MSIF Research News

Summaries of all the latest research findings on MS selected by a team based at the Institute of Neurology, London.

Early MRI in optic neuritis: the risk for disability

In this prospective study the authors investigated whether, in patients with optic neuritis, early MRI findings (within 3 months from onset) influence future disability. The authors found that the presence of lesions in the spinal cord and the cerebellum-brainstem region predicted disability at 6-year follow-up. The presence of early MRI activity (enhancing lesions and appearance of new T2 lesions) was also predictive of higher disability.

authors: Swanton JK, Fernando KT, Dalton CM, Miszkiel KA, Altmann DR, Plant GT, Thompson AJ, Miller DH

source: Neurology. 2009 Feb 10;72(6):542-50

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Rate of brain atrophy in benign vs early multiple sclerosis

The objective of this study was to compare the rate of brain volume loss between benign MS and RRMS. The authors found a lower rate of volume loss in patients with benign MS than that calculated in patients with RRMS, suggesting that this MRI finding is behind the milder disease course of patients with benign MS.

authors: Gauthier SA, Berger AM, Liptak Z, Duan Y, Egorova S, Buckle GJ, Glanz BI, Khoury SJ, Bakshi R, Weiner HL, Guttmann CR

source: Arch Neurol. 2009 Feb;66(2):234-7

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Contribution of white matter lesions to gray matter atrophy in multiple sclerosis: evidence from voxel-based analysis of T1 lesions in the visual pathway

Since the mechanisms of gray matter (GM) damage in MS are not yet fully understood, the authors of this study aimed to investigate the possible contribution of white matter (WM) lesions in harming the GM. The authors found that a higher volume of WM lesions in the visual pathway is associated with a greater loss of the connected GM, suggesting retrograde degeneration.

authors: Sepulcre J, Goñi J, Masdeu JC, Bejarano B, Vélez de Mendizábal N, Toledo JB, Villoslada P

source: Arch Neurol. 2009 Feb;66(2):173-9

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Effect of natalizumab on clinical and radiological disease activity in multiple sclerosis: a retrospective analysis of the Natalizumab safety and efficacy in Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (AFFIRM) study

The aim of this study was to explore the potential for natalizumab to increase the proportion of patients with relapsing-remitting MS who are free of disease activity. They used the data from the phase III study where natalizumab was compared with placebo (AFFIRM study). The authors found that the proportion of patients with no disease activity, from the clinical and/or MRI point of view, was significantly higher in the natalizumab group.

authors: Havrdova E, Galetta S, Hutchinson M, Stefoski D, Bates D, Polman CH, O'Connor PW, Giovannoni G, Phillips JT, Lublin FD, Pace A, Kim R, Hyde R

source: Lancet Neurol. 2009 Feb 6

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Results of the Avonex Combination Trial (ACT) in relapsing-remitting MS

The aim of this randomised multicentre clinical trial was to investigate the safety and efficacy at 1 year follow-up of interferon beta 1-a combined with methotrexate, or with intravenous steroids, or with both drugs, in patients with RRMS who still had clinical activity despite the treatment with interferon. The authors found no extra benefit from such combinations compared to interferon alone.

authors: Cohen JA, Imrey PB, Calabresi PA, Edwards KR, Eickenhorst T, Felton WL 3rd, Fisher E, Fox RJ, Goodman AD, Hara-Cleaver C, Hutton GJ, Mandell BF, Scott TF, Zhang H, Apperson-Hansen C, Beck GJ, Houghtaling PL, Karafa MT, Stadtler M; ACT Investigators. Collaborators (107)

source: Neurology. 2009 Feb 10;72(6):535-41

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