Multiple sclerosis : clinical and laboratory research
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Complex diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS) present dilemmas over the choice of patient-reported outcome measures as no single scale can inform on all types of MS impact from the patient's perspective. ⋯ Clinicians and researchers can have confidence in scores obtained by respondents on the PRIMUS. The PRIMUS will aid the assessment of the impact of MS from the patient's perspective.
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Regional atrophy measures may offer useful information about the causes of specific clinical deficits in multiple sclerosis (MS). ⋯ Clinically relevant GM atrophy occurs in the cerebellum of MS patients and is more prominent than WM atrophy. As such, it may provide complementary data to other regional atrophy and intrinsic tissue measures.
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Vitamin D is important for bone health and immune regulation, and has been shown to be low in multiple sclerosis (MS). We sought to determine the effect of over the counter low dose cholecalciferol (LDC) and high dose ergocalciferol (HDE) on the vitamin D levels in MS patients. ⋯ We conclude that large numbers of patients with MS and TM in our cohort are deficient in vitamin D. HDE significantly elevated 25(OH)D levels in MS patients and was more effective at increasing 25(OH)D levels than LDC. Prospective studies are required to determine appropriate dosing regimen to achieve optimal levels in the majority of MS patients and to ascertain the safety, immunological response, and ultimately the clinical efficacy of vitamin D replacement therapy.
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Gray matter (GM) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) T2 hypointensity, a putative marker of iron deposition, commonly occurs in multiple sclerosis (MS). However, GM T2 hypointensity in benign MS (BMS) has not yet been characterized. ⋯ GM in BMS is not spared from structural change including iron deposition. However, while T2 hypointensity is related to global tissue disruption reflected in DT MRI, the expression of benign versus non-benign MS is likely related to other factors.