Prospective study validating a multidimensional treatment decision score predicting the 24-month outcome in untreated patients with clinically isolated syndrome and early relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, the ProVal-MS study.

Introduction: In Multiple Sclerosis (MS), patients´ characteristics and (bio)markers that reliably predict the individual disease prognosis at disease onset are lacking. Cohort studies allow a close follow-up of MS histories and a thorough phenotyping of patients. Therefore, a multicenter cohort study was initiated to implement a wide spectrum of data and (bio)markers in newly diagnosed patients.

Autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation for multiple sclerosis: a position paper and registry outline.

Background: While substantial progress has been made in the development of disease-modifying medications for multiple sclerosis (MS), a high percentage of treated patients still show progression and persistent inflammatory activity. Autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT) aims at eliminating a pathogenic immune repertoire through intense short-term immunosuppression that enables subsequent regeneration of a new and healthy immune system to re-establish immune tolerance for a long period of time. A number of mostly open-label, uncontrolled studies conducted over the past 20 years collected about 4000 cases.

Factors associated with depressive mood at the onset of multiple sclerosis - an analysis of 781 patients of the German NationMS cohort.

Background: Depression has a major impact on the disease burden of multiple sclerosis (MS). Analyses of overlapping MS and depression risk factors [smoking, vitamin D (25-OH-VD) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection] and sex, age, disease characteristics and neuroimaging features associated with depressive symptoms in early MS are scarce.

Objectives: To assess an association of MS risk factors with depressive symptoms within the German NationMS cohort.

Retrospective cohort study to devise a treatment decision score predicting adverse 24-month radiological activity in early multiple sclerosis.

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neuroinflammatory disease affecting about 2.8 million people worldwide. Disease course after the most common diagnoses of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) and clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) is highly variable and cannot be reliably predicted.

Humoral COVID-19 vaccine response in patients with NMOSD/MOGAD during anti-IL-6 receptor therapy compared to other immunotherapies.

Background: Data on the humoral vaccine response in patients on anti-interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor therapy remain scarce.

Objective: The main objective of our study was to investigate the humoral response after vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD)/myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD) patients treated with anti-IL-6 receptor therapy. Secondarily, we analyzed relapse activity timely associated with vaccination.

Association of obesity with disease outcome in multiple sclerosis.

Background: Obesity reportedly increases the risk for developing multiple sclerosis (MS), but little is known about its association with disability accumulation.

Methods: This nationwide longitudinal cohort study included 1066 individuals with newly diagnosed MS from the German National MS cohort. Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores, relapse rates, MRI findings and choice of immunotherapy were compared at baseline and at years 2, 4 and 6 between obese (body mass index, BMI ≥30 kg/m) and non-obese (BMI <30 kg/m) patients and correlated with individual BMI values.

Subcortical Volumes as Early Predictors of Fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis.

Objective: Fatigue is a frequent and severe symptom in multiple sclerosis (MS), but its pathophysiological origin remains incompletely understood. We aimed to examine the predictive value of subcortical gray matter volumes for fatigue severity at disease onset and after 4 years by applying structural equation modeling (SEM).

Methods: This multicenter cohort study included 601 treatment-naive patients with MS after the first demyelinating event.

Sunlight exposure exerts immunomodulatory effects to reduce multiple sclerosis severity.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) disease risk is associated with reduced sun-exposure. This study assessed the relationship between measures of sun exposure (vitamin D [vitD], latitude) and MS severity in the setting of two multicenter cohort studies ( = 946, = 990). Additionally, effect-modification by medication and photosensitivity-associated variants was assessed.

Genetic determinants of the humoral immune response in MS.

Objective: In this observational study, we investigated the impact of genetic factors at the immunoglobulin heavy chain constant locus on chromosome 14 and the major histocompatibility complex region on intrathecal immunoglobulin G, A, and M levels as well as on B cells and plasmablasts in the CSF and blood of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Methods: Using regression analyses, we tested genetic variants on chromosome 14 and imputed human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles for associations with intrathecal immunoglobulins in 1,279 patients with MS or clinically isolated syndrome and with blood and CSF B cells and plasmablasts in 301 and 348 patients, respectively.

Results: The minor alleles of variants on chromosome 14 were associated with higher intrathecal immunoglobulin G levels (β = 0.

Clinical implications of serum neurofilament in newly diagnosed MS patients: A longitudinal multicentre cohort study.

Background: We aim to evaluate serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL), indicating neuroaxonal damage, as a biomarker at diagnosis in a large cohort of early multiple sclerosis (MS) patients.

Methods: In a multicentre prospective longitudinal observational cohort, patients with newly diagnosed relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) or clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) were recruited between August 2010 and November 2015 in 22 centers. Clinical parameters, MRI, and sNfL levels (measured by single molecule array) were assessed at baseline and up to four-year follow-up.

Complete Epstein-Barr virus seropositivity in a large cohort of patients with early multiple sclerosis.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of antibodies to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in a large cohort of patients with early multiple sclerosis (MS).

Methods: Serum samples were collected from 901 patients with a clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) or early relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) participating in the German National MS cohort, a prospective cohort of patients with early MS with stringent inclusion criteria. Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen (EBNA)-1 and viral capsid antigen (VCA) antibodies were measured in diluted sera by chemiluminescence immunoassays (CLIAs).

