BREMSO: a simple score to predict early the natural course of multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Early prediction of long-term disease evolution is a major challenge in the management of multiple sclerosis (MS). Our aim was to predict the natural course of MS using the Bayesian Risk Estimate for MS at Onset (BREMSO), which gives an individual risk score calculated from demographic and clinical variables collected at disease onset. METHODS: An observational study was carried out collecting data from MS patients included in MSBase, an international registry. Disease impact was studied using the Multiple Sclerosis Severity Score (MSSS) and time to secondary progression (SP). To evaluate the natural history of the disease, patients were analysed only if they did not receive immune therapies or only up to the time of starting these therapies. RESULTS: Data from 14 211 patients were analysed. The median BREMSO score was significantly higher in the subgroups of patients whose disease had a major clinical impact (MSSS≥ third quartile vs. ≤ first quartile, P < 0.00001) and who reached SP (P < 0.00001). The BREMSO showed good specificity (79%) as a tool for predicting the clinical impact of MS. CONCLUSIONS: BREMSO is a simple tool which can be used in the early stages of MS to predict its evolution, supporting therapeutic decisions in an observational setting.

[Hyperhomocysteinemia-related cerebral venous thrombosis]. / Trombosis venosa cerebral en relación con la hiperhomocisteinemia.

INTRODUCTION: Moderate hyperhomocysteinemia is a causal risk factor for atherosclerosis and venous thromboembolism. Recent researches have tried to find out a causal relationship. However, only a small number of cases have been reported on hyperhomocysteinemia and cerebral venous thrombosis in the world medical literature. CASE REPORT: We present the case of a 21 years old woman, and oral contraceptives taker, who consulted for a one week clinical picture of biparietal headache, nausea and vomiting. Examination revealed bilateral papilledema, and subsequent CT scan, MRI and MR angiography showed thrombosis of the left lateral sinus. Immunologic tests (antinuclear antibodies, antiphospholipid antibodies) were negative. Hypercoagulability studies showed persistent homocysteine high levels. The patient improved and was discharged after treatment with anticoagulants and therapeutic measures against brain edema. DISCUSSION: The 70 percent of the patients with thrombosis of the cerebral venous sinuses present hypercoagulable states, including moderate hyperhomocysteinemia. Several mechanisms are proposed for venous thrombosis in hyperhomocysteinemia, homocysteine induced endothelial dysfunction between others. Otherwise, oral contraceptives can increase the risk of venous thrombosis in other prothrombotic conditions. Folic acid and vitamins supplementation therapy are commented.