The controlled high risk Avonex multiple sclerosis trial (CHAMPS Study)

Systematic Review of Treatment Options and Therapeutic Responses for Lesions of the Sella and Orbit: Evidence-Based Recommendations

OBJECTIVE

Inflammatory pathologies of the sella and orbit are rare but require prompt diagnosis to initiate effective treatment. Because uniform recommendations for treatment are currently lacking, we performed an evidence-based review to identify recommendations.

METHODS

We performed a literature search of the PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases to identify papers evaluating treatment of inflammatory pathologies of the sella and orbit. We used PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines to define recommendations, specifically examining aggregated sample sizes, disease-specific patient follow-up, and clinical trials focused on inflammatory diseases of the sella and orbit.

RESULTS

A total of 169 studies were included and organized by disease pathology. Treatments for various pathologies were recorded. Treatment options included surgery, radiation, steroids, targeted treatments, immunomodulators, intravenous immune globulin, and plasmapheresis. Steroids were the most often employed treatment, second-line management options and timing varied. Pathological diagnosis was highly associated with treatment used. Most evidence were level 3 without available control groups, except for 13 trials in neuromyelitis optica with level 1 or 2 evidence.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first evidence-based review to provide recommendations on specific treatments for pathologies of the orbit and sella. The reported data may be useful to help guide randomized clinical trials and provide resource for clinical management decisions based on the available evidence.

Where's the Vision? The Importance of Visual Outcomes in Neurologic Disorders: The 2021 H. Houston Merritt Lecture

Neurologists have long recognized the importance of the visual system in the diagnosis and monitoring of neurologic disorders. This is particularly true because approximately 50% of the brain's pathways subserve afferent and efferent aspects of vision. During the past 30 years, researchers and clinicians have further refined this concept to include investigation of the visual system for patients with specific neurologic diagnoses, including multiple sclerosis (MS), concussion, Parkinson disease (PD), and conditions along the spectrum of Alzheimer disease (AD, mild cognitive impairment, and subjective cognitive decline). This review highlights the visual "toolbox" that has been developed over the past 3 decades and beyond to capture both structural and functional aspects of vision in neurologic disease. Although the efforts to accelerate the emphasis on structure-function relationships in neurologic disorders began with MS during the early 2000s, such investigations have broadened to recognize the need for outcomes of visual pathway structure, function, and quality of life for clinical trials of therapies across the spectrum of neurologic disorders. This review begins with a patient case study highlighting the importance using the most modern technologies for visual pathway assessment, including optical coherence tomography. We emphasize that both structural and functional tools for vision testing can be used in parallel to detect what might otherwise be subclinical events or markers of visual and, perhaps, more global neurologic decline. Such measures will be critical because clinical trials and therapies become more available across the neurologic disease spectrum.

Optic neuritis and autoimmune optic neuropathies: advances in diagnosis and treatment

Optic neuritis is an inflammatory optic neuropathy that is commonly indicative of autoimmune neurological disorders including multiple sclerosis, myelin-oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease, and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder. Early clinical recognition of optic neuritis is important in determining the potential aetiology, which has bearing on prognosis and treatment. Regaining high-contrast visual acuity is common in people with idiopathic optic neuritis and multiple sclerosis-associated optic neuritis; however, residual deficits in contrast sensitivity, binocular vision, and motion perception might impair vision-specific quality-of-life metrics. In contrast, recovery of visual acuity can be poorer and optic nerve atrophy more severe in individuals who are seropositive for antibodies to myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein, AQP4, and CRMP5 than in individuals with typical optic neuritis from idiopathic or multiple-sclerosis associated optic neuritis. Key clinical, imaging, and laboratory findings differentiate these disorders, allowing clinicians to focus their diagnostic studies and optimise acute and preventive treatments. Guided by early and accurate diagnosis of optic neuritis subtypes, the timely use of high-dose corticosteroids and, in some instances, plasmapheresis could prevent loss of high-contrast vision, improve contrast sensitivity, and preserve colour vision and visual fields. Advancements in our knowledge, diagnosis, and treatment of optic neuritis will ultimately improve our understanding of autoimmune neurological disorders, improve clinical trial design, and spearhead therapeutic innovation.

