Prevalence of elevated sNFL in a real-world setting: Results on 908 patients with different multiple sclerosis types and treatment conditions.

Background: In the field of research for new validated surrogate biomarkers of treatment efficacy, disease activity and progression in Multiple Sclerosis (MS), serum neurofilament light-chain (sNFL) are actually the best candidate for MS patient monitoring. However, before they can be implemented in clinical practice, their usefulness as additional red flag routine measure must be demonstrated. To tackle the problem, this real-life cross-sectional study at the Regional Referring Center for Multiple Sclerosis (CRESM) aims to characterize sNFL levels and prevalence of elevated sNFL, according to our age-dependent cut-off values, in a large group of patients with different types of MS and treatment conditions.

Variable responses to rituximab treatment in neuromyelitis optica (Devic's disease).

We have described two cases of Devic's disease patients treated with rituximab with different outcomes. The results indicate that there may be early unresponsiveness in very aggressive cases. Well designed clinical trials are needed to assess treatment effects in such a rare disease.

Neutralizing antibodies reduce the efficacy of betaIFN during treatment of multiple sclerosis.

Objective: To analyze the impact of neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) on the clinical efficacy of IFNbeta.

Methods: This was an open-label study involving 78 patients with multiple sclerosis treated with Betaferon 8 million IU (MIU) subcutaneously (SC) every other day (n = 20), Rebif 22 micro g SC 3 times weekly (n = 25), or Avonex 30 micro g IM once weekly (n = 33). Every 3 months, blood samples were collected and sera were analyzed for NAbs using an antiviral cytopathic effect assay.

Neuromyelitis optica: importance of cerebrospinal fluid examination during relapse.

Devic's neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is a clinical entity characterised by severe transverse myelitis, optic neuropathy and monophasic or recurrent course. We report the case of a woman affected by myelitis and optic neuritis suggesting Devic's disease. Diagnosis was supported by clinical, neuroradiological and biochemical findings.

Persistent neutralizing antibodies abolish the interferon beta bioavailability in MS patients.

Background: MxA is an antiviral protein exclusively induced by type I interferons (IFN) and some viruses, and MxA gene expression is one of the most appropriate markers for measuring the biologic activity of exogenous IFNbeta.

Methods: A new quantitative-competitive PCR method was used to quantify MxA mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 99 treatment-naïve and 92 IFNbeta-treated patients with MS (22 Avonex, 17 Betaferon, and 53 Rebif-22). Every 3 months, IFNbeta-induced neutralizing antibodies (NAb) were evaluated in sera using a cytopathic effect assay.