October 17, 2019 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Rituximab Linked to Greater Risk of Infections in MS Patients in Real-world Swedish Study Newer disease-modifying treatments for multiple sclerosis (MS) are effective but also known to carry a greater risk of infections in a patient group already more likely to be troubled by infections ā and this higher risk is particularly evident in treatment with rituximab, a DMT often used off-label in…
October 14, 2019 News by Alice MelĆ£o, MSc Decades of Night Work Tied to Nearly 3 Times Higher MS Risk, Studies in Nurses Suggest Occasional, or rotating, night shift work, even if done over a decade, does not seem to be directly linked to a higher risk of multiple sclerosis. But working nights for more than 20 years ā and likely beginning such shifts early in a career ā carries an almost three…
October 1, 2019 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD Detailed Genetic Map Implicates Broad Immune Cell Involvement in MS, Reports Risk Variant in X Chromosome A new large-scale genetic map implicates broad immune system dysfunction in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), suggests a key role of brain immune cells called microglia, and indicates an MS-related gene variant located in the X chromosome. Altogether, the findings ā the result of the largest reported study…
September 25, 2019 News by Ana Pena PhD #ECTRIMS2019 – Should Vitamin D Supplements Be Recommended for MS? No, Researcher Says Editorās note: This is the third story in a three-part report examining the question “Should vitamin D supplements be recommended for MS patients?”, which was a topic discussed at this year’s Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS). Here, we take an in-depth…
September 25, 2019 News by Ana Pena PhD #ECTRIMS2019 – Should Vitamin D Supplements Be Recommended for MS? Yes, Researchers Say Editorās note: This is the second story in a three-part report examining experts’ answers to the question “Should vitamin D supplements be recommended for MS patients?”, which was a topic discussed at this year’sĀ Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple SclerosisĀ (ECTRIMS).Ā Here, we take an in-depth…
September 16, 2019 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD #ECTRIMS2019 – Nerve Cell Damage May Be Evident Years Before Symptoms Are Damage to nerve cells appears to occur years before people with multiple sclerosis (MS) begin to show symptoms and is evident in a likely biomarker, new data suggest. Researchers found raised levels of neurofilament light chain (NfL), a protein associated with nerve cell damage, in blood samples collected six years…
September 13, 2019 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD #ECTRIMS2019 ā Human Herpesvirus 6A May Increase MS Risk, Study Suggests Infection with the human herpesvirus (HHV)-6A may increase the likelihood of having multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a new national study in Sweden. The research, āSerological response against HHV-6A is associated with increased risk for multiple sclerosis,ā was presented byĀ Anna Fogdell-Hahn, PhD, associate professor at the…
September 13, 2019 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD #ECTRIMS2019 – Younger MS Patients at Higher Risk for Cardiovascular Diseases, Large Swedish Study Finds People with multiple sclerosis (MS) are more likely to develop cardiovascular diseases than the general population, according to a large Swedish nationwide study. This risk is higher for patients diagnosed before age 40, the study found. Fredrik Piehl, MD, PhD, from Karolinska University Hospital, Sweden, presented the…
September 11, 2019 News by Ana Pena PhD #ECTRIMS2019 ā MS Patients Should Be Informed about Pregnancy Risks and Family Planning, Experts Say While pregnancy does not appear to affect the disease course of multiple sclerosis (MS), questions remain about the best time to stop or resume treatment before conception and after delivery, the safety of new medications, and the importance of family planning. Pregnancy was the “hot topic” discussion today…
August 8, 2019 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD Specific Mutation and Amino Acid Change Linked to MS Risk in Study from Japan An amino acid change to phenylalanine, and a specific class I HLA gene variant are associated with greater risk forĀ multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a study in Japanese patients. Researchers also identified an HLA variant, or mutation, associated with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), an autoimmune condition…
July 31, 2019 News by Steve Bryson, PhD Surgery with Anesthesia Does Not Raise Person’s Risk of MS Relapse, Study Finds No excessive relapse risk appears to exist for people with multiple sclerosisĀ who undergo surgery that requires anesthesia, researchers report, challenging long-held assumptions associated with MS and surgery. Their single-site study, āMultiple sclerosis relapse risk in the postoperative period: Effects of…
July 30, 2019 News by Steve Bryson, PhD Early MRI Screening Can Predict Long-term MS Disability, Help Guide Treatment, Study Says Routine screening throughĀ magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) can predict long-term disease progression ā leading to more certainty and informing better treatment choices, a 15-year study reported. The study, titled āEarly imaging predictors of long-term…
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…
July 15, 2019 News by Ana Pena PhD MS Possibly Linked to Greater Cancer Risk in Large, But Preliminary Norwegian Study People with multiple sclerosis (MS) may have a greater overall risk of developing cancer than the general population, according to the results of a 58-year follow-up study of nearly 7,000 patients in Norway. Risk seems particularly high for cancers in respiratory organs, urinary organs, and the central nervous system.
