Increased Intracranial Pressure in Myelin-Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein Antibody-Associated Disease.

Objectives: To assess characteristics of increased intracranial pressure (ICP) in myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD).

Methods: This is a multicenter retrospective review of 84 MOGAD cases at the University of Florida, Baylor College of Medicine, the University of California San Diego, and Providence Health and Services, Portland, Oregon, to identify cases with a documented increased opening pressure >25 cm H2O. A literature review was conducted to identify previously reported MOGAD cases with an opening pressure >25 cm H2O.

Analysis of Evusheld safety and efficacy in multiple sclerosis patients.

Background: In December 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued emergency use authorization for the combination monoclonal antibodies tixagevimab and cilgavimab (Evusheld - AstraZeneca) for COVID-19 pre-exposure prophylaxis.

Frequency, characteristics, predictors and treatment of relapsing myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD).

Background: Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD) may have a monophasic or relapsing disease course. To date, factors that may predict a relapsing disease course remain largely unknown and only limited data exist regarding the efficacy of different utilized immunotherapy regimens at preventing or reducing relapses.

Objectives: To assess the characteristics, predictors, and immunotherapy of relapsing MOGAD.

Senescence marker p16INK4a expression in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Objectives: Telomere attrition is associated with disability accumulation and brain atrophy in multiple sclerosis (MS). Downstream of telomere attrition is cellular senescence. We sought to determine differences in the cellular senescence marker p16INK4a expression between MS and healthy control participants and the association of p16INK4a expression with MS disability and treatment exposure.

Characterization of cortico-meningeal translocator protein expression in multiple sclerosis.

Compartmentalized meningeal inflammation is thought to represent one of the key players in the pathogenesis of cortical demyelination in multiple sclerosis. PET targeting the 18 kDa mitochondrial translocator protein (TSPO) is a molecular-specific approach to quantifying immune cell-mediated density in the cortico-meningeal tissue compartment in vivo. This study aimed to characterize cortical and meningeal TSPO expression in a heterogeneous cohort of multiple sclerosis cases using in vivo simultaneous MR-PET with 11C-PBR28, a second-generation TSPO radioligand, and ex vivo immunohistochemistry.

Ocrelizumab B-cell repopulation-guided extended interval dosing versus standard dosing - similar clinical efficacy with decreased immunoglobulin M deficiency rates.

Background: Ocrelizumab (OCR) is a humanized anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody used in treatment of multiple sclerosis. The standard dosing (SD) regimen consists of OCR maintenance infusions every 6 months. In B-cell repopulation-guided extended interval dosing (EID), repeat infusions are delayed until there is evidence for B-cell repopulation.

The NHANES Biological Age Index demonstrates accelerated aging in MS patients.

Background: Chronological age is associated with disability accumulation in multiple sclerosis (MS). Biological age may give more precise estimates of aging pathways associations with MS severity. Both normal aging and accelerated aging from MS may negatively impact disease course.

Cortical and phase rim lesions on 7 T MRI as markers of multiple sclerosis disease progression.

In multiple sclerosis, individual lesion-type patterns on magnetic resonance imaging might be valuable for predicting clinical outcome and monitoring treatment effects. Neuropathological and imaging studies consistently show that cortical lesions contribute to disease progression. The presence of chronic active white matter lesions harbouring a paramagnetic rim on susceptibility-weighted magnetic resonance imaging has also been associated with an aggressive form of multiple sclerosis.

Quantification of smooth pursuit dysfunction in multiple sclerosis.

Background: Smooth pursuit dysfunction is common in MS, but rarely quantified and may be missed on exam.

Methods: NeuroFitONE™ smooth pursuit performance measures were compared between MS (n = 20) and healthy control (n = 19) participants.

Results: Compared to controls, MS patients had lower proportion of smooth pursuit (0.

The relevance of multiple sclerosis cortical lesions on cortical thinning and their clinical impact as assessed by 7.0-T MRI.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate at 7.0-T MRI a) the role of multiple sclerosis (MS) cortical lesions in cortical tissue loss b) their relation to neurological disability.

Methods: In 76 relapsing remitting and 26 secondary progressive MS patients (N = 102) and 56 healthy subjects 7.

Association of Serum Neurofilament Light Levels With Long-term Brain Atrophy in Patients With a First Multiple Sclerosis Episode.

Importance: Data are needed on the potential long-term prognostic association of serum neurofilament light in multiple sclerosis (MS).

