Search results for "multiple sclerosis"
showing 10 items of 630 documents
Blood lipids, homocysteine, stress factors, and vitamins in clinically stable multiple sclerosis patients
2009
Abstract Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients present a decrease of antioxidants and neuroprotective and immunoregulatory vitamins and an increase of total homocysteine (tHcy), cholesterol (CHL), HDL-cholesterol, and of cellular stress markers, variably associated with the different phases of the disease. We compared the blood levels of uric acid, folic acid, vitamins B12, A, and E, tHcy, CHL, HDL-cholesterol, and triglycerides in forty MS patients during a phase of clinical inactivity with those of eighty healthy controls, matched for age and sex. We found higher levels of tHcy (p = 0.032) and of HDL-cholesterol (p = 0.001) and lower levels of vitamin E (p = 0.001) and the ratio vitamin E/CHL …
High Prevalence and Fast Rising Incidence of Multiple Sclerosis in Caltanissetta, Sicily, Southern Italy
2006
<i>Background:</i> Epidemiological studies conducted in Sicily and Sardinia, the two major Mediterranean islands, showed elevated incidence and prevalence of multiple sclerosis (MS)and a recent increase in disease frequency. <i>Objective:</i> To confirm the central highlands of Sicily as areas of increasing MS prevalence and elevated incidence, we performed a follow-up study based on the town of Caltanissetta (Sicily), southern Italy. <i>Methods:</i> We made a formal diagnostic reappraisal of all living patients found in the previous study performed in 1981. All possible information sources were used to search for patients affected by MS diagnosed accordi…
A further study on the prevalence of multiple sclerosis in Sicily: Caltanissetta city
2009
– The prevalence of probable multiple sclerosis (MS) in Caltanissetta city, Sicily, is at least 51 per 100,000. If possible multiple sclerosis patients are included, it is 54 per 100,000. This value is similar to that found in other cities in Sicily: Enna, Monreale and Agrigento. The high prevalence of multiple sclerosis in Caltanissetta confirms the previous data on Sicily and emphasises the importance of small population studies in the epidemiology of MS.
Vestibular evoked myogenic potential findings in multiple sclerosis.
2013
Abstract Introduction Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory disease involving the occurrence of demyelinating, chronic neurodegenerative lesions in the central nervous system. We studied vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMPs) in this pathology, to allow us to evaluate the saccule, inferior vestibular nerve and vestibular-spinal pathway non-invasively. Methods There were 23 patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis who underwent VEMP recordings, comparing our results with a control group consisting of 35 healthy subjects. We registered p13 and n23 wave latencies, interaural amplitude difference and asymmetry ratio between both ears. Subjects also underwent an otoscopy and audiometric…
Multiple sclerosis severity score: Using disability and disease duration to rate disease severity
2005
Background: There is no consensus method for determining progression of disability in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) when each patient has had only a single assessment in the course of the disease. Methods: Using data from two large longitudinal databases, the authors tested whether cross-sectional disability assessments are representative of disease severity as a whole. An algorithm, the Multiple Sclerosis Severity Score (MSSS), which relates scores on the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) to the distribution of disability in patients with comparable disease durations, was devised and then applied to a collection of 9,892 patients from 11 countries to create the Global MSSS. I…
Diagnostic accuracy of current sonographic criteria for the detection of outflow abnormalities in the internal jugular veins
2012
Objectives: This study was aimed at evaluation of the diagnostic value of Doppler sonography for the assessment of abnormalities in the internal jugular veins (IJVs). Method: One hundred and sixteen IJVs were assessed in 58 patients with associated multiple sclerosis. Findings of Doppler sonography were compared with results of the reference test: catheter venography. Results: At least one positive extracranial sonographic criterion suggesting venous abnormality was found in 92.2% of the assessed veins. Yet, sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of sonography were low: 93.4%, 12.0%, 79.4% and 33.3% for at least one positive criterion, and for at least two positiv…
Alemtuzumab treatment of multiple sclerosis in real-world clinical practice: A report from a single Italian center
2020
Abstract Background Alemtuzumab, is a compound approved for highly active MS, and, in Europe, employed after the use of other disease-modifying treatments (DMTs) with an escalation approach or used as a first therapeutic option. The occurrence of secondary autoimmune adverse events and or infections can differ depending on the employed approach. Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of alemtuzumab in real-world MS population that encompassed patients previously treated with other DMTs. Methods 35 patients, treated with alemtuzumab in a single MS Center, were followed for at least 36 months. The study investigated the prevalence of patients reaching the phase of the non-active diseas…
Abduction nystagmus in internuclear ophthalmoplegia
1992
Direct current electro-oculography revealed abduction nystagmus with hypermetric abduction saccades in 35 of 64 patients with unilateral and 55 of 66 patients with bilateral internuclear ophthalmoplegia. Slowing of abduction saccades occurred in 27 unilateral cases, mainly ipsilateral to the paretic eye, and in 36 bilateral cases. Abduction nystagmus with hypermetric abduction saccades of normal velocity is explained by an increased phasic innervation adjusted to adduction paresis. Slowed abduction saccades are attributed to impaired inhibition of the medial rectus muscle. Superposition of impaired medial rectus inhibition and increased phasic innervation best explains abduction nystagmus w…
Multiple sclerosis: prevalence of the ‘central vein’ sign in white matter lesions on gadolinium-enhanced susceptibility-weighted images
2021
Aims To evaluate prospectively whether an intravenous gadolinium injection could improve the detection of the central vein sign on susceptibility-weighted imaging sequences obtained with a 1.5 T magnetic resonance scanner in patients with multiple sclerosis compared to unenhanced susceptibility-weighted images. Materials and methods This prospective, institution review board-approved study included 19 patients affected by multiple sclerosis (six men; 13 women; mean age 40.8 years, range 20–74 years). Patients had the relapsing–remitting clinical subtype in 95% of cases, and only one (5%) patient had the primary progressive clinical subtype of multiple sclerosis. T2-weighted images, fluid-at…
Abortion induces reactivation of inflammation in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis
2018
ObjectiveTo investigate clinical and radiological outcomes of women with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) undergoing abortion.MethodsAn independent, multicentre retrospective study was conducted collecting data from eight Italian MS centres. We compared the preconception and postabortion annualised relapse rate (ARR) and number of Gadolinium enhancing (Gd+) lesions, by analyses of covariance. Variables associated with postabortion clinical and MRI activity were investigated using Poisson regression models; each abortion was considered as a statistical unit.ResultsFrom 1995 to 2017, we observed 188 abortions (17 elective) in 153 women with RRMS. Abortions occurred after a mean t…