Controversies in neuroimmunology: multiple sclerosis, vaccination, SARS-CoV-2 and other dilemas

Neuroimmunology is a discipline that increasingly broadens its horizons in the understanding of neurological diseases. At the same time, and in front of the pathophysiological links of neurological diseases and immunology, specific diagnostic and therapeutic approaches have been proposed. Despite the important advances in this discipline, there are multiple dilemmas that concern and filter into clinical practice. This article presents 15 controversies and a discussion about them, which are built with the most up-to-date evidence available. The topics included in this review are: steroid decline in relapses of multiple sclerosis; therapeutic recommendations in MS in light of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic; evidence of vaccination in multiple sclerosis and other demyelinating diseases; overview current situation of isolated clinical and radiological syndrome; therapeutic failure in multiple sclerosis, as well as criteria for suspension of disease-modifying therapies; evidence of the management of mild relapses in multiple sclerosis; recommendations for prophylaxis against Strongyloides stercolaris; usefulness of a second course of immunoglobulin in the Guillain-Barré syndrome; criteria to differentiate an acute-onset inflammatory demyelinating chronic polyneuropathy versus Guillain-Barré syndrome; and, the utility of angiotensin-converting enzyme in neurosarcoidosis. In each of the controversies, the general problem is presented, and specific recommendations are offered that can be adopted in daily clinical practice.

Nucleic Acids as Novel Therapeutic Modalities to Address Multiple Sclerosis Onset and Progression

The issue of treating Multiple Sclerosis (MS) begins with disease-modifying treatments (DMTs) which may cause lymphopenia, dyspnea, and many other adverse effects. Consequently, further identification and evaluation of alternative treatments are crucial to monitoring their long-term outcomes and hopefully, moving toward personalized approaches that can be translated into clinical treatments. In this article, we focused on the novel therapeutic modalities that alter the interaction between the cellular constituents contributing to MS onset and progression. Furthermore, the studies that have been performed to evaluate and optimize drugs' efficacy, and particularly, to show their limitations and strengths are also presented. The preclinical trials of novel approaches for multiple sclerosis treatment provide promising prospects to cure the disease with pinpoint precision. Considering the fact that not a single treatment could be effective enough to cover all aspects of MS treatment, additional researches and therapies need to be developed in the future. Since the pathophysiology of MS resembles a jigsaw puzzle, researchers need to put a host of pieces together to create a promising window towards MS treatment. Thus, a combination therapy encompassing all these modules is highly likely to succeed in dealing with the disease. The use of different therapeutic approaches to re-induce self-tolerance in autoreactive cells contributing to MS pathogenesis is presented. A Combination therapy using these tools may help to deal with the clinical disabilities and symptoms of the disease in the future.

Should I stop or should I go on? Disease modifying therapy after the first clinical episode of multiple sclerosis

Introduction

Treatment with disease-modifying therapies (DMT) in patients with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) represents standard care in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients nowadays. Since a proportion of patients may show no evidence of disease activity (NEDA) after some time of treatment, the question might arise about the risks of stopping DMT.

Methods

We present a cohort of 49 patients who started DMT immediately after CIS and had no evidence of disease activity (NEDA-3) for at least five years before discontinuation of therapy. Thereafter, patients underwent clinical and MRI follow-up for at least five consecutive years.

Results

Of 49 patients discontinuing DMT, 53% (n = 26) had NEDA for at least further five years, while 47% (n = 23) showed either a relapse/disease progression (18.4%, n = 9), MRI activity (14.3%, n = 7) or both (14.3%, n = 7). The main predictive factor for sustained NEDA was age at DMT termination. Patients aged > 45 years had a significantly lower risk of disease reactivation (13% vs. 54% in patients aged < 45 years, p < 0.001) after DMT discontinuation.

Discussion

In CIS patients with immediate DMT after their first clinical episode, older age at the time of DMT discontinuation is the main predictive factor for sustained NEDA status.

A case for gender-based approach to multiple sclerosis therapeutics

Despite established sex differences in multiple sclerosis (MS) risk and course, sex-specific efficacy and toxicity of existing MS therapies, and possible sex-specific therapeutic approaches, remain underexplored. We systematically reviewed published sex differences from Phase III pivotal trials for FDA or EMA-approved MS disease modifying therapies (DMTs), along with additional information from pharmaceutical companies, for pre-specified or post-hoc baseline characteristics, efficacy and safety outcomes by sex, and sex-specific concerns. Then, we reviewed trials testing hormonal therapies in MS. None of the Phase III clinical trials performed baseline sex-specific analyses or were powered to evaluated DMTs in menopausal/older populations. Some recent trials performed pre-specified or post-hoc stratification of outcomes by sex. Sex-specific hormonal intervention trials were limited. Adequately powered, pre-specified analyses accounting for baseline sex and age are required to maximize safety and efficacy in specific patient populations.

