Kappa free light chains is a valid tool in the diagnostics of MS: A large multicenter study.

OBJECTIVE: To validate kappa free light chain (KFLC) and lambda free light chain (LFLC) indices as a diagnostic biomarker in multiple sclerosis (MS). METHODS: We performed a multicenter study including 745 patients from 18 centers (219 controls and 526 clinically isolated syndrome (CIS)/MS patients) with a known oligoclonal IgG band (OCB) status. KFLC and LFLC were measured in paired cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum samples. Gaussian mixture modeling was used to define a cut-off for KFLC and LFLC indexes. RESULTS: The cut-off for the KFLC index was 6.6 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 5.2-138.1). The cut-off for the LFLC index was 6.9 (95% CI = 4.5-22.2). For CIS/MS patients, sensitivity of the KFLC index (0.88; 95% CI = 0.85-0.90) was higher than OCB (0.82; 95%CI = 0.79-0.85; p < 0.001), but specificity (0.83; 95% CI = 0.78-0.88) was lower (OCB = 0.92; 95% CI = 0.89-0.96; p < 0.001). Both sensitivity and specificity for the LFLC index were lower than OCB. CONCLUSION: Compared with OCB, the KFLC index is more sensitive but less specific for diagnosing CIS/MS. Lacking an elevated KFLC index is more powerful for excluding MS compared with OCB but the latter is more important for ruling in a diagnosis of CIS/MS.

EAN guideline on palliative care of people with severe, progressive multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Patients with severe, progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) have complex physical and psychosocial needs, typically over several years. Few treatment options are available to prevent or delay further clinical worsening in this population. The objective was to develop an evidence-based clinical practice guideline for the palliative care of patients with severe, progressive MS. METHODS: This guideline was developed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation methodology. Formulation of the clinical questions was performed in the Patients-Intervention-Comparator-Outcome format, involving patients, carers and healthcare professionals (HPs). No uniform definition of severe MS exists: in this guideline, constant bilateral support required to walk 20 m without resting (Expanded Disability Status Scale score > 6.0) or higher disability is referred to. When evidence was lacking for this population, recommendations were formulated using indirect evidence or good practice statements were devised. RESULTS: Ten clinical questions were formulated. They encompassed general and specialist palliative care, advance care planning, discussing with HPs the patient's wish to hasten death, symptom management, multidisciplinary rehabilitation, interventions for caregivers and interventions for HPs. A total of 34 recommendations (33 weak, 1 strong) and seven good practice statements were devised. CONCLUSIONS: The provision of home-based palliative care (either general or specialist) is recommended with weak strength for patients with severe, progressive MS. Further research on the integration of palliative care and MS care is needed. Areas that currently lack evidence of efficacy in this population include advance care planning, the management of symptoms such as fatigue and mood problems, and interventions for caregivers and HPs.

Patient and caregiver involvement in the formulation of guideline questions: findings from the European Academy of Neurology guideline on palliative care of people with severe multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Patient and public involvement in clinical practice guideline development is recommended to increase guideline trustworthiness and relevance. The aim was to engage multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and caregivers in the definition of the key questions to be answered in the European Academy of Neurology guideline on palliative care of people with severe MS. METHODS: A mixed methods approach was used: an international online survey launched by the national MS societies of eight countries, after pilot testing/debriefing on 20 MS patients and 18 caregivers, focus group meetings of Italian and German MS patients and caregivers. RESULTS: Of 1199 participants, 951 (79%) completed the whole online survey and 934 from seven countries were analysed: 751 (80%) were MS patients (74% women, mean age 46.1) and 183 (20%) were caregivers (36% spouses/partners, 72% women, mean age 47.4). Participants agreed/strongly agreed on inclusion of the nine pre-specified topics (from 89% for 'advance care planning' to 98% for 'multidisciplinary rehabilitation'), and <5% replied 'I prefer not to answer' to any topic. There were 569 free comments: 182 (32%) on the pre-specified topics, 227 (40%) on additional topics (16 guideline-pertinent) and 160 (28%) on outcomes. Five focus group meetings (three of MS patients, two of caregivers, and overall 35 participants) corroborated the survey findings. In addition, they allowed an explanation of the guideline production process and the exploration of patient-important outcomes and of taxing issues. CONCLUSIONS: Multiple sclerosis patient and caregiver involvement was resource and time intensive, but rewarding. It was the key for the formulation of the 10 guideline questions and for the identification of patient-important outcomes.

Prevalence of multiple sclerosis in the Serbian district Sumadija.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of multiple sclerosis (MS) in the district of Sumadija (central part of Serbia). METHODS: All persons suffering from MS, with permanent residence in the region, were recruited. Prevalence was calculated on December 31, 2006, according to a standard procedure. RESULTS: On December 31, 2006, one hundred ninety-four patients (72 males and 122 females) were found to have MS. We found a crude MS prevalence of 64.9/100,000 (49.3/100,000 for males and 79.9/ 100,000 for females). The highest prevalence rates were registered in the age group of 30-39 years for females and 40-49 years for males, although the age-specific rates were higher in females in all age groups. The mean age at onset was 34.2 ± 9.3 years. The average duration of MS was 8.9 ± 6.2 years. The median EDSS score was 3.9 ± 2.0. The course of MS was relapsing-remitting in 63.9% of patients, secondary progressive in 32.5%, and primary progressive in 3.6%. At MS onset, motor symptoms were present in 70.1% of patients, sensory in 40.7%, cerebellar in 21.1%, brainstem in 15.5%, visual in 22.2%, and bowel/bladder disturbances in 22.2%. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that the MS prevalence registered in the Serbian district Sumadija is similar to that of other surrounding areas in Southeastern Europe.

Neuromyelitis Optica in a Patