Lancet neurology
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Effects of oral glatiramer acetate on clinical and MRI-monitored disease activity in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis: a multicentre, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled study.
Parenterally administered glatiramer acetate reduces the frequency of relapses and the formation of active brain lesions seen with MRI in multiple sclerosis. This study assessed whether two doses of glatiramer acetate given orally could improve clinical and MRI measures of inflammation and neurodegeneration in a large cohort of patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. ⋯ 5 mg and 50 mg glatiramer acetate administered orally on a daily basis do not affect relapse rate or other clinical and MRI parameters of disease activity and burden in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. Treatment with oral formulations of glatiramer acetate at the doses tested cannot be recommended.
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
MRI criteria for dissemination in space in patients with clinically isolated syndromes: a multicentre follow-up study.
The McDonald International Panel accepted the Barkhof/Tintoré criteria for providing MRI evidence of dissemination in space to allow a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis in patients with clinically isolated syndromes (CIS). We applied these criteria in a large cohort of patients with CIS, representative of those seen in a general diagnostic setting, to assess their accuracy in predicting conversion to definite multiple sclerosis and to identify factors that affect this risk. ⋯ MRI abnormalities have important prognostic value. The cut-off, based on the Barkhof/Tintoré criteria, as incorporated in the McDonald diagnostic scheme yields acceptable specificity, but could have lower sensitivity than previously reported.