Cladribine treatment for highly active multiple sclerosis: Real-world clinical outcomes for years 3 and 4.

Introduction: Cladribine is an effective immunomodulatory treatment used for relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS).

Objectives: To describe the clinical outcomes and rates of no evidence of disease activity (NEDA) in patients with highly-active disease treated with 2 years cumulative dose of cladribine, for years 3 and 4.

Methods: We used the Sheba Multiple Sclerosis computerized data registry to retrospectively evaluate year-3 and year-4 clinical outcomes and NEDA-2 rates in highly active RRMS patients who completed the 2-dose 2-year cladribine treatment protocol (3.

Immune response to the third COVID-19 vaccine dose is related to lymphocyte count in multiple sclerosis patients treated with fingolimod.

Background: The majority of multiple sclerosis [MS] patients treated with fingolimod fail to develop a protective level of IgG humoral and adaptive cellular immune responses following full BNT162b2 SARS-CoV-2 vaccination.

Objective: To compare the efficacy of the third COVID-19 vaccine dose in vaccine non-responders fingolimod-treated MS patients.

Study Design: This is a prospective 3-month, single-center, randomized clinical trial.

COVID-19 vaccination in patients with multiple sclerosis: Safety and humoral efficacy of the third booster dose.

Background: As immunity against SARS-COV-2 wanes following first and second doses of vaccination, a third dose is administered in several countries around the world. Similarly to the first doses, risks related to vaccination and humoral immune response in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) need to be assessed.

Objective: Characterize safety and humoral immune response following the third dose of COVID-19 vaccination in a large cohort of MS patients.

SARS-CoV-2 memory B and T cell profiles in mild COVID-19 convalescent patients.

Objectives: Antiviral adaptive immunity involves memory B cells (MBC) and memory T cells (MTC). The dynamics of MBC and MTC in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) convalescents warrant further investigation.

Methods: In this cross-sectional and longitudinal study, blood-derived MBC and MTC responses were evaluated in 68 anti-spike IgG-positive mild coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) convalescents at visit 1, between 1 and 7 months (median 4.

Humoral immune response in multiple sclerosis patients following PfizerBNT162b2 COVID19 vaccination: Up to 6 months cross-sectional study.

Appropriate immune response following COVID-19 vaccination is important in the context of disease-modifying treatments (DMTs). In a prospective cross-sectional study, we determined SARS-COV-2 IgG response up to 6 months following PfizerBNT162b2 vaccination in 414 multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and 89 healthy subjects. Protective response was demonstrated in untreated MS patients (N = 76, 100%), treated with Cladribine (N = 48, 100%), Dimethyl fumarate (N = 35, 100%), Natalizumab (N = 32, 100%), and Teriflunomide (N = 39, 100%), similarly to healthy subjects (N = 89, 97.

Humoral immune response to COVID-19 mRNA vaccine in patients with multiple sclerosis treated with high-efficacy disease-modifying therapies.

Background And Aims: The National Multiple Sclerosis Society and other expert organizations recommended that all patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) should be vaccinated against COVID-19. However, the effect of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) on the efficacy to mount an appropriate immune response is unknown. We aimed to characterize humoral immunity in mRNA-COVID-19 MS vaccinees treated with high-efficacy DMTs.

COVID-19 vaccination in patients with multiple sclerosis: What we have learnt by February 2021.

Background: Since vaccination against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) became available, risks related to vaccinating patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) need to be carefully assessed.

Objective: Characterize safety and occurrence of immediate relapses following COVID-19 vaccination in a large cohort of MS patients.

Methods: We assessed the safety of BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccination in adult MS patients.

Towards personalized therapy for multiple sclerosis: prediction of individual treatment response.

Timely initiation of effective therapy is crucial for preventing disability in multiple sclerosis; however, treatment response varies greatly among patients. Comprehensive predictive models of individual treatment response are lacking. Our aims were: (i) to develop predictive algorithms for individual treatment response using demographic, clinical and paraclinical predictors in patients with multiple sclerosis; and (ii) to evaluate accuracy, and internal and external validity of these algorithms.

Highly active immunomodulatory therapy ameliorates accumulation of disability in moderately advanced and advanced multiple sclerosis.

Objective: To evaluate variability and predictability of disability trajectories in moderately advanced and advanced multiple sclerosis (MS), and their modifiability with immunomodulatory therapy.

Methods: The epochs between Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) steps 3-6, 4-6 and 6-6.5 were analysed.

The effect of additional ankle and midfoot mobilizations on plantar fasciitis: a randomized controlled trial.

Study Design: A single-blind randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of ankle and midfoot mobilization on pain and function of patients with plantar fasciitis (PF).

Background: Plantar fasciitis is a degenerative process of the plantar fascia, with a lifetime prevalence of approximately 10%.

Comparative effectiveness of glatiramer acetate and interferon beta formulations in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

Background: The results of head-to-head comparisons of injectable immunomodulators (interferon β, glatiramer acetate) have been inconclusive and a comprehensive analysis of their effectiveness is needed.

Objective: We aimed to compare, in a real-world setting, relapse and disability outcomes among patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) treated with injectable immunomodulators.

Methods: Pairwise analysis of the international MSBase registry data was conducted using propensity-score matching.

Seasonal variation of relapse rate in multiple sclerosis is latitude dependent.

Objective: Previous studies assessing seasonal variation of relapse onset in multiple sclerosis have had conflicting results. Small relapse numbers, differing diagnostic criteria, and single region studies limit the generalizability of prior results. The aim of this study was to determine whether there is a temporal variation in onset of relapses in both hemispheres and to determine whether seasonal peak relapse probability varies with latitude.

Sex as a determinant of relapse incidence and progressive course of multiple sclerosis.

The aim of this work was to evaluate sex differences in the incidence of multiple sclerosis relapses; assess the relationship between sex and primary progressive disease course; and compare effects of age and disease duration on relapse incidence. Annualized relapse rates were calculated using the MSBase registry. Patients with incomplete data or <1 year of follow-up were excluded.

Influence of histocompatibility genes on disease susceptibility and treatment response in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis treated with interferon β-1a.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common, non-traumatic cause of neurological disability in young adults. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of HLA class II alleles DRB1* and DQB1* on susceptibility to relapsing-remitting (RR) MS and response to interferon (IFN) β-1a treatment. A prospective observational study was conducted.

Cognitive dysfunction evaluation in multiple sclerosis patients treated with interferon beta-1b: an open-label prospective 1 year study.

Background: The cognitive impairment (frontal, parietal) in many patients with multiple sclerosis does not correlate with the degree of neurological disability and disease duration. Frontal/prefrontal cognitive impairment requires neuropsychological diagnostic tools.

Objectives: To evaluate the clinical effect of IFNbeta-1b (Betaferon) treatment on cognitive function and event-related potential as compared to the clinical course (EDSS) in MS patients during 1 year of follow-up.

Approach to bilateral benign paroxysmal positioning vertigo.

Background: Bilateral benign paroxysmal positioning vertigo (bBPPV) is rather rare, accounting for up to 10% in the reported benign paroxysmal positioning vertigo (BPPV) series. Inappropriate head positioning during testing in unilateral BPPV causes the otolith debris in the uppermost ear to move toward the cupula, resulting in an inhibitory nystagmus and mimicking bBPPV.

Purpose: We analyzed the clinical data of patients with bilaterally positive Dix-Hallpike maneuver and compared them with the characteristics of patients with unilateral BPPV.

Approach to benign paroxysmal positional vertigo in old age.

Background: Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo is a common and treatable vestibular disorder characterized by attacks of positional vertigo. Although elderly patients often complain about unsteadiness, the symptom of positional vertigo is seldom reported. Several studies on BPPV in the elderly reveal a low success rate in the treatment of this entity.

Phobic postural vertigo: a new proposed entity.

Background: Dizziness and vertigo can be a complaint in various psychiatric conditions where it usually constitutes only one of the features of the syndrome. Lately, a somatoform disorder characterized by almost mono-symptomatic dizziness and unsteadiness has been described. Since phobic postural vertigo usually presents without anxiety or other psychological symptomatology, patients with this condition seek help at neurologic and otolaryngologic clinics where they are often misdiagnosed as suffering from organic vertigo.

Copolymer 1 (glatiramer acetate) in relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis: open multicenter study of alternate-day administration.

Daily 20-mg doses of Copolymer 1 have been shown to significantly decrease the relapse rate in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). In the present open-label study, patients with relapsing MS were treated with the same dose of Copolymer 1 administered on alternate days. Sixty-eight patients were recruited: fifty-one and forty-one patients completed 1 and 2 years of treatment respectively.