Multiple sclerosis : clinical and laboratory research
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
Magnetic resonance imaging outcomes from a phase III trial of teriflunomide.
The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of oral teriflunomide on multiple sclerosis (MS) pathology inferred by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). ⋯ Teriflunomide provided benefits on brain MRI activity across multiple measures, with a dose effect evident on several markers. These effects were also consistent across selected subgroups of the study population. These findings complement clinical data showing significant teriflunomide-related reductions in relapse rate and disease progression, and demonstrate containment of MRI-defined disease progression.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
Alemtuzumab improves contrast sensitivity in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.
Alemtuzumab is a monoclonal antibody directed against CD52 that depletes T and B lymphocytes. ⋯ Alemtuzumab was associated with a greater chance of improved contrast sensitivity in patients with RRMS and may delay the worsening of visual function. Contrast sensitivity testing was sensitive to treatment effects, even within an active comparator study design. These results support the validity of low-contrast vision testing as a clinical outcome in MS trials.
-
Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is an inflammatory disease associated with optic neuritis and myelitis. Recently, several studies showed that optical coherence tomography (OCT) could be an interesting method for the evaluation of disease severity; however, to date there are no studies with a longitudinal follow-up of visual function in NMO. The aim of this study was to assess the ability of OCT to evaluate the progression of visual dysfunction in NMO. ⋯ OCT seems to be a more sensitive test than VA or VF for monitoring ophthalmological function in NMO and it seems to be helpful for the detection of infra-clinical episodes in patients with a past history of optic neuritis. Our results suggest that this easily performed technique should be used in the follow-up of NMO, but complementary studies are warranted to confirm its interest at an individual level.
-
Cortical lesions (CLs) have been reported to be a better predictor for cognitive impairment than white matter (WM) lesions in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). ⋯ Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale (ADS-L: Allgemeine Depressions Skala-L, German version of CES-D), CIS: clinically isolated syndrome, CL: cortical lesion, DIR: double inversion recovery, EDSS: Expanded Disability Status Scale, FSMC: fatigue scale for motor and cognitive functions, GM: grey matter, MRI: magnetic resonance imaging, MS: multiple sclerosis, PASAT-3: paced auditory serial addition test 3s, PPMS: primary progressive multiple sclerosis, RRMS: relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, SDMT: symbol digit modalities test, SPM: statistical parametric mapping, SPMS: secondary progressive multiple sclerosis, WM: white matter.