March 5, 2019 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD #ACTRIMS2019 – TG Therapeutics’ Investigational Therapy Ublituximab Posts Positive Data in MS Phase 2 Clinical Trial Full results of a Phase 2 clinical trial testing TG Therapeuticsā lead candidate ublituximab (TG-1101) for relapsingĀ multiple sclerosisĀ (MS) showed that treatment for 48 weeks resulted in a marked reduction of brain and spinal cord lesions, an almost complete depletion of relapse-associated immune B-cells, and significantly halted disability…
March 4, 2019 News by Jonathan Grinstein #ACTRIMS2019 – Cerebrospinal Fluid, Meninges Inflammation Profile Can Stratify MS Patients A method based on cerebrospinal fluid measurements and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can aid in stratifying patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) at the time of diagnosis, which may help identify a tailored therapeutic approach for each patient from early disease stages. The data was presented by Roberta Magliozzi, from…
March 4, 2019 News by Jonathan Grinstein #ACTRIMS2019 – Two MRI Biomarkers Can Potentially Distinguish RIS from Other Disorders Two new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) biomarkers ā called central vein sign and paramagnetic rim sign ā could be useful for differentiating true radiologically isolated syndrome (RIS) patients from those with mimicking features, new research shows. The findings were presented at theĀ Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple…
March 1, 2019 News by Jonathan Grinstein #ACTRIMS2019 – RRMS Conversion to SPMS Is Preceded by Spinal Cord Atrophy The rate of spinal cord tissue loss is a strong indicator of conversion fromĀ relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS)Ā to secondary progressive MS (SPMS), according to a finding presented at theĀ fourth annual Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ACTRIMS) Forum 2019. The forum…
February 28, 2019 News by Jonathan Grinstein #ACTRIMS2019 – No Evidence of Disease Activity Seen in POMS Adolescents Taking Rituximab, Small Study Shows Data supporting the off-label use of rituximab in adolescents with pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis (POMS) was presented atĀ the Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ACTRIMS) Forum 2019. The session, titledĀ āNo Evidence of Disease Activity in the Majority of Pediatric-Onset Multiple Sclerosis Patients Receiving Rituximab,ā…
February 22, 2019 News by Jonathan Grinstein Aubagio, Tecfidera Show Comparable Effectiveness in Relapsing MS, Real-world Phase 4 Trial Finds Aubagio (teriflunomide)Ā seems to be superior to Tecfidera (dimethyl fumarate)Ā in slowingĀ whole brain shrinkage in patients withĀ relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS), a new Phase 4 clinical trial shows. However, Aubagio and Tecfidera have similar beneficial effects in achieving other clinical goals and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) parameters,…
November 28, 2018 News by Alice MelĆ£o, MSc Artificial Intelligence May Help Reduce Dosage of Gadolinium in MRIs, Researchers Suggest Artificial intelligence can help reduce the amount of gadolinium used as a contrast agent in MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans, preventing the agent’s potential toxicity when accumulated in body tissue, including the brain and bones, each time it is used, researchers suggest. The finding is of particular importance for…
November 6, 2018 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Diabetes, Hypertension, Smoking Linked with Brain Shrinkage in MS Patients Diabetes, hypertension, and active smoking correlate with more brain shrinkage in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, a new study shows. The study, āAssessing the burden of vascular risk factors on brain atrophy in multiple sclerosis: A case- control MRI studyā was published in the journalĀ Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders.
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:…
October 10, 2018 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD #ECTRIMS2018 – Researcher Presents Data About Myelocortical MS, a New Disease Subtype A new subtype of multiple sclerosis (MS) ā called myelocortical MS (MCMS) ā is characterized by cortical neuronal loss, but not by loss of myelin in the brain’s white matter, according to a study. Research on this new type of MS was presented today at the 34thĀ congress of…
September 21, 2018 Columns by Jamie Hughes What the Scan Said (and What It Didn’t) A couple weeks ago, I went to my neurologistās office early for my annual MRI. Itās never a pleasant experience. Even after 14 years, itās still as unsettling as it was the first time. Itās not the tightness of the space that gets me or the sensations and sounds.
August 22, 2018 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Myelocortical MS, New Disease Subtype Marked by Nerve Cell But Not Myelin Loss, Identified in Study Researchers have identified a new subtype of multiple sclerosis (MS), one marked by nerve cell degeneration that occurs independently of immune system attacks against myelin, a process known as demyelination and considered a hallmark of MS. The new subtype ā called myelocortical MS ā is indistinguishable from others in the…
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…
July 25, 2018 News by Vijaya Iyer, PhD Despite Increased Lesions, No Brain Atrophy Seen in RRMS Patients After Childbirth, Study Reports In women with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), there is a significant increase in brain lesion volume after pregnancy, but it is not accompanied by aĀ loss of brain cells, a study suggests. Conducted by researchers at Harvard Medical School, the study, āQuantitative MRI analysis of cerebral lesions and…
July 19, 2018 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Brain Iron Levels Correlate with MS Progression, Disability Risk, Study Shows Evaluating the local differences in iron accumulation in the deep gray matter of the brainĀ using a specialĀ magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique, may help identify multiple sclerosis (MS) patients at greater risk for disease progression and disability, a study reports. The study “Brain Iron by Using Quantitative MRI…
July 17, 2018 News by Ashraf Malhas, PhD Managing High Blood Pressure Important for Managing MS, Study Suggests An association between high blood pressure and reduction of brain integrity in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients highlights the importance of blood pressure management by MS healthcare providers. The severity of MS varies greatly. Although this is still poorly understood, certain factors, such as obesity and high blood pressure, are suspected…
July 9, 2018 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD #EAN2018 – Spinal Cord Atrophy Better Marker of Physical Disability in SPMS Than Brain Volume Loss, Study Reports Atrophy seen in areas of the spinal cord is a better predictor of physical disability in secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) patients than loss of brain volume, a new study reports. The research was presented at theĀ 4th Congress of the European Academy of NeurologyĀ (EAN), recently held in Lisbon,…
June 22, 2018 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD #EAN2018 – MavencladĀ Greatly Reduces Risk of RRMS Relapse, Analysis Finds New retrospective analysis of the Phase 3 CLARITY study (NCT00213135)Ā shows that treatment with MavencladĀ (cladribine tablets) improved annualized relapse rate and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) outcomes in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), regardless of their age. Moreover, the effectiveness of Mavenclad was comparable to five standard therapies…
June 21, 2018 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD #EAN2018 – Both Brain and Spinal MRIs Needed to Monitor MS Inflammation, Study Says Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) used to assess inflammation in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients should include scans of the spinal cord and not be restricted to the brain, because brain scans alone risk underestimating disease progression, a study suggests. These results were shared in the presentation, āMeasuring disease activity in…
June 18, 2018 News by Patricia Silva, PhD MSAA Expands Financial Aid Fund for MRI Scans to Meet Growing Demand TheĀ Multiple Sclerosis Association of AmericaĀ (MSAA) announced that it will expand its MRI Access Fund to help meet the growing demand for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tests within the multiple sclerosis (MS) community. The fund is designed to help cover the costs of brain and spinal MRI scans…
June 15, 2018 Columns by Ed Tobias Getting Help Paying for Your MRIs It’s not unusual for someone with MS to have an annual MRI exam. Sometimes it’s even semiannual. And it’s not cheap. According to the website Healthcare Bluebook, an MRI of the brain, with and without contrast, can cost you anywhere from $826 to $4,780, depending on where youĀ live…
June 7, 2018 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD Atrophy of Brain Lesions Predicts Disability in MS, 10-year Study Finds Atrophy (shrinkage) of brain lesions correlates with physical disability in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), new research reports. The study, āAtrophied Brain Lesion Volume: A New Imaging Biomarker in Multiple Sclerosis,ā was published in theĀ Journal of Neuroimaging. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans are used routinely on MS patients…
May 15, 2018 Columns by Ed Tobias Healthcare Costs Can Depend on Where You Live A new survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation finds that healthcare costs in the U.S. are increasing faster than general inflation. AsĀ character Private Gomer Pyle used to say on his 1960s TV show, “Surprise, surprise, surprise!” Really, those of us with a medical problem such as MS…
May 4, 2018 Columns by John Connor Knowing Me, Knowing MS The problem with writing a weekly column is I always need to come up with new ideas. Luckily, or rather, unluckily, MS always throws me a U.S. sports-shaped analogy ā one of those trickily disguised curveballs. I wasn’t even going to attempt to write this week. Not because of…
April 30, 2018 Columns by Debi Wilson Is the MRI Contrasting Agent Gadolinium Safe? (Part 2) Part twoĀ in aĀ series. Read part one here. In the last column, I discussed gadolinium’s role in contrasted MRI procedures andĀ a December 2017 warning by theĀ U.S. Food and Drug Administration that the body can retain gadolinium in its tissues and brain for years.Ā I also shared my personal experience with…
April 23, 2018 Columns by Debi Wilson Is the MRI Contrasting Agent Gadolinium Safe? (Part 1) When a doctor orders an MRI with contrast, gadolinium is usually the contrasting agent used. Gadolinium is injected into the patient’s vein after the radiologist takes the first round of MRI images. This helps the radiologist receive sharper, more readable images. In the case of multiple sclerosis (MS),…
April 20, 2018 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD #AAN2018 – Switching from Rebif to Ocrevus Improves MS, Extension Study Shows Continuous treatment with Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) or switching from Rebif (interferon beta-1a)Ā to Ocrevus leads to aĀ significant long-term reduction in relapsing multiple sclerosis activity, a two-year extension study shows. Ocrevus’s maker, Genentech,Ā drew the results from anĀ open-label extension of the Phase 3 OPERA trials. Researchers will present the findings at…
April 12, 2018 Columns by Laura Kolaczkowski An Ocrevus Update Has Me Cautiously Optimistic After a delay in treatment in late December thanks to a nasty head cold, and the after-effects of contracting the flu in February necessitating another delay, I finally received my second six-month dose of Ocrevus (ocrelizumab)Ā in mid-March. Much like the first time, the infusion was uneventful. I had no…
April 10, 2018 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD Professor Earns Research Award for Establishing Use of MRI to Improve MS Diagnosis, Understanding Professor Frederik Barkhof, MD, PhD, has won the 2018 John Dystel Prize for Multiple Sclerosis Research for pioneering the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to improve multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis and understanding of the disease. The prize, decided by a peer committee, is awarded annually by…
March 26, 2018 Columns by Debi Wilson My Unique Primary Progressive MS Diagnosis I have lived with the diagnosis of primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS)Ā for almost eight years. For many years prior to that diagnosis, I was confused by what could be causing my abnormal gait, extreme fatigue, blurred vision,Ā and trouble concentrating. During that time, I completed many diagnostic tests, dealt…