Multiple sclerosis and related disorders
-
Mult Scler Relat Disord · Nov 2020
Increased socioeconomic burden in patients with primary progressive multiple sclerosis: A Danish nationwide population-based study.
Primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) is characterized by development of more chronic neurological manifestations from disease onset compared with relapsing remitting MS (RRMS) and secondary progressive MS (SPMS) but the following socioeconomic consequences have never been described in a nation-wide patient population. ⋯ This nation-wide population-based study show that socioeconomic burden is significantly higher in PPMS relative to RRMS, but less pronounced compared with SPMS.
-
Mult Scler Relat Disord · Nov 2020
Letter Case ReportsBenign SARS-CoV-2 infection in MOG-antibodies associated disorder during tocilizumab treatment.
Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein Antibody Disease (MOGAD) represents a demyelinating disorder for which tocilizumab, an anti-IL6 receptor, has been tested to prevent disabling relapses. In a subgroup of patients affected with novel Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), tocilizumab has also increased the survival rate. We present the case of a 31-years-old Caucasian patient who experienced an almost asymptomatic Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) infection during treatment with tocilizumab, which was continued due to the very high risk of relapses of the patient. According to this case, tocilizumab might be not discontinued during COVID-19.
-
Mult Scler Relat Disord · Oct 2020
Validation of the functional assessment of chronic illness therapy - General treatment satisfaction (FACIT-TS-G) in multiple sclerosis.
Patient-reported treatment satisfaction is associated with medication adherence and persistence, making it increasingly important in the multiple sclerosis (MS) population, where disease modifying treatments (DMTs) can be vital in preventing accumulation of disability. Therefore, the valid assessment of treatment satisfaction is critical in MS care. The current study aimed to examine the validity of the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy - General Treatment Satisfaction (FACIT-TS-G) in an MS population. ⋯ Our findings support the use of the FACIT-TS-G as a PRO measure of treatment satisfaction in MS. Moreover, results suggest DMT administration via infusion is associated with greater treatment satisfaction. Future research is needed to examine treatment satisfaction in the context of other outcomes.
-
Mult Scler Relat Disord · Oct 2020
Adherence to social distancing and use of personal protective equipment and the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection in a cohort of patients with multiple sclerosis.
Background Aiming to safeguard its population from COVID19 infection, Italian government provided specific advices, especially to fragile individuals such those affected by Multiple Sclerosis (MS), to respect social distancing, to arrange remote work and to use personal protective equipment (PPE). The aim of this study is to investigate real adherence to these measures among MS patients and to evaluate its impact on exposure to infection. Methods MS patients followed at the MS center of Tor Vergata University hospital, Rome, Italy were asked to complete an anonymous 35-items web-survey exploring demographics, residency, employment, social distancing habits, use of PPE, MS features and COVID19 infection data, including self-reported information about contacts with SARS-CoV-2 positive/presumed positive persons. ⋯ Conclusions MS patients, especially those with social unfavorable conditions, demonstrated good adherence to social distancing and use of protection equipment. Implementing domains, such as social assistance, may improve protection from infection. LS score is potentially able to identify subjects with behaviors at greater risk of infection, although it needs to be validated against MS population living in higher incidence areas.