Disease Activity in Pregnant and Postpartum Women With Multiple Sclerosis Receiving Ocrelizumab or Other Disease-Modifying Therapies.

Background And Objectives: Women with multiple sclerosis (MS) are at risk of disease reactivation in the early postpartum period. Ocrelizumab (OCR) is an anti-CD20 therapy highly effective at reducing MS disease activity. Data remain limited regarding use of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs), including OCR, and disease activity during peripregnancy periods.

Probiotics-regulated lithocholic acid suppressed B-cell differentiation in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder.

Intestinal microbes play a crucial role in gut health and the immune-mediated central nervous system through the "gut-brain" axis. However, probiotic safety and efficacy in Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) are not well-explored. A pilot clinic trial for NMOSD with probiotic intervention revealed alterations in the microbiota (increased Anaerostipes, Bacteroides; decreased Granulicatella, Streptococcus, Rothia).

The clinical relevance of MOG antibody testing in cerebrospinal fluid.

Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD) is diagnosed by serum MOG-immunoglobulin G (MOG-IgG) in association with typical demyelination. 111/1127 patients with paired CSF/serum samples were seropositive for MOG-IgG. Only 7/1016 (0.

Comparing the effectiveness, safety and tolerability of interventions for depressive symptoms in people with multiple sclerosis: A systematic review.

Background: Depression is more common in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) compared to the general population. While many interventions are available for treating depressive symptoms in people with MS, it is unclear how different intervention modalities compare. This systematic review aimed to compare the reported effectiveness, safety, and tolerability of interventions for treating depressive symptoms in people with MS.

A multi-centre longitudinal study analysing multiple sclerosis disease-modifying therapy prescribing patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic raised concern amongst clinicians that disease-modifying therapies (DMT), particularly anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies (mAb) and fingolimod, could worsen COVID-19 in people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS). This study aimed to examine DMT prescribing trends pre- and post-pandemic onset.

Methods: A multi-centre longitudinal study with 8,771 participants from MSBase was conducted.

Multiple Sclerosis and COVID-19: Health and healthcare access, health information and consumer co-created strategies for future access at times of crisis.

Background: Persons with multiple sclerosis (MS) need regular access to medical services for optimal health outcomes. During the COVID-19 crisis, evidence indicated some detrimental health changes in persons with MS. Maintaining access to healthcare providers and healthcare information may minimise detrimental health changes during times of crisis.

Combination of serum markers with optical coherence tomography angiography for evaluating neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders and multiple sclerosis.

Background: Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) and multiple sclerosis (MS), autoimmune inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system, affect the optic nerve and brain. A lumbar puncture to obtain biomarkers is highly invasive. Serum biomarkers and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) are more accessible and less expensive than magnetic resonance imaging and provide reliable, reproducible measures of neuroaxonal damage.

The MOG antibody non-P42 epitope is predictive of a relapsing course in MOG antibody-associated disease.

Background: Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) IgG seropositivity is a prerequisite for MOG antibody-associated disease (MOGAD) diagnosis. While a significant proportion of patients experience a relapsing disease, there is currently no biomarker predictive of disease course. We aim to determine whether MOG-IgG epitopes can predict a relapsing course in MOGAD patients.

Clinical and imaging features of patients with late-onset myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease.

Background: There is an age-dependent change in the clinical phenotype of Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD). However, the clinical features of late-onset MOGAD have not been well described.

Methods: Clinical data of 110 MOGAD patients, including 21 late-onset patients with onset age greater than or equal to 50 years old were retrospectively analyzed.

Cutaneous presentation of cryptococcal infection with subclinical central nervous system involvement secondary to fingolimod therapy.

Fingolimod is a multiple sclerosis disease-modifying therapy which sequestrates lymphocytes in the lymph nodes, thereby reducing peripheral blood lymphocytes. Cryptococcal infection is an important adverse effect which should be recognised. We report a case of cutaneous and central nervous system infection who presented with isolated cutaneous symptoms in the absence of neurological or systemic manifestations.

