Comparative analysis of dimethyl fumarate and fingolimod in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

Background: Dimethyl fumarate and fingolimod are oral disease modifying treatments (DMTs) that reduce relapse activity and slow disability worsening in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS).

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of dimethyl fumarate and fingolimod in a real-world setting, where both agents are licensed as a first-line DMT for the treatment of RRMS.

Methods: We identified patients with RRMS commencing dimethyl fumarate or fingolimod in the Swiss Federation for Common Tasks of Health Insurances (SVK) Registry between August 2014 and July 2019.

Disability progression multiple sclerosis patients on fingolimod versus interferon-beta/glatiramer acetate.

Background: Disability progression independent of relapses (PIRA) has been described as a frequent phenomenon in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS).

Objective: To compare the occurrence of disability progression in relapse-free RRMS patients on interferon-beta/glatiramer acetate (IFN/GA) versus fingolimod.

Methods: This study is based on data from the Swiss association for joint tasks of health insurers.

Comparative analysis of natalizumab versus fingolimod as second-line treatment in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

Background: No randomized controlled trials have compared the efficacy of fingolimod or natalizumab as second-line treatment in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS).

Objective: To compare clinical outcomes after escalation to fingolimod versus natalizumab in patients with clinically active RRMS.

Methods: Using the registry of the Swiss Federation for Common Tasks of Health Insurances, we identified patients with RRMS and ≥1 relapse in the year before switching from interferon beta or glatiramer acetate to fingolimod or natalizumab.

Tolerance of intravenous methylprednisolone for relapse treatment in demyelinating CNS disease.

Background: In Switzerland, the first course of intravenous steroids for treatment of episodes of demyelinating CNS disease is usually administered in an inpatient setting. We prospectively evaluated short term tolerance of treatment with special emphasis on sleep quality.

Methods: Patients with a first event of presumed demyelinating disease (CIS), multiple sclerosis relapses (MS) or sub-acute disease progression were treated with a 5-day regimen of intravenous methylprednisolone (IVMP) in our inpatient clinic.

Trunk sway in mildly disabled multiple sclerosis patients with and without balance impairment.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) causes a broad range of neurological symptoms. Most common is poor balance control. However, knowledge of deficient balance control in mildly affected MS patients who are complaining of balance impairment but have normal clinical balance tests (CBT) is limited.

Infantile spasms: does season influence onset and long-term outcome?

To study whether onset of infantile spasms manifests seasonal variation, as previously reported, and whether any such seasonality is associated with treatment response and long-term outcome, data for 57 patients were retrospectively reviewed. The data were collected from hospital files and through a mail survey of children with infantile spasms born from 1980 to 2002 and monitored at the University Children's Hospital of Berne, Switzerland. The mean age at time of onset of infantile spasms was 7 months (range, 0.

[Cerebral vasculitis].

Cerebral vasculitis is a rare disease with a potentially harmful or even fatal outcome that often affects young adults. Primary autoimmune mediated disease can be distinguished from secondary vasculitis associated to infectious disorders, connective tissue diseases, malignancies or toxic drug effects. Pathomechanisms lead to destruction of the vessel wall and consecutive hemorrhagic or ischemic brain lesions.

An unusual cause of stridor in childhood due to focal epileptic seizures.

Respiratory disorders with stridor are a frequent cause of admission for children in an emergency department. Laryngospasm, as an isolated symptom of epilepsy, is a rare phenomenon [1, 3, 5]. Other respiratory symptoms of epilepsy, rarely seen in childhood, might be apnoeic spells [2, 4].

Extraocular blood flow and endothelin-1 plasma levels in patients with multiple sclerosis.

In order to evaluate whether plasma levels of the potent vasoconstrictor endothelin-1 (ET-1) are increased in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and whether these patients exhibit an ET-1-mediated vascular dysregulation, ET-1 plasma levels were measured in 30 patients with MS. Blood flow velocities in the ophthalmic artery, central retinal artery, central retinal vein, short lateral posterior ciliary artery, and short medial posterior ciliary artery were assessed in parallel. ET-1 plasma levels were significantly increased in MS patients when compared to sex- and age-matched healthy controls (2.