Combined evaluation of personality, risk and coping in MS patients: A step towards individualized treatment choice - The PeRiCoMS-Study I

BACKGROUND

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory neurological disease requiring disease-modifying treatment (DMT). To provide patients with the optimal individual therapeutic option, treatment recommendations should be based not only on individual disease course and DMT specific benefit-risk estimates, but also on patient's individual characteristics such as personality, risk attitude and coping strategies. However, these characteristics are difficult to objectify in clinical routine practice without the support of appropriate evaluation instruments.

OBJECTIVE

To identify and to assemble an objective test battery measuring personality, risk attitude and coping strategies in MS patients.

METHODS

A comprehensive literature search was performed to obtain all questionnaires assessing personality, risk attitude and coping strategies. Availability in German language, validation in a published normative collective and a reliability of >0.70 were required for our purposes. Based on these criteria, we chose the Big-Five-Personality Test, UPPS Impulsive Behaviour Scale, Domain-Specific Risk-Taking scale (DOSPERT), Brief-COPE and Stress & Coping Inventory (SCI). Results were compared to published normative controls of the respective questionnaires.

RESULTS

Out of 22 MS patients (7 males, 15 females) participating in this study, 19 (86.4%) completed all questionnaires. The median completion time was 45min (min-max range: 25-60min). The median scores of the MS group were within the average range of published control samples in all questionnaires.

CONCLUSIONS

We report that traits of personality, risk attitude and coping strategies can be effectively and feasibly tested in MS patients by the instruments used in our exploratory study. There were no differences between MS patients and healthy controls, thus enabling assessment without being influenced by the diagnosis of MS. After validation in a larger cohort the "PeRiCoMS"-battery will be useful as another step towards a more individualized shared-decision-making in every day routine practice.

Discontinuation of disease-modifying therapies in multiple sclerosis - Clinical outcome and prognostic factors

BACKGROUND

Stable disease course may prompt consideration of disease-modifying treatment (DMT) discontinuation in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS).

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the clinical outcome after DMT discontinuation and to identify predictive factors supporting decision-making.

METHODS

We included 221 RRMS patients, who discontinued DMT after ⩾12 months and had documented follow-up ⩾2 years after discontinuation. Hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) regarding relapse and disability progression after DMT discontinuation were calculated from Cox regression models.

RESULTS

Age >45 years at discontinuation (HR = 0.47, CI = 0.23-0.95, p = 0.038), absence of relapses for ⩾4 years on DMT before discontinuation (HR = 0.29, CI = 0.10-0.82, p = 0.020) and absence of contrast enhancing lesions (HR = 0.46, CI = 0.28-0.78, p = 0.004) were independent predictors of absence of relapse after discontinuation. Age >45 years and absence of relapses ⩾4 years on DMT combined had an HR of 0.06 (CI = 0.01-0.44, p < 0.001). Higher Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) at discontinuation, age >45 years and longer disease duration were significantly associated with disability progression after discontinuation.

CONCLUSION

While freedom from further disease activity is generally unpredictable, there is a subset of patients (age ⩾45 years, DMT intake ⩾4 years without evidence of clinical or radiological disease activity) having a high likelihood of remaining relapse-free after DMT discontinuation. However, close clinical monitoring for recurrent disease activity is mandatory after discontinuing treatment.

Clinically Isolated Syndromes: Clinical Characteristics, Differential Diagnosis, and Management

Clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) is a term that describes the first clinical onset of potential multiple sclerosis (MS). The term CIS is typically applied to young adults with episodes of acute or subacute onset, which reaches a peak quite rapidly within 2-3 weeks. In 85% of young adults who develop MS, onset occurs with an acute, CIS of the optic nerves, brainstem, or spinal cord. When clinically silent brain lesions are seen on MRI, the likelihood of developing MS is high. Because no single clinical feature or diagnostic test is sufficient for the diagnosis of CIS, diagnostic criteria have included a combination of both clinical and paraclinical studies. Diagnostic criteria from the International Panel of McDonald and colleagues incorporate MRI evidence of dissemination in time and space to allow a diagnosis of definite MS in patients with CIS. As CIS is typically the earliest clinical expression of MS, research on patients with CIS may provide new insights into early pathological changes and pathogenetic mechanisms that might affect the course of the disorder. With recent improvements in diagnosis and the advent of disease-modifying treatments for MS, there has been growing interest and research in patients with CIS.