Is ε4 associated with cognitive performance in early MS?

Objective: To assess the impact of polymorphisms on cognitive performance in patients newly diagnosed with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) or relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS).

Methods: This multicenter cohort study included 552 untreated patients recently diagnosed with CIS or RRMS according to the 2005 revised McDonald criteria. The single nucleotide polymorphisms rs429358 (ε4) and rs7412 (ε2) of the haplotype were assessed by allelic discrimination assays Cognitive performance was evaluated using the 3-second paced auditory serial addition test and the Multiple Sclerosis Inventory Cognition (MUSIC).

Longitudinal prevalence and determinants of pain in multiple sclerosis: results from the German National Multiple Sclerosis Cohort study.

Pain is frequent in multiple sclerosis (MS) and includes different types, with neuropathic pain (NP) being most closely related to MS pathology. However, prevalence estimates vary largely, and causal relationships between pain and biopsychosocial factors in MS are largely unknown. Longitudinal studies might help to clarify the prevalence and determinants of pain in MS.

[Diagnostics and treatment of tuberculosis under immunotherapy for multiple sclerosis : Current status and recommendations in Germany].

After years of low incidence, a large increase of new tuberculosis (TB) cases has been reported in Germany since 2015. New immunotherapies for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) are associated with a reduced immune competence and a potential increased risk for infections. Most neurologists lack specific experiences with TB infections.

Association of Intrathecal Immunoglobulin G Synthesis With Disability Worsening in Multiple Sclerosis.

Importance: Reliable biomarkers associated with disability worsening in multiple sclerosis (MS) are still needed.

Objective: To determine a possible association of intrathecal IgG synthesis and early disability worsening as measured by Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scoring in patients with relapsing-remitting MS or clinically isolated syndrome.

Design, Setting, And Participants: Cerebrospinal fluid measurements and clinical data from the observational longitudinal German national multiple sclerosis cohort were analyzed.

Can we predict cognitive decline after initial diagnosis of multiple sclerosis? Results from the German National early MS cohort (KKNMS).

Background: Cognitive impairment (CI) affects approximately one-third of the patients with early multiple sclerosis (MS) and clinically isolated syndrome (CIS). Little is known about factors predicting CI and progression after initial diagnosis.

Methods: Neuropsychological screening data from baseline and 1-year follow-up of a prospective multicenter cohort study (NationMS) involving 1123 patients with newly diagnosed MS or CIS were analyzed.

Tryptophan immunoadsorption during pregnancy and breastfeeding in patients with acute relapse of multiple sclerosis and neuromyelitis optica.

Background: Up to every fourth woman with multiple sclerosis (MS) or neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) suffers a clinically relevant relapse during pregnancy. High doses of steroids bear some serious risks, especially within the first trimester of pregnancy. Immunoadsorption (IA) is an effective and more selective treatment option in disabling MS relapse than plasma exchange.

Alemtuzumab as rescue therapy in a cohort of 50 relapsing-remitting MS patients with breakthrough disease on fingolimod: a multi-center observational study.

Background: Relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) requires efficient immunomodulatory treatment to reach "no evidence of disease activity" status at best. Alemtuzumab and fingolimod have proved to be efficient options in RRMS with active disease course. Yet, side effects and break-through disease may limit long-time treatment and necessitate switch of medication.

Treatment choices and neuropsychological symptoms of a large cohort of early MS.

Objective: To assess clinical characteristics, distribution of disease-modifying treatments (DMTs), and neuropsychological symptoms in a large cohort of patients with early-stage MS.

Methods: The German National MS Cohort is a multicenter prospective longitudinal cohort study that has recruited DMT-naive patients with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) and relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) since 2010. We evaluated their baseline characteristics and the prevalence of neuropsychological symptoms.

Novel multiple sclerosis susceptibility loci implicated in epigenetic regulation.

We conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) on multiple sclerosis (MS) susceptibility in German cohorts with 4888 cases and 10,395 controls. In addition to associations within the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) region, 15 non-MHC loci reached genome-wide significance. Four of these loci are novel MS susceptibility loci.

Successful Replication of GWAS Hits for Multiple Sclerosis in 10,000 Germans Using the Exome Array.

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) successfully identified various chromosomal regions to be associated with multiple sclerosis (MS). The primary aim of this study was to replicate reported associations from GWAS using an exome array in a large German study. German MS cases (n = 4,476) and German controls (n = 5,714) were genotyped using the Illumina HumanExome v1-Chip.

A 10-year follow-up of the European multicenter trial of interferon β-1b in secondary-progressive multiple sclerosis.

Objectives: To explore long-term effects of treatment and prognostic relevance of variables assessed at baseline and during the European secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) trial of interferon beta 1b (IFNB-1b).

Methods: We assessed 362 patients (60% female; median age 41 years; Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS): 5.5; 51% randomized to IFNB-1b) for their EDSS and treatment history after 10 years.

[Diagnostic principles in myopathies].

Myopathies include a broad range of disorders. Diagnostic steps in muscle disorders should therefore be followed sequentially, in order not to miss important information and to avoid unnecessary and cost intensive diagnostic procedures. Specific care should be applied in taking patient's history to ascertain myopathy related complaints, triggers and concomitant diseases possibly being accompanied by a myopathy.