July 3, 2019 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Rebif Cost-effective and Can Reduce Brain Lesions in RRMS Patients, Data Show Merck KGaA presented new evidence supporting the safety and clinical efficacy of RebifĀ (interferon beta-1a) for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) at the 5thĀ Congress of the European Academy of Neurology (EAN), June 29āJuly 2 in Oslo, Norway. The company, known asĀ EMD SeronoĀ in the U.S. and Canada, presented 16…
June 13, 2019 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Elevated Blood Pressure May Predict Brain Bleeding in RRMS Patients Treated with Lemtrada, Study Suggests New research suggests that rising blood pressure might be predictive of intracranial hemorrhage ā bleeding in the brain, a serious and sometimes fatal condition ā in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) who are receiving treatment with Lemtrada (alemtuzumab). The study, titled “Intracerebral haemorrhage during…
June 11, 2019 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Study Identifies Possible Genetic Causes of MS Scientists are zeroing in on mutations in a few genes that appear to be major risk factors for developing multiple sclerosis (MS). The results of their research suggest there are common biological pathways that cause the disease. The study, “Exome sequencing in multiple sclerosis families identifies 12…
May 8, 2019 News by Marisa Wexler, MS #AANAM – Research Suggests Extended Interval Dosing of Tysabri Can Decrease Risk of PML New data suggests that treatment withĀ TysabriĀ (natalizumab) in an extended interval dosing regimen is associated with a significantly lower risk ofĀ progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathyĀ (PML) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), compared with the standard interval dosing. The data was presented byĀ Lana Zhovtis Ryerson, MD, on May 7 at the 2019Ā …
May 8, 2019 News by Marisa Wexler, MS #AANAM – Research Suggests Misconceptions About MS Risk in Pregnant Women New research suggests that even though pregnant women with multiple sclerosis (MS) are often viewed as high risk by their physicians, pregnancy Ā does not seem to increase the likelihood of adverse obstetrical outcomes for those patients or their babies. The research was presented at the 2019 Annual Meeting…
April 5, 2019 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD #AANAM – Mineral Intake Not Linked to MS Risk, Study Suggests The amount of zinc, iron, and other minerals a person has in his or her diet is not associated with the risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a study. The study, āTotal intake of different minerals and the risk of multiple sclerosis,”Ā was published…
March 25, 2019 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Body Mass Index, but Not Age at Puberty, Linked to Higher MS Risk, Study Suggests Body mass index (BMI), but not the age at which people start puberty, could increase the risk of multiple sclerosis (MS), a study suggests. The study, “Effect of age at puberty on risk of multiple sclerosis: A mendelian randomization study,” was published in the journalĀ …
March 20, 2019 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD Beta-interferons Extend Survival of Relapsing MS Patients, Study Reports Treatment of relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS) with beta-interferon therapies is associated with extended patient survival, particularly if taking such treatments for more than three years, according to a real-world study in Canada and France. The study, āMultiple sclerosis: effect of beta interferon treatment on survival,ā was…
March 19, 2019 News by Jonathan Grinstein Risk Tolerance for Therapies Linked to Age, Sex and Disability Sex, age, disability level, and current disease-modifying therapy use are linked to how multiple sclerosis (MS) patients weigh the potential benefits and safety risks of treatments, new research from two teams funded by the National Multiple Sclerosis SocietyĀ shows. These studies shed light on how…
February 26, 2019 News by Iqra Mumal, MSc Switching from Tysabri to Aubagio Can Help Lower Relapse Risk in MS Patients, Phase 4 Trial Shows Stable patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) who transition from Tysabri (natalizumab) treatment toĀ Aubagio (teriflunomide) have a lower relapse risk, a new study shows. The study, āReducing return of disease activity in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis transitioned from natalizumab to teriflunomide: 12-month interim results of teriflunomide therapy,ā…
February 5, 2019 News by Jonathan Grinstein MS May Raise Risk of Deep-vein Blood Clots, Possibly by Limiting Mobility, Study Says People with multiple sclerosis may be twice as likely to develop deep-vein blood clots, a condition known as venous thromboembolism, than healthy people do, a study reports. But data linking the two is limited, and its researchers say further work is needed to understand if MS is directly related to…
January 15, 2019 News by Alice MelĆ£o, MSc UK Experts Propose New Guidelines to Treat Women with MS Before, During, After Pregnancy Multiple sclerosis (MS) experts in the United Kingdom have proposed consensus guidelines for the management and treatment of pregnant women with the disease, and couples affected by MS who are planning a pregnancy. The new guidelines are expected to reduce uncertainty about treatments that are considered to be safe and…
December 20, 2018 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Genetic Variant Linked to MS Affects More Than Immune Cells, Study Finds A genetic variant associated with an increased risk of multiple sclerosis (MS) due to its impact on certain immune system cells can also affect brain cells called astrocytes, a study shows. Reported in the study, āEnhanced astrocyte responses are driven by a genetic risk allele associated with multiple…
November 27, 2018 News by Santiago Gisler Lifestyle Factors Tied to MS-related Depression, Large Study Finds Changeable lifestyle factors influence the risk and severity of depression associated with multiple sclerosis (MS), a study based on a large group of patients shows. According to the study,Ā alcohol consumption in particular was linked negatively withĀ depression incidence and severity. In addition, a healthy diet and vitamin D and omega-3 supplementation…
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 23, 2018 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD Changes in Temperature and Salt Affect Myelin and Raise Risk of MS, Study Says Environmental changes, such as high temperatures and alterations in salt types and concentrations, trigger structural changes to myelin that may increase the risk ofĀ multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a new study. The research, āPathological transitions in myelin membranes driven by environmental and multiple sclerosis conditions,ā was…