Objective: To evaluate serum neurofilament light as a biomarker associated with long-term disease outcomes in clinically isolated syndrome.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This post hoc cohort study used data from the Controlled High-Risk Avonex Multiple Sclerosis Prevention Study, a 36-month, multicenter, placebo-controlled interferon β-1a randomized clinical trial conducted from April 1996 to March 2000, and its long-term (5- and 10-year) extension study from February 2001 to March 2009.

MOG-IgG1 and co-existence of neuronal autoantibodies.

Background: The presence of co-existent neuronal antibodies (neuronal-IgG) in patients with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein immunoglobulin G (MOG-IgG1) is not yet well understood.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the co-existence of a broad range of neuronal-IgG in MOG-IgG1+ patients.

Methods: MOG-IgG1+ patients were tested for 17 neuronal-IgGs in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum including NMDA-R-IgG, AMPA-R-IgG, GABAB-R-IgG, LGI1-IgG, CASPR2-IgG, GABAA-R-IgG, GAD65-IgG, mGLUR1-IgG, DPPX-IgG, CRMP5-IgG, amphiphysin-IgG, PCA1,2,Tr, and ANNA1,2,3.

Characterization of thalamic lesions and their correlates in multiple sclerosis by ultra-high-field MRI.

Background: Thalamic pathology is a marker for neurodegeneration and multiple sclerosis (MS) disease progression.

Objective: To characterize (1) the morphology of thalamic lesions, (2) their relation to cortical and white matter (WM) lesions, and (3) clinical measures, and to assess (4) the imaging correlates of thalamic atrophy.

Methods: A total of 90 MS patients and 44 healthy controls underwent acquisition of 7 Tesla images for lesion segmentation and 3 Tesla scans for atrophy evaluation.

Outcomes and Cost-Effectiveness of Autologous Hematopoietic Cell Transplant for Multiple Sclerosis.

Purpose Of Review: This review presents a critical appraisal of the use of autologous hematopoietic cell transplant (AHCT) for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. We present the reader with a brief review on the AHCT procedure, its immunomodulatory mechanism of action in MS, the most recent evidence in support of its use in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), as well as its cost considerations.

Recent Findings: The first meta-analysis of clinical trials of AHCT for patients with MS demonstrated durable 5-year progression-free survival rates and low treatment-related mortality.

Longitudinal Characterization of Cortical Lesion Development and Evolution in Multiple Sclerosis with 7.0-T MRI.

Background Cortical lesions develop early in multiple sclerosis (MS) and play a major role in disease progression. MRI at 7.0 T shows high sensitivity for detection of cortical lesions as well as better spatial resolution and signal-to-noise ratio compared with lower field strengths.

Post-natalizumab disease reactivation in multiple sclerosis: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Natalizumab (NTZ) is sometimes discontinued in patients with multiple sclerosis, mainly due to concerns about the risk of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. However, NTZ interruption may result in recrudescence of disease activity.

Objective: The objective of this study was to summarize the available evidence about NTZ discontinuation and to identify which patients will experience post-NTZ disease reactivation through meta-analysis of existing literature data.

Guided Imagery Improves Mood, Fatigue, and Quality of Life in Individuals With Multiple Sclerosis: An Exploratory Efficacy Trial of Healing Light Guided Imagery.

Multiple sclerosis is a disabling and progressive neurological disease that has significant negative effects on health-related quality of life. This exploratory efficacy study examined the effects of Healing Light Guided Imagery (HLGI), a novel variant of guided imagery, compared with a wait-list control in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. Changes in the Beck Depression Inventory, Fatigue Severity Scale, and Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life instrument (physical and mental components) were compared between groups.

Heterogeneous pathological processes account for thalamic degeneration in multiple sclerosis: Insights from 7 T imaging.

Background: Thalamic degeneration impacts multiple sclerosis (MS) prognosis.

Objective: To investigate heterogeneous thalamic pathology, its correlation with white matter (WM), cortical lesions and thickness, and as function of distance from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

Methods: In 41 MS subjects and 17 controls, using 3 and 7 T imaging, we tested for (1) differences in thalamic volume and quantitative T* (q-T*) (2) globally and (3) within concentric bands originating from the CSF/thalamus interface; (4) the relation between thalamic, cortical, and WM metrics; and (5) the contribution of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) metrics to clinical scores.

