Advancing therapeutic options in multiple sclerosis with neuroprotective properties.

Central nervous system (CNS) inflammation has been considered to be the main pathological feature of multiple sclerosis (MS). However, the complexity of this autoimmune disorder also comprises neurodegenerative processes that may occur within acute phases of inflammation, yet also temporally independent and outside of inflammatory lesions or even in so-called normal appearing white matter. Measurement strategies for neurodegeneration and neuroprotection include clinical parameters, magnetic resonance imaging and novel instruments such as diffusion tensor imaging or optical coherence tomography.

Treatment failure of intrathecal baclofen and supra-additive effect of nabiximols in multiple sclerosis-related spasticity: a case report.

Multiple sclerosis (MS)-related spasticity is associated with disability and impairment in quality of life. We report on a patient with secondary progressive MS and spastic tetraparesis (Expanded Disability Status Scale score 8.5).

Low vitamin D and elevated immunoreactivity against Epstein-Barr virus before first clinical manifestation of multiple sclerosis.

Objective: Vitamin D deficiency and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection may be associated with the development of multiple sclerosis (MS). We investigated serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OH-D) levels and anti-EBV immunoreactivity in 25 individuals before the first clinical manifestation of MS.

Patients And Methods: 56 serum samples of 25 individuals who had donated blood prior to the first clinical MS manifestation (clinically isolated syndrome (CIS)) (four male subjects, 21 female subjects, mean age 31.

Anti-JC virus antibodies in a large German natalizumab-treated multiple sclerosis cohort.

Objective: To investigate the rate of seropositivity of anti-JC virus (JCV) antibodies in a German multiple sclerosis (MS) cohort treated with natalizumab in the postmarketing setting and to assess anti-JCV serostatus in samples obtained before diagnosis of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML).

Methods: This was a blinded, retrospective cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis for anti-JCV antibodies using a confirmatory 2-step ELISA on 2,782 blood samples obtained from 2,253 patients nationwide for routine testing for anti-natalizumab antibodies during open-label treatment between 2007 and 2010.

Results: Of the natalizumab-treated patients with MS, 58.

Functional identification of pathogenic autoantibody responses in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Pathological and clinical studies implicate antibody-dependent mechanisms in the immunopathogenesis of multiple sclerosis. We tested this hypothesis directly by investigating the ability of patient-derived immunoglobulins to mediate demyelination and axonal injury in vitro. Using a myelinating culture system, we developed a sensitive and reproducible bioassay to detect and quantify these effects and applied this to investigate the pathogenic potential of immunoglobulin G preparations obtained from patients with multiple sclerosis (n = 37), other neurological diseases (n = 10) and healthy control donors (n = 13).