Optimizing the initial choice and timing of therapy in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis

With 12 available US Food and Drug Administration approved medications for the treatment of relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS), choosing an initial therapy is no longer a straightforward task. Each disease-modifying therapy (DMT) has a distinct risk-benefit profile and each patient is an individual. Therefore, the development of a simple algorithm to apply in selecting initial therapy is not feasible. Instead, the prescribing physician must consider many factors related to the treatments themselves, such as efficacy, safety, and tolerability, while also taking into account a particular patient's disease characteristics, personal preferences, comorbid illnesses and reproductive plans. The efficacy of each drug may be assessed through clinical trial data, although these data are limited by scarcity of direct comparisons among the different agents and lack of availability of biomarkers to predict an individual patient's response. Differences in safety profiles help to distinguish the various DMTs and influence selection of agent; both the known safety concerns, which can be addressed with risk mitigation and monitoring strategies, and the potential for yet undiscovered safety issues must be assessed, and an individual patient's comfort level with the risks and ability to comply with monitoring must be determined. Potential issues related to tolerability, which largely relate to matters of patient personal preference and lifestyle, should also be factored into the decision-making process. With regard to the timing of therapy initiation, it must be acknowledged that long-term benefits of early DMT have not yet been definitively demonstrated. Nonetheless, starting DMT early in the MS disease course has been shown to have a beneficial effect on relapse prevention, and appears to curtail the atrophy and neurodegenerative changes that are now known to begin at disease onset. Although under certain circumstances there are acceptable reasons for deferring treatment, it is generally recommended that DMT is initiated early in the disease course.

Nurses' perspective on approaches to limit flu-like symptoms during interferon therapy for multiple sclerosis

BACKGROUND

Several interferon beta (IFNβ) formulations are approved for first-line use as disease-modifying therapies to treat patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Systemic post-injection reactions, often termed flu-like symptoms (FLS), occur in approximately half of all patients treated with IFNβs and can affect adherence to therapy. These symptoms, which include pyrexia, chills, malaise, myalgia, and headaches, usually resolve within 24 hours or persist intermittently following each injection. Because FLS, which usually occur early in the treatment course and diminish over time, are a primary cause of nonadherence to IFNβ therapy, it is important to employ strategies that can attenuate these side effects.

METHODS

To identify interventions effective in limiting FLS, a panel of United States-based nurses with expertise in MS patient care was convened and a literature review completed.

RESULTS

Panel consensus was reached on specific interventions that can attenuate FLS. These prevention and mitigation strategies include dose titration, analgesia, and optimal injection timing, as well as other techniques that panel members have found useful in their clinical practice experience.

CONCLUSIONS

These measures, in addition to effective patient education, will help to reduce the incidence of FLS secondary to IFNβ therapy, improve patient medication adherence, and positively affect long-term clinical outcomes.

PEGylated interferon beta-1a in the treatment of multiple sclerosis - an update

Current standard immunomodulatory therapy with interferons (IFNs) for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) exhibits proven, but limited, efficacy and increased side effects due to the need of frequent application of the drug. Therefore, there is a need for more effective and tolerable drugs. Due to their small size, optimization of therapy with IFNs in MS by PEGylation is feasible. PEGylation of an IFN means that at least one molecule of polyethylene glycol (PEG) is covalently added. This modification is a standard procedure to increase the stability, solubility, half-life, and efficacy of a drug, and is applied in several drugs and diseases. Currently, a therapy regimen applying PEG-IFN beta-1a in MS is being developed to achieve an optimized relationship between therapy-related side effects and pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic efficacy. Phase I studies demonstrated that subcutaneous PEG-IFN beta-1a at a dose of 125 μg every 2 or 4 weeks might be at least as efficient and safe as the current standard therapy with IFN beta-1a. A global Phase III clinical study is investigating the efficacy of PEG-IFN beta-1a in terms of reduction of the relapse rate in relapsing-remitting MS patients. The latest primary safety and efficacy analysis after 1 year has revealed a favorable risk-benefit profile with no significant difference between dosing regimens. Compared to placebo, the annualized relapse rate was reduced by about one-third and new or newly enlarging T2 brain lesions were reduced by about one-third when dosing every 4 weeks or by two-thirds when dosing every 2 weeks. This presents a significant effect of the dosing interval, favoring administration every 2 weeks. Chronic administration of PEGylated proteins mostly at toxic concentrations causes vacuolation of renal epithelium in animals, which - along with the issue of occurrence of anti-PEG antibodies - has to be addressed by Phase IV studies.