Comparative Effectiveness of Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant vs Fingolimod, Natalizumab, and Ocrelizumab in Highly Active Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis.

Importance: Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant (AHSCT) is available for treatment of highly active multiple sclerosis (MS).

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of AHSCT vs fingolimod, natalizumab, and ocrelizumab in relapsing-remitting MS by emulating pairwise trials.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This comparative treatment effectiveness study included 6 specialist MS centers with AHSCT programs and international MSBase registry between 2006 and 2021.

Cerebrospinal Fluid Chloride Is Associated with Disease Activity of Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Blood-brain barrier dysfunction in active multiple sclerosis (MS) lesions leads to pathological changes in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). This study aimed to investigate the possible association between routine CSF findings, especially CSF chloride, at the time of the first lumbar puncture and the relapse risk and disability progression of relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS).

Methods: This retrospective study included 77 patients with RRMS at the MS Center of our institution from January 2012 to December 2020.

Early non-disabling relapses are important predictors of disability accumulation in people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

Background: The prognostic significance of non-disabling relapses in people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) is unclear.

Objective: To determine whether early non-disabling relapses predict disability accumulation in RRMS.

Methods: We redefined mild relapses in MSBase as 'non-disabling', and moderate or severe relapses as 'disabling'.

Healthcare complexities during community crises: Recommendation for access to healthcare for Australians with multiple sclerosis.

Background: In 2019 and 2020, over 17 million hectares of Australia burned, and half of the Australian population was affected by toxic bushfire smoke. Then in 2020, restrictions designed to curtail the spread of COVID-19 resulted in significant changes to healthcare access. There is no Australian emergency management standard for persons with disabilities, including those with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Clinical and genetic analysis of familial neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder in Chinese: associated with gene variants.

Background: Familial clustering of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) was present in Chinese. This study was to investigate the clinical characteristics and genetic background of familial NMOSD.

Methods: Through questionnaires in four medical centres in 2016-2020, we identified 10 families with NMOSD aggregation.

Linear interactions between intraocular, intracranial pressure, and retinal vascular pulse amplitude in the fourier domain.

Purpose: To compare the retinal vascular pulsatile characteristics in subjects with normal (ICPn) and high (ICPh) intracranial pressure and quantify the interactions between intraocular pressure, intracranial pressure, and retinal vascular pulse amplitude in the Fourier domain.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-one subjects were examined using modified photoplethysmography with simultaneous ophthalmodynamometry. A harmonic regression model was fitted to each pixel in the time-series, and used to quantify the retinal vascular pulse wave parameters including the harmonic regression wave amplitude (HRWa).

Immunosuppressant and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder: optimal treatment duration and risk of discontinuation.

Background And Purpose: Preventing relapse by immunosuppressants (ISs) is critical for the prognosis of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD); however, the optimal duration of IS treatment is still under discussion. The objective was to explore the optimal duration of IS treatment and the risk of IS discontinuation for NMOSD.

Method: This cohort study was conducted at a major neurological center that housed the largest NMOSD database in South China.

Pregnancy outcome following exposure to ocrelizumab in multiple sclerosis.

Background: Ocrelizumab is a monoclonal antibody targeting CD20-expressing B cells used in the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). Currently, there is limited safety data in pregnancy.

Objectives: To report the pregnancy outcome following exposure to ocrelizumab in MS.

Circulating Memory B Cells in Early Multiple Sclerosis Exhibit Increased IgA Cells, Globally Decreased BAFF-R Expression and an EBV-Related IgM Cell Signature.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immune-mediated inflammatory disease of the central nervous system that results in demyelination of axons, inefficient signal transmission and reduced muscular mobility. Recent findings suggest that B cells play a significant role in disease development and pathology. To further explore this, B cell profiles in peripheral blood from 28 treatment-naive patients with early MS were assessed using flow cytometry and compared to 17 healthy controls.