The association between intra- and juxta-cortical pathology and cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis by quantitative T* mapping at 7 T MRI.

Using quantitative T* at 7 Tesla (T) magnetic resonance imaging, we investigated whether impairment in selective cognitive functions in multiple sclerosis (MS) can be explained by pathology in specific areas and/or layers of the cortex. Thirty-one MS patients underwent neuropsychological evaluation, acquisition of 7 T multi-echo T* gradient-echo sequences, and 3 T anatomical images for cortical surfaces reconstruction. Seventeen age-matched healthy subjects served as controls.

Neuroinflammatory component of gray matter pathology in multiple sclerosis.

Objective: In multiple sclerosis (MS), using simultaneous magnetic resonance-positron emission tomography (MR-PET) imaging with C-PBR28, we quantified expression of the 18kDa translocator protein (TSPO), a marker of activated microglia/macrophages, in cortex, cortical lesions, deep gray matter (GM), white matter (WM) lesions, and normal-appearing WM (NAWM) to investigate the in vivo pathological and clinical relevance of neuroinflammation.

Methods: Fifteen secondary-progressive MS (SPMS) patients, 12 relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) patients, and 14 matched healthy controls underwent C-PBR28 MR-PET. MS subjects underwent 7T T2*-weighted imaging for cortical lesion segmentation, and neurological and cognitive evaluation.

Beyond focal cortical lesions in MS: An in vivo quantitative and spatial imaging study at 7T.

Objectives: Using quantitative T2* 7-tesla (7T) MRI as a marker of demyelination and iron loss, we investigated, in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) and secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS), spatial and tissue intrinsic characteristics of cortical lesion(s) (CL) types, and structural integrity of perilesional normal-appearing cortical gray matter (NACGM) as a function of distance from lesions.

Methods: Patients with MS (18 RRMS, 11 SPMS), showing at least 2 CL, underwent 7T T2* imaging to obtain (1) magnitude images for segmenting focal intracortical lesion(s) (ICL) and leukocortical lesion(s) (LCL), and (2) cortical T2* maps. Anatomical scans were collected at 3T for cortical surface reconstruction using FreeSurfer.

Is the Relationship between Cortical and White Matter Pathologic Changes in Multiple Sclerosis Spatially Specific? A Multimodal 7-T and 3-T MR Imaging Study with Surface and Tract-based Analysis.

Purpose: To investigate in vivo the spatial specificity of the interdependence between intracortical and white matter (WM) pathologic changes as function of cortical depth and distance from the cortex in multiple sclerosis (MS), and their independent contribution to physical and cognitive disability.

Materials And Methods: This study was institutional review board-approved and participants gave written informed consent. In 34 MS patients and 17 age-matched control participants, 7-T quantitative T2* maps, 3-T T1-weighted anatomic images for cortical surface reconstruction, and 3-T diffusion tensor images (DTI) were obtained.

A gradient in cortical pathology in multiple sclerosis by in vivo quantitative 7 T imaging.

We used a surface-based analysis of T2* relaxation rates at 7 T magnetic resonance imaging, which allows sampling quantitative T2* throughout the cortical width, to map in vivo the spatial distribution of intracortical pathology in multiple sclerosis. Ultra-high resolution quantitative T2* maps were obtained in 10 subjects with clinically isolated syndrome/early multiple sclerosis (≤ 3 years disease duration), 18 subjects with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (≥ 4 years disease duration), 13 subjects with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis, and in 17 age-matched healthy controls. Quantitative T2* maps were registered to anatomical cortical surfaces for sampling T2* at 25%, 50% and 75% depth from the pial surface.

Contribution of cortical lesion subtypes at 7T MRI to physical and cognitive performance in MS.

Objectives: Evaluate cross-sectionally the contribution of focal cortical lesion (CL) subtypes at ultra-high-field MRI and traditional MRI metrics of brain damage to neurologic disability and cognitive performance in a heterogeneous multiple sclerosis (MS) cohort.

Methods: Thirty-four patients with early or established disease including clinically isolated syndrome, relapsing-remitting MS, and secondary progressive MS were scanned on a human 7-tesla (7T) (Siemens) scanner to acquire fast low-angle shot (FLASH) T2*-weighted images for characterization of white matter and deep gray matter lesion volume, and CL types. Patients also underwent anatomical 3T MRI for cortical thickness estimation, and neuropsychological testing within 1 week of the 7T scan.