Optic neuritis

AIMS

The aim of this study is to provide a clinical update on optic neuritis (ON), its association with multiple sclerosis (MS), and neuromyelitis optica (NMO).

METHODS

This study included a PubMed review of the literature written in the English language.

RESULTS

ON in adults is typically idiopathic or demyelinating, and is characterised by unilateral, subacute, painful loss of vision that is not associated with any systemic or other neurological symptoms. Demyelinating ON is associated with MS, and we review the key studies of ON including the ON treatment trial and several other MS treatment trials and NMO.

CONCLUSION

Acute demyelinating ON can occur in isolation or be associated with MS. Typical ON does not require additional evaluation other than cranial magnetic resonance imaging. NMO is likely a separate disorder from MS and the ON in NMO has a different treatment and prognosis.

METHODOLOGY

The authors conducted an English language search using Pubmed from the years 1964 to 2010 using the search terms 'ON', 'MS' and 'NMO'. The authors included original articles, review articles, and case reports, which revealed new aspects as far as epidemiology, histopathology, clinical manifestations, imaging, genetics, and treatment of ON. Titles were reviewed for topicality and full references were obtained. Letters to the editor, unpublished work, and abstracts were not included in this review.

Shifting the paradigm toward earlier treatment of multiple sclerosis with interferon beta

BACKGROUND

Axonal damage occurs early in the course of multiple sclerosis (MS). Among untreated patients, 85% to 94% with a first clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) suggestive of MS and positive findings on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are at risk for developing MS.

OBJECTIVES

This article reviews the current literature concerning early diagnosis of MS, the rationale for early immunomodulatory treatment of patients with a CIS and MRI evidence of central nervous system lesions, and the efficacy of early treatment with interferon beta (IFN-beta).

METHODS

MEDLINE was searched from 1990 through the end of 2008 for papers published in English concerning the treatment of MS. Search terms included IFN-beta, early treatment, CIS, and multiple sclerosis, and limits were set to return results related to human clinical trials in adults.

RESULTS

Three pivotal randomized controlled trials were identified, 2 involving IFN-beta-1a (30 microg IM once weekly and 22 microg SC once weekly) and 1 involving IFN-beta-1b (250 microg SC qod). In these trials, treatment with IFN-beta effectively reduced the risk of developing MS by up to 50% in patients with a CIS. Furthermore, compared with delayed treatment, early treatment was associated with a reduced risk of disease progression: a 40% reduction in risk for confirmed disability progression at 3 years and a 41% reduction in risk of MS at 3 years.

CONCLUSIONS

The evidence that axonal damage begins in the early stages of MS, before symptoms are evident, provides a rationale for early intervention with immunomodulatory agents. In 3 pivotal clinical trials, IFN-beta effectively reduced the risk of developing clinically definite MS in CIS patients with a first demyelinating event and positive brain MRI.

Review: Treatment of early multiple sclerosis: the value of treatment initiation after a first clinical episode

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic, demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system. It is characterised by progressive neurological disability, which is likely to occur as a result of permanent axonal damage. Such damage may be reflected by brain atrophy, which can be identified early in the course of the disease. Patients who present with an initial episode of inflammatory demyelination, commonly referred to as a clinically isolated syndrome, are at high risk of developing clinically definite multiple sclerosis, especially if their magnetic resonance imaging studies suggest the presence of multi-focal disease. Treatment with disease-modifying therapies at the initial episode of demyelination may postpone this development. In this review we present an overview of evidence supporting early treatment initiation. We focus on three large placebo-controlled trials of interferon beta therapy: Controlled High-Risk Avonex® Multiple Sclerosis Prevention Study, Early Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis and Betaferon ® in Newly Emerging Multiple Sclerosis for Initial Treatment. Results from these early treatment studies are presented, and the impact of using interferon beta treatment in the early stages of disease is discussed with the aim of considering optimal therapeutic strategies to improve long-term patient outcome.

