Retinal thinning differentiates treatment effects in relapsing multiple sclerosis below the clinical threshold.

Objective: To investigate retinal layer thinning as a biomarker of disease-modifying treatment (DMT) effects in relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS).

Methods: From an ongoing prospective observational study, we included patients with RMS, who (i) had an optical coherence tomography (OCT) scan within 6 to 12 months after DMT start (rebaseline) and ≥1 follow-up OCT ≥12 months after rebaseline and (ii) adhered to DMT during follow-up. Differences between DMT in thinning of peripapillary-retinal-nerve-fiber-layer (pRNFL) and macular ganglion cell-plus-inner plexiform-layer (GCIPL) were analyzed using mixed-effects linear regression.

MuSic Moves-co-creating a music-supported exercise programme with and for people with multiple sclerosis: a bicentre participatory mixed methods study.

Objectives: To collaboratively develop a music-supported video-based exercise programme for people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) with mild to severe disability.

Design And Setting: We performed this participatory mixed methods study from 15 March 2022 to 22 July 2023 at two Austrian multiple sclerosis (MS) centres.

Participants: This research included 67 pwMS, of whom 18 pwMS (including two patient representatives and five MS support group leaders/members) and an additional three family members served as stakeholders.

The presence of oligoclonal bands predicts conversion to multiple sclerosis in isolated myelitis.

Acute transverse myelitis (ATM) is a disease characterized by inflammation of the spinal cord and may have various causes. In the context of this work, the distinction between isolated ATM and initial manifestation of autoimmune-mediated diseases of the central nervous system such as multiple sclerosis (MS) is crucial. Hence, the aim of this work was to identify predictive factors associated with the conversion to definite MS in a collective of individuals after their initial episode of isolated ATM (no initial identified cause).

German translation, cultural adaptation for Austria, and validation of the Neurological Sleep Index-Multiple Sclerosis.

Study Objectives: To translate, culturally adapt, and validate the Neurological Sleep Index-Multiple Sclerosis (NSI-MS) for use in Austrian German-speaking populations with multiple sclerosis.

Methods: Following established guidelines, the NSI-MS diurnal sleepiness, nonrestorative nocturnal sleep, and fragmented nocturnal sleep scales underwent forward-backward translation, with content and face validity, and cultural adaptation to Austria established. Construct validity was evaluated using Rasch analysis.

Immunophenotyping in routine clinical practice for predicting treatment response and adverse events in patients with MS.

Background: Recent studies proposed cellular immunoprofiling as a surrogate for predicting treatment response and/or stratifying the occurrence of adverse events (AEs) in persons with multiple sclerosis (pwMS). However, applicability in real-world circumstances is not sufficiently addressed.

Objective: We aimed to explore whether standard routine clinical leukocyte phenotyping before treatment initiation could help stratify patients according to treatment response or AEs in a real-world MS cohort.

Real-world use of natalizumab in Austria: data from the Austrian Multiple Sclerosis Treatment Registry (AMSTR).

Introduction: With the approval of natalizumab in Europe in 2006, the Austrian Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Registry (AMSTR) was established. Here, we present data from this registry about effectiveness and safety of natalizumab in patients treated up to 14 years.

Patients/methods: Data retrieved from the AMSTR contained baseline characteristics and biannual documentation of annualised relapse rate (ARR) and Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score as well as adverse events and reasons for discontinuation on follow-up visits.

Feasibility of a smartphone app to monitor patient reported outcomes in multiple sclerosis: The haMSter interventional trial.

Background: Monitoring of patient outcomes in multiple sclerosis (MS) is fundamental for individualized treatment decisions. So far, these decisions have been motivated by conventional outcomes, i.e.

[The corona pandemic and multiple sclerosis: vaccinations and their implications for patients-Part 1: recommendations].

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is a global health crisis. New challenges are constantly emerging especially for the healthcare system, not least with the emergence of various viral mutations. Given the variety of immunomodulatory and immunosuppressive therapies for multiple sclerosis (MS) and the immense developments in vaccine production, there is a high need of information for people with MS.

[The corona pandemic and multiple sclerosis: vaccinations and their implications for patients-Part 2: vaccine technologies].

Along with the challenges posed by the globally circulating COVID-19 pandemic, there have been some epochal advances in the field of vaccine technologies. In addition to the traditionally used dead, live and protein-based vaccines, vector-based and gene-based vaccines gained enormous attention in the course of this health crisis. The aim of this article is to provide an overview of multiple sclerosis (MS) and vaccination, recent advances in the SARS-CoV‑2 vaccine landscape as well as a detailed discussion of the various vaccine technologies.

The Smartphone App haMSter for Tracking Patient-Reported Outcomes in People With Multiple Sclerosis: Protocol for a Pilot Study.

Background: Treatment and monitoring decisions in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) are based commonly on clinician-reported outcomes. These reflect physical and radiological disease activity and are the most relevant endpoints in clinical trials. Over the past few years, the number of studies evaluating so-called patient-reported outcomes (PROs) has been increasing.

Restless Legs Syndrome in Multiple Sclerosis: Risk factors and effect on sleep quality - a case-control study.

Introduction: Previous studies suggested an association between MS and Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS). Data on the prevalence of RLS in Austrian MS patients and on the influence of disease-modifying therapies (DMT) on RLS are lacking.

Objective: To investigate (1) the prevalence of RLS in Austria compared to control persons (CP), (2) risk factors for RLS in MS, and (3) influence of DMTs on RLS prevalence and/or severity.

Sexuality and Multiple Sclerosis: Patient and Doctor Perspectives.

Background: Little is known on how to address sexuality in clinical care for patients with multiple sclerosis (pwMS).

Aim: To describe and contrast the perception of sexuality and associated aspects of communication in pwMS and their treating neurologists ("MSologists") and provide a standard of care.

Methods: Patients were surveyed using a 13-item questionnaire investigating perception on their own sexuality and opinions on communication about sexuality in context with MS.

Predisposing Factors for Sexual Dysfunction in Multiple Sclerosis.

Sexual dysfunction (SD) in people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) has a detrimental impact on individual health-related quality of life (HRQoL). It is not clear whether SD in multiple sclerosis (MS) is an independent symptom or merely a byproduct of other symptoms such as depression or anxiety. This cross-sectional study of 93 pwMS determines risk factors for SD in MS based on prevalence, HRQoL, and associated disease outcomes.

Quantifying the risk of disease reactivation after interferon and glatiramer acetate discontinuation in multiple sclerosis: The VIAADISC score.

Background And Purpose: There is a lack of evidence guiding discontinuation of disease-modifying therapy (DMT) in relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS). Thus, the objective of this study was to generate and validate a risk score for disease reactivation after DMT discontinuation in RMS.

Methods: We drew a generation and validation dataset from two separate prospectively collected observational databases including RMS patients who received interferon-β or glatiramer acetate for ≥12 months, then discontinued DMT for ≥6 months and had ≥2 years of follow-up available.

Should I stop or should I go on? Disease modifying therapy after the first clinical episode of multiple sclerosis.

Introduction: Treatment with disease-modifying therapies (DMT) in patients with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) represents standard care in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients nowadays. Since a proportion of patients may show no evidence of disease activity (NEDA) after some time of treatment, the question might arise about the risks of stopping DMT.

Methods: We present a cohort of 49 patients who started DMT immediately after CIS and had no evidence of disease activity (NEDA-3) for at least five years before discontinuation of therapy.