Effectiveness, safety, and impact on multiple sclerosis course of anti-CGRP monoclonal antibodies.

Background: Migraine affects up to 40% of people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the combination of antibodies (mAbs) against CGRP (anti-CGRP mAbs) with disease-modifying treatments (DMTs) for MS (mAb and non-mAbs) and their impact on MS disease course.

Methods: This retrospective, multicentric study included PwMS from 14 MS Centers, treated with an anti-CGRP mAb and a stable treatment with DMTs.

Ocrelizumab in MS patients with persistence of disease activity after alemtuzumab: A multi-center Italian study.

Background: The reason why some multiple sclerosis (MS) patients show disease activity after alemtuzumab (ALM) is still unclear, but ocrelizumab (OCR) could represent an interesting sequential therapeutic approach.

Objectives: To investigate safety and efficacy of OCR in MS patients with disease activity after two ALM courses.

Methods: Observational retrospective multi-centers Italian cohort study.

Unprescribed cannabinoids and multiple sclerosis: a multicenter, cross-sectional, epidemiological study in Lombardy, Italy.

Introduction: Cannabinoids are approved for spasticity and pain in multiple sclerosis (MS). In 2017 the prevalence of current users in the Italian general population was 10.2%, while data on Italian MS patients are limited.

Nabiximols oromucosal spray in patients with multiple sclerosis-related bladder dysfunction: A prospective study.

Background: Spasticity and urinary disturbances can profoundly impact the daily lives of persons with multiple sclerosis (pwMS). Cannabis has been associated with improvement in sphincteric disturbances. To our knowledge, few studies have evaluated the effect of nabiximols oromucosal spray (Sativex®) on urinary disturbances by instrumental methods.

Conversion to Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis: Patient Awareness and Needs. Results From an Online Survey in Italy and Germany.

Few studies have investigated the experiences of patients around the conversion to secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS). ManTra is a mixed-method, co-production research project conducted in Italy and Germany to develop an intervention for newly-diagnosed SPMS patients. In previous project actions, we identified the needs and experiences of patients converting to SPMS via literature review and qualitative research which involved key stakeholders.

Impact of natural menopause on multiple sclerosis: a multicentre study.

Objective: To study the effect of natural menopause on multiple sclerosis clinical course.

Methods: This was an observational, retrospective, multicentre, cohort study. Menopause onset was defined by the final menstrual period (FMP) beyond which no menses occurred for 12 months.

Unusual adult-onset Leigh syndrome presentation due to the mitochondrial m.9176T>C mutation.

Leigh syndrome (LS) is an incurable, nearly always fatal, neurodegenerative, pediatric disorder that results from respiratory chain failure. The most common mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations that result in LS are m.8993T→C/G and m.

P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) polymorphism in patients with multiple sclerosis.

P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1) is an important adhesion molecule involved in lymphocyte recruitment into the brain, which represents a crucial step in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). Three hundred twenty-one MS patients and 342 controls were genotyped for the presence of a polymorphism in the PSGL-1 gene, consisting of a variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) originating three possible alleles: A, B and C, in order to test whether they influence the susceptibility and the course of the disease. No significant differences among allelic frequencies of A, B and C alleles in MS as compared with controls were observed.

E-selectin A561C and G98T polymorphisms influence susceptibility and course of multiple sclerosis.

Three hundred seven patients with MS and 300 controls were genotyped for G98T and A561C SNPs in the E-selectin gene, and genetic data were correlated with the course of the disease. The frequency of the T/T genotype of the G98T SNP was significantly increased in RR-MS patients compared with controls, while was absent in PP-MS. The frequency of the A561C SNP was significantly decreased in SP-MS compared with benign RR-MS.

IP-10 and MCP-1 levels in CSF and serum from multiple sclerosis patients with different clinical subtypes of the disease.

Interferon-gamma-inducible Protein-10 (IP-10) and Monocyte Chemotactic Protein-1 (MCP-1) levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in the CSF and in the serum from 74 patients affected by different clinical forms of Multiple Sclerosis (MS), including 39 patients with Relapsing Remitting (RR) MS in an active phase, 14 patients in a stable phase of the disease, 12 patients with Secondary Progressive (SP) MS and 9 patients with Primary Progressive (PP) MS. IP-10 and MCP-1 levels were also determined in 19 subjects with no neurological diseases or major systemic disorders, 18 patients with non-inflammatory neurological diseases, as well as in 15 patients with other inflammatory neurological diseases.IP-10 levels were significantly elevated in CSF and serum from RR and SP, but not PP-MS patients.