Recombinant interferon beta or glatiramer acetate for delaying conversion of the first demyelinating event to multiple sclerosis

BACKGROUND

Immunomodulatory drugs have been shown to be only modestly effective in clinically definite relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). It has been hypothesized that their efficacy could be higher if used at the first appearance of symptoms, that is in the clinically isolated syndromes (CIS) suggestive of demyelinating events, a pathology which carries a high risk to convert to clinically definite MS (CDMS).

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this review was to assess the effects of immunomodulatory drugs compared to placebo in adults in preventing conversion from CIS to CDMS which means the prevention of a second attack.

SEARCH STRATEGY

We searched the Cochrane MS Group Trials Register (June 2007), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL)The Cochrane Library Issue 3, 2007, MEDLINE (January 1966 to June 2007), EMBASE (January 1974 to June 2007) and reference lists of articles. We also contacted manufacturers and researchers in the field.

SELECTION CRITERIA

The trials selected were double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised trials of CIS patients treated with immunomodulatory drugs.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Study selection have been independently done by two reviewers. Two further reviewers independently assessed trial quality and extracted and analysed data. Study authors were contacted for additional informations. Adverse effects information was collected from the trials.

MAIN RESULTS

Only three trials tested the efficacy of interferon (IFN) beta including a total of 1160 participants (639 treatment, 521 placebo); no trial tested the efficacy of glatiramer acetate (GA). The metanalyses showed that the proportion of patients converting to CDMS was significantly lower in IFN beta-treated than in placebo-treated patients both after one year (pooled OR 0.53; 95% CI, 0.40 to 0.71; p <0.0001) as well as after two years of follow-up (pooled OR 0.52; 95% CI, 0.38 to 0.70; p <0.0001). Early treatment with IFN beta was associated with the side effect profile reported by the randomised controlled trials with this drug. Since side effects were reported with some heterogeneity in the three studies the metanalysis was possible only for the frequency of serious adverse events, not significantly different in IFN beta-treated or placebo-treated patients.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

The efficacy of IFN beta treatment on preventing the conversion from CIS to CDMS was confirmed over two years of follow-up. Since patients had some clinical heterogeneity (length of follow-up, clinical findings of initial attack), it could be useful for the clinical practice to further analyse the efficacy of IFN beta treatment in different patient subgroups.

Campath 1-H treatment in patients with aggressive relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis

Campath 1-H (Alemtuzumab) is a humanised monoclonal antibody which targets the CD52 antigen, a low molecular weight glycoprotein present on the surface of most lymphocyte lineages, causing complement mediated lysis and rapid and prolonged T lymphocyte depletion. Following encouraging initial data from other centres we report our open label experience of using Campath 1-H as a treatment in aggressive relapsing multiple sclerosis in a consecutive series of 39 highly selected patients treated across three regional centres and followed for a mean of 1.89 years. The mean annualised relapse rate fell from 2.48 pre treatment to 0.19 post treatment with 29% of documented relapses observed in the 12 weeks following initial infusion. Mean change in EDSS was -0.36 overall and -0.15 in those patients completing > or =1 year of follow- up. Eighty-three per cent of patients had stable or improved disability following treatment. Infusion related side effects were common including rash, headache and pyrexia but were usually mild and self limiting. Transient worsening of pre-existing neurological deficits during infusion was observed in 3 patients. 12 patients developed biochemical evidence of autoimmune dysfunction, 2 patients developed thyroid disease and 1 patient autoimmune skin disease. We conclude that relapse rates fall following Campath 1-H. Whilst side effects were common these were normally self limiting or easily managed, suggesting Campath 1-H may be of use in the treatment of very active relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis.

Interferon therapy for ocular disease

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Interferons were first known for their antiviral action. Immunomodulatory therapy with interferons has been studied in various diseases. This paper summarizes the role and presumed mechanisms of action of type 1 interferons in the treatment of ocular disease.

RECENT FINDINGS

Preliminary data show beneficial effects of interferons in ocular disease such as Behçet disease and multiple sclerosis-associated uveitis in terms of visual acuity, intraocular inflammation activity, and chronic macular edema. Another mode of application is topical as an adjuvant treatment in viral keratitis or ocular surface malignancies.

SUMMARY

Interferons are gaining a place in the treatment of ocular disease. Evidence is growing of their potential in ocular Behçet disease and multiple sclerosis-associated uveitis. Randomized, controlled clinical trials are needed to confirm this observation. Further insights into the complex mechanisms of action of interferons in health and disease will increase understanding of their mechanisms of action as a therapeutic substance.

Beta-Interferon Treatment Reduces Human Herpesvirus-6 Viral Load in Multiple Sclerosis Relapses but Not in Remission

To determine whether the DNA prevalence of human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6), the viral load and the prevalence of both HHV-6 variants in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients in exacerbation are altered by beta-interferon (IFN-beta) treatment, in comparison with RRMS patients in remission, we analyzed HHV-6 (A and B) genomes in 189 serum samples by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction: 105 of the RRMS patients were receiving IFN-beta treatment (48 in exacerbation) and 84 were untreated (36 in relapse). The results were as follows. (1) Prevalence decrease because of IFN-beta treatment was not significant: 25% of RRMS patients in relapse vs. 15.9% in remission (p = 0.45). (2) Viral load was twice as much in untreated patients in relapse than in treated ones. (3) We only found variant A. Since IFN-beta treatment is able to significantly reduce HHV-6 viral load in RRMS patients in relapse, but not in remission, we suggest a role for HHV-6 in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis exacerbations and an antiviral role for IFN-beta treatment in RRMS.

Childhood autoimmune neurologic diseases of the central nervous system

An autoimmune mechanism for ADEM and MS can be supported by the similar patterns of pathologic changes seen in both diseases with the animal model EAE induced by inoculating animals with nervous tissue and the occurrence of ADEM in patients exposed to nervous tissue during vaccination. Whereas there are no universally agreed-upon criteria for the diagnosis of ADEM, a combination of prodromal illness or preceding vaccination, MRI signs of demyelination, and an acute presentation of neurologic symptoms are the triad most commonly looked for in making the diagnosis of ADEM. An ever-increasing number of infections and vaccinations (nonspecific URIs being most common) has been associated with ADEM. Fever and encephalopathy are seen frequently at presentation. Seizures also are common, as are cranial nerve abnormalities and motor symptoms. A mild pleocytosis or protein elevation is found in the majority of patients with ADEM. Intrathecal IgG synthesis and oligoclonal bands are relatively infrequent but should not be considered inconsistent with the diagnosis of ADEM. White matter changes on T2 in a bilateral although asymmetric distribution with relative sparing of the periventricular region with or without deep gray matter involvement is consistent and to some a requirement for the diagnosis. Low-dose steroids have no beneficial effect in the treatment of ADEM and may be contraindicated. High-dose steroids may have a beneficial effect, particularly in more prolonged illnesses, although the evidence is primarily anecdotal. If steroids are used to improve morbidity, 30 mg/kg/d of methylprednisolone for three to five days is the dose with a six-week taper to reduce the risk of recurrence. The prodromal infection may be a major factor in the ultimate mortality and morbidity of the disease. The current mortality of ADEM is quite low. Whether or not this is an effect of different triggering agents or changes in medical care cannot be determined. In larger series of patients with ADEM, 10% to 20% of children experience some sort of recurrence with the majority occurring in the initial one to two months after the first event. This is sometimes associated with steroid withdrawal. A second group of children have a late second recurrence that clinically may not be MS but a recurrence of ADEM, although longer follow-up may change that assessment. Two months should be allowed before a second relapse is considered a manifestation of MS, whereas a second attack also may occur years after an initial attack of ADEM and still be consistent with ADEM recurrence. MS does occur during childhood, with the youngest children at the least risk, and risk increasing with age. The criteria of Poser et al can be used to diagnose MS in childhood [40]. The presentation of MS in childhood is most often sensory, motor, and brainstem signs and symptoms. A relapsing-remitting course is most common with a first relapse occurring in the year after presentation. MRI findings in MS typically show periventricular changes. Oligoclonal bands and CSF IgG synthesis are found in the majority. Treatments of childhood MS have not been studied adequately, but, when treatments studied in adults are used in children, they are well tolerated. Efficacy has not been shown. The long-term outcome of MS in childhood can be either severe or benign with no clear consensus that childhood MS is either a less or more severe disease than the adult form. ATM and ON treatments and outcomes are particularly difficult to evaluate because of the heterogeneity of populations included in case series and the small numbers reported. Steroids are used with anecdotal reports of their superiority to nontreatment. Outcome in ATM often can be poor, whereas in ON it rarely is. A multinational collaborative effort to study and collect the large numbers necessary to address the important questions in these childhood autoimmune disorders would be of great benefit and the only way likely to demonstrate good evidenced-based medicine practiced in this field.