Multiple Sclerosis

As the annual ECTRIMS conference in London wound down there was definitely a sense of optimism that there would be more good news to come before the group meets next October in Paris.

When a medication is approved the data from that time can sometimes be of more value than the trials leading up to the approval. For Aubagio there was a recent study done looking at patient satisfaction and other issues following the approval.

One of the late breaking studies at ECTRIMS 2016 looked at how 25OH vitamin D (25OHVitD) and smoking influences disability in patients with MS.

Researchers have evaluated siponimod's efficacy in treating secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) in a phase 3 trial.

At the moment the best way to get a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis is through a brain scan. A team in Tennessee is working to improve that with a blood test that could find the condition sooner allowing for treatment to begin faster.

As the leading minds in the field of multiple sclerosis came together in London for the annual ECTRIMS conference the end of the conference brought a considerable amount of excitement in everything from the relapsing form to progressive forms.

As more and more treatments are approved for patients with multiple sclerosis questions are being answered about their effectiveness long past their approval dates. This is true for many of the medications including lemtrada.

Previous research has shown that prolonged-release fampridine (PR-FAM) can help walking ability in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), however, it’s unclear whether those findings are clinically significant.

Are patients worse off if they are diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at a younger age? That’s what Italian researchers aimed to make more clear at ECTRIMS 2016.

While neurologists may be able to successfully diagnose progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy it may take a more specialized health care professional to effectively treat the condition.

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, also known as PML is a problem which can affect a select number of patients with multiple sclerosis as well as other conditions which involve the immune system. What can be done to address the condition is still being determined by the medical community.

“Multiple sclerosis usually begins with a relapsing-remitting (RRMS) phase characterized by clinical relapses and inflammatory demyelination evident on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI),” an Ohio based team began at ECTRIMS 2016.

Multiple sclerosis is perceived differently by the patient and physician – after all, they’re in two different boats. However, this disconnect could make managing the disease a more complicated journey.

Unlike conditions like multiple sclerosis where there is a considerable amount of knowledge and several available approved treatment options that is not the case for neuromyelitis optica. As a result more work is needed to educate patients about what their treatment will be like.

There are currently no medications approved for the treatment of neuromyelitis optica. However, there are clinical trials underway and more research being done to change that in the coming years.

With multiple medications approved to treat multiple sclerosis there is more work being done to help a larger patient population through the course of disease treatment.

It has been a few years now since Tecfidera was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. In that time there has bee continued research which has shown positive results for patients.

There has never been a randomized, controlled study that compared natalizumab and fingolimod for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) – until now at ECTRIMS 2016 in London, England.

Having been recently approved for patients with the relapsing form of multiple sclerosis more data is being done to show ways it can help manage symptoms while also being a safe option.

In a study led by Jérôme de Seze, MD, PhD, from the University Hospital of Strasbourg in France, researchers aimed to uncover more information on the medication, ocrelizumab, in patients with primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS).

Recent findings have shown that vitamin D supplements improve multiple sclerosis (MS) relapse rates, however, a new study questions when those levels come into play.

“Although the etiology of multiple sclerosis (MS) remains elusive, it is clear that Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) and possibly other viruses have a role in the pathogenesis of MS,” researchers started a presentation at ECTRIMS 2016 in London, England.

Studies tend to yield better results than those found in a real-world setting. So to find “real” clinical outcomes with teriflunomide in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), researchers conducted a phase 4 trial.

Delayed-release dimethyl fumarate (DMF) has yielded positive results in multiple sclerosis (MS) studies, however, the data has been limited to a particular population.

The treatment of multiple sclerosis has come a long way in recent years. However, there is a lot more to be done. There is optimism that over time treatment can be even more effective and help even more patients as new treatment methods are developed.

Patients diagnosed with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis have seen their treatment options increase dramatically in recent years. Now patients with the progressive forms are seeing the the start of momentum building in their favor.

Multiple sclerosis in itself has not shown to increase spontaneous abortions, stillbirth, cesarean delivery, premature birth, or birth defects – but what about the treatments?

Younger and middle-aged people with MS may be able to learn from older adults strategies on how to prioritize, modify, and self-manage factors in order to create a plan to age in place, according to the results of recent research.

Patients who are taking it and are pregnant or plan to become pregnant “are currently advised to balance the potential benefits and potential risks of exposure when considering treatment options,” say the authors.

Siponimod continues to look promising for multiple sclerosis. Researchers report good results on three-year extension of BOLD study.