Migraine in the multiple sclerosis prodrome: a prospective nationwide cohort study in pregnant women.

Background: People with multiple sclerosis (MS) have an increased risk of migraine. However, little is known about migraine and other headaches during the prodromal phase (before MS symptom onset). Our objective was to study the risk of migraine in women with MS before MS onset.

Effect of alemtuzumab on fatigue, quality of life, and patient/caregiver-reported outcomes in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis-A real-world evidence study.

Background: Alemtuzumab is approved in the European Union for treating highly active relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Patient-reported outcomes measure the treatment impact on quality of life (QoL), including fatigue, a common symptom in multiple sclerosis (MS). Chronic diseases like MS also affect the patient's caregiver.

Hospitalisations and humoral COVID-19 vaccine response in vaccinated rituximab-treated multiple sclerosis patients.

Background: Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) treated with anti-CD20 therapies such as rituximab may have increased risk of severe COVID-19 disease. Vaccination induces protective immunity, but humoral vaccine response is known to be attenuated in rituximab-treated MS-patients-patients, which has indicated a need for real world data on severe morbidity and mortality from COVID-19 after vaccination.

Methods: Rituximab-treated patients treated at Haukeland University Hospital were identified through the National MS Registry and invited to participate in the study by giving a consent and providing a blood sample 3 weeks or later after ordinary COVID-19- vaccination, i.

Healthcare utilization and costs associated with autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation in Norwegian patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients experience long-term deterioration of neurological function, reduced quality of life, long-lasting treatment cycles, and an increased risk of early workability loss imposing an economic burden to society. Autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT) has shown promising treatment effects for relapsing remitting MS (RRMS). This study employs a micro-costing approach to estimate healthcare utilization and costs associated with AHSCT in Norwegian RRMS patients.

Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for multiple sclerosis: Long-term follow-up data from Norway.

Background: Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a potent treatment option for patients with aggressive relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS).

Objective: To evaluate long-term outcomes of HSCT in MS.

Methods: National retrospective single-center observational study of patients with aggressive RRMS that underwent HSCT in Norway from January 2015 to January 2018.

Adverse Childhood Experiences and the Risk of Multiple Sclerosis Development: A Review of Potential Mechanisms.

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), such as abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction, contribute to long-term systemic toxic stress and inflammation that may last well into adulthood. Such early-life stressors have been associated with increased susceptibility to multiple sclerosis (MS) in observational studies and with the development of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in animal models. In this review, we summarize the evidence for an ACE-mediated increase in MS risk, as well as the potential mechanisms for this association.

Antiviral therapy with tenofovir in MS.

Infection by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is implicated as the leading cause of multiple sclerosis (MS). We have previously published a case description of a person with MS (pwMS) who was also HIV positive and treated with a combination of antiretrovirals (ART) containing tenofovir, a potent inhibitor of EBV replication. In the years following this publication, the patient had no new relapses, even though she did not use any MS disease-modifying therapy for nearly five years.

Humoral response to Epstein-Barr virus in patients with multiple sclerosis treated with B cell depletion therapy.

Background: B cell depletion therapy is highly effective in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). However, the precise underlying mechanisms of action for its biological effects in MS have still not been clarified. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a known risk factor for MS and seems to be a prerequisite for disease development.

Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Clinical and Biochemical Characteristics of Alemtuzumab-Induced Graves Disease.

Objective: Atypical Graves disease (GD) is a common complication in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients treated with alemtuzumab. We present epidemiological, clinical, and biochemical characteristics of alemtuzumab-induced GD.

Methods: Retrospective follow-up study of MS patients treated with alemtuzumab from 2014 to 2020, including clinical course of GD, pregnancy outcome, and thyroid eye disease (TED).

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.

Microstructural changes precede depression in patients with relapsing-remitting Multiple Sclerosis.

Background: Multiple Sclerosis lesions in the brain and spinal cord can lead to different symptoms, including cognitive and mood changes. In this study we explore the temporal relationship between early microstructural changes in subcortical volumes and cognitive and emotional function in a longitudinal cohort study of patients with relapsing-remitting Multiple Sclerosis.

Methods: In vivo imaging in forty-six patients with relapsing-remitting Multiple Sclerosis was performed annually over 3 years magnetic resonance imaging.

Predictors of hospitalization due to infection in rituximab-treated MS patients.

Background: Rituximab is extensively used off-label to treat multiple sclerosis (MS), and long-term vigilance for adverse events is needed. This study was conducted to determine frequencies and predictors of hematological adverse events, including hypogammaglobulinemia, severe lymphopenia, neutropenia, and infections leading to hospitalization.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included all patients with MS initiating rituximab treatment at Haukeland University Hospital between January 1, 2017, and July 1, 2021.

Interferon β1a treatment does not influence serum Epstein-Barr virus antibodies in patients with multiple sclerosis.

There is increasing evidence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) being conditional in multiple sclerosis (MS) pathogenesis and influential for disease activity. Interferon-beta (IFNβ) is a cytokine with antiviral effects used to treat MS, in which a possible antiviral effect against EBV has been questioned. In this study, we investigated the effect of IFNβ-1a treatment on serum EBV antibody levels in 84 patients with relapsing-remitting MS.

Brief international cognitive assessment for MS (BICAMS) and global brain volumes in early stages of MS - A longitudinal correlation study.

Background: Cognitive impairment is common in patients with multiple sclerosis, even in the early stages of the disease. The Brief International Cognitive Assessment for multiple sclerosis (BICAMS) is a short screening tool developed to assess cognitive function in everyday clinical practice.

Objective: To investigate associations between volumetric brain measures derived from a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination and performance on BICAMS subtests in early stages of multiple sclerosis (MS).

Cancer related mortality in multiple sclerosis. A population based cohort study.

Background: Cancer is a major cause of death, but how cancer influences mortality risk in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is unclear.

Objectives: Determine all-cause mortality and mortality following a cancer diagnosis among MS patients compared with matched population controls.

Methods: Norwegian MS patients born 1930 - 1979 (n= 6950) followed-up 1953 - 2016, were matched with 37 922 controls.

Breastfeeding and treatment for multiple sclerosis.

Monoclonal antibody therapy is effective for multiple sclerosis, and only small amounts of antibodies are transferred to breast milk. Even though the approved product descriptions advise against breastfeeding during medicinal treatment, several of the most effective MS drugs are compatible with breastfeeding.

Ocrelizumab quantitation by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

Introduction: Ocrelizumab is a monoclonal anti-CD20 antibody approved for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). The clinical value of therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) for this antibody in treatment of MS is unknown, and an adequately specific and precise quantitation method for ocrelizumab in patient serum could facilitate investigation. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)-based quantitation methods have been shown to have higher analytic specificity and precision than enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.

Safety of breast feeding during rituximab treatment in multiple sclerosis.

Background: There are limited data on the safety of breast feeding during rituximab therapy. Our objective is to determine exposure from breast feeding and biological effects of rituximab in breastfed infants.

Methods: In our case series of six mother-infant pairs, the nursing mothers with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis received rituximab during breast feeding.

Abuse and revictimization in adulthood in multiple sclerosis: a cross-sectional study during pregnancy.

Background: Knowledge concerning exposure to abuse in adulthood and in pregnancy in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) is sparse.

Objective: To determine the occurrence of adult abuse and abuse in relation to pregnancy in women with MS and their risk of revictimization (repeated abuse as adults after childhood abuse).

Methods: This cross-sectional study comprised pregnant women from the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort study.

The Effect of Smoking on Long-term Gray Matter Atrophy and Clinical Disability in Patients with Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis.

Background And Objectives: The relationship between smoking, long-term brain atrophy, and clinical disability in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) is unclear. Here, we assessed long-term effects of smoking by evaluating MRI and clinical outcome measures after 10 years in smoking and nonsmoking patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS).

Methods: We included 85 treatment-naive patients with RRMS with recent inflammatory disease activity who participated in a 10-year follow-up visit after a multicenter clinical trial of 24 months.