone Treatment on Metabolic Syndrome and Multiple Sclerosis,“ appeared March 7 in the journal…
March 18, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD #CONy16: Scientists Debate MRI’s Role in MS Treatment Changes; Exclusive Interview with Prof. Xavier Montalban The precision of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measurement has improved over the years, and now scans can identify brain damage before symptoms begin showing. Whether the presence of new or expanding lesions predict disease progression is, however, still controversial, and clinicians have no guidance when making treatment decisions about the…