0000000001262434
AUTHOR
M Falcini
Subcutaneous interferon β-1a may protect against cognitive impairment in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: 5-year follow-up of the COGIMUS study
ObjectiveTo assess the effects of subcutaneous (sc) interferon (IFN) -1a on cognition over 5 years in mildly disabled patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS).MethodsPatients aged 18-50 years with RRMS (Expanded Disability Status Scale score ≤4.0) who had completed the 3-year COGIMUS study underwent standardized magnetic resonance imaging, neurological examination, and neuropsychological testing at years 4 and 5. Predictors of cognitive impairment at year 5 were identified using multivariate analysis.ResultsOf 331 patients who completed the 3-year COGIMUS study, 265 participated in the 2-year extension study, 201 of whom (75.8%; sc IFN β-1a three times weekly: 44 µg, n = …
No evidence of beneficial effects of plasmapheresis in natalizumab-associated PML
Objective:To examine retrospectively the effects of plasmapheresis (PLEX) on the survival and clinical outcomes of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and natalizumab (NTZ)–associated progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML).Methods:The medical literature was searched for the terms natalizumab and progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. A total of 193 international and 34 Italian NTZ-PML cases were included. Clinical outcome was determined by comparing the patients' clinical status at PML diagnosis with status after PML resolution. The effects on survival and clinical outcome of PLEX, sex, age, country, pre-PML Expanded Disability Status Scale score, NTZ infusion number, prior…
Do patients' and referral centers' characteristics influence multiple sclerosis phenotypes? Results from the Italian multiple sclerosis and related disorders register
Abstract Background Multiple sclerosis (MS) is characterized by phenotypical heterogeneity, partly resulting from demographic and environmental risk factors. Socio-economic factors and the characteristics of local MS facilities might also play a part. Methods This study included patients with a confirmed MS diagnosis enrolled in the Italian MS and Related Disorders Register in 2000–2021. Patients at first visit were classified as having a clinically isolated syndrome (CIS), relapsing–remitting (RR), primary progressive (PP), progressive-relapsing (PR), or secondary progressive MS (SP). Demographic and clinical characteristics were analyzed, with centers’ characteristics, geographic macro-ar…
The Italian multiple sclerosis register
The past decade has seen extraordinary increase in worldwide availability of and access to several large multiple sclerosis (MS) databases and registries. MS registries represent powerful tools to provide meaningful information on the burden, natural history, and long-term safety and effectiveness of treatments. Moreover, patients, physicians, industry, and policy makers have an active interest in real-world observational studies based on register data, as they have the potential to answer the questions that are most relevant to daily treatment decision-making. In 2014, the Italian MS Foundation, in collaboration with the Italian MS clinical centers, promoted and funded the creation of the …
Cognitive impairment and its relation with disease measures in mildly disabled patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: baseline results from the Cognitive Impairment in Multiple Sclerosis (COGIMUS) study.
Background Cognitive impairment is a common symptom of multiple sclerosis (MS), but the association between cognitive impairment and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) disease measures in patients with relapsing–remitting (RR) MS is unclear. Objectives To study the prevalence of cognitive impairment and its relation with MRI disease measures in mildly disabled patients with RRMS. Methods Patients aged 18–50 years with RRMS (McDonald criteria) and an Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score ≤4.0, who were enrolled in the Cognitive Impairment in Multiple Sclerosis (COGIMUS) study, underwent baseline standardized MRI complete neurological examination and neuropsychological testing. Results…