The diagnostic workup of children with the radiologically isolated syndrome differs by age and by sex.

Background: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and spinal MRIs are often obtained in children with the radiologically isolated syndrome (RIS) for diagnosis and prognosis. Factors affecting the frequency and timing of these tests are unknown.

Objective: To determine whether age or sex were associated with (1) having CSF or spinal MRI obtained or (2) the timing of these tests.

Mitoxantrone in NMO Spectrum Disorder in a Large Multicenter Cohort in French Caribbean.

Background And Objectives: Preventing relapses in neuromyelitis Optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is a primary goal. New effective molecules are often expensive and not readily available in regions with fragile health systems. Assessing the efficacy and safety of less costly therapeutic alternatives is necessary.

Investigating the Long-term Effect of Pregnancy on the Course of Multiple Sclerosis Using Causal Inference.

Background And Objectives: The question of the long-term safety of pregnancy is a major concern in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), but its study is biased by reverse causation (women with higher disability are less likely to experience pregnancy). Using a causal inference approach, we aimed to estimate the unbiased long-term effects of pregnancy on disability and relapse risk in patients with MS and secondarily the short-term effects (during the perpartum and postpartum years) and delayed effects (occurring beyond 1 year after delivery).

Methods: We conducted an observational cohort study with data from patients with MS followed in the Observatoire Français de la Sclérose en Plaques registry between 1990 and 2020.

Improving the decision to switch from first- to second-line therapy in multiple sclerosis: A dynamic scoring system.

Background: In relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), early identification of suboptimal responders can prevent disability progression.

Objective: We aimed to develop and validate a dynamic score to guide the early decision to switch from first- to second-line therapy.

Methods: Using time-dependent propensity scores (PS) from a French cohort of 12,823 patients with RRMS, we constructed one training and two validation PS-matched cohorts to compare the switched patients to second-line treatment and the maintained patients.

Comparative Effectiveness of Natalizumab Versus Anti-CD20 in Highly Active Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis After Fingolimod Withdrawal.

In France, two therapeutic strategies can be offered after fingolimod (FNG) withdrawal to highly active relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients: natalizumab (NTZ) or anti-CD20. We compared the effectiveness of these two strategies as a switch for FNG within the OFSEP database. The primary endpoint was the time to first relapse.

Marburg Multiple Sclerosis Variant: Complete Remission with Very Early Administration of Mitoxantrone-A Case Report.

Marburg variant is a severe and fulminant pseudotumor form of multiple sclerosis (MS) with high morbidity and mortality rates. Because of its scarcity, it remains incompletely characterized and physicians' experiences will influence the treatment. We report the inflammatory explosive case of a 31-year-old woman presenting with rapid neurological degradation of histology proven Marburg's disease, successfully treated with early administration of Mitoxantrone (MITX).

NMOSD-like and longitudinal extensive HTLV1-associated myelitis are extremes that flank an overlooked continuum.

Background: HTLV1-associated myelitis (HAM) is a slowly progressive myelopathy in which spinal cord MRI demonstrates no lesion or atrophy.

Objective: We examined the overlap between NMOSD features and HTLV1 infection.

Methods: We included all HTLV1-infected patients recruited in French West Indies (FWI) or referred from different centers, and suffering from at least one NMOSD feature.

Bruch Membrane Opening Minimum Rim Width in Neuromyelitis Optica.

Background: Optical coherence tomography (OCT) analyzes the neurodegeneration in neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and multiple sclerosis (MS) and quantifies optical atrophy. The retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and ganglion cell layer (GCL) thickness are decreased, and this structural change is correlated with visual function of patients, including contrast vision and visual field deviation. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the Bruch membrane opening minimum rim width (BMO) of the patients with NMO.

Asian and African/Caribbean AQP4-NMOSD patient outcomes according to self-identified race and place of residence.

Background: Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is an autoimmune astrocytopathy characterized by aquaporin-4 antibodies, whose prognosis is influenced by onset age, race, environmental exposures and immunosuppression. Distinguishing the contribution of environment from genetics is challenging. We aimed to compare neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) patient outcomes according to self-identified racial group and place of residence.

The effectiveness of natalizumab vs fingolimod-A comparison of international registry studies.

Background: Natalizumab and fingolimod were the first preparations recommended for disease breakthrough in priorly treated relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. Of three published head-to-head studies two showed that natalizumab is the more effective to prevent relapses and EDSS worsening.

Methods: By re-analyzing original published results from MSBase, France, and Denmark using uniform methodologies, we aimed at identifying the effects of differences in methodology, in the MS-populations, and at re-evaluating the differences in effectiveness between the two drugs.

Stroke Recurrence in First-Ever Symptomatic Carotid Web: A Cohort Study.

Background And Purpose: Carotid web (CaW) is an intimal variant of fibromuscular dysplasia responsible for ipsilateral cerebral ischemic events (CIE). Symptomatic CaW likely has a high risk of recurrent CIE, but no salient prospective data are available. We aimed to assess recurrence rate and its predictors after a first-ever CIE.

Multiple sclerosis-like NMOSD patients suffer severe worsening of status after fingolimod initiation.

Background: Initial clinical manifestations of NMOSD may rarely overlap with MS. Fingolimod may trigger severe attacks in patients with NMOSD previously misdiagnosed as MS. These cases are rare and their pathophysiology remains elusive.

Untreated patients with multiple sclerosis: A study of French expert centers.

Background And Purpose: Disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) have an impact on relapses and disease progression. Nonetheless, many patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) remain untreated. The objectives of the present study were to determine the proportion of untreated patients with MS followed in expert centers in France and to determine the predictive factors of nontreatment.

Determinants of therapeutic lag in multiple sclerosis.

Background: A delayed onset of treatment effect, termed therapeutic lag, may influence the assessment of treatment response in some patient subgroups.

Objectives: The objective of this study is to explore the associations of patient and disease characteristics with therapeutic lag on relapses and disability accumulation.

Methods: Data from MSBase, a multinational multiple sclerosis (MS) registry, and OFSEP, the French MS registry, were used.

Worldwide Incidence and Prevalence of Neuromyelitis Optica: A Systematic Review.

Objective: Since the last epidemiologic review of neuromyelitis optica/neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMO/NMOSD), 22 additional studies have been conducted. We systematically review the worldwide prevalence, incidence, and basic demographic characteristics of NMOSD and provide a critical overview of studies.

Methods: PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, and Embase using Medical Subject Headings and keyword search terms and reference lists of retrieved articles were searched from 1999 until August 2019.

Familial clustering of neuromyelitis optica and multiple sclerosis: clues pointing towards shared risks?

We examine the prevalence of the familial association of concordant NMOSD/NMOSD and discordant NMOSD/MS cases among a large NMOSD cohort. Familial association was examined in a monocenter cohort of 119 NMOSD patients and 45 patients at high risk of NMOSD from French West Indies. Data mining gathered 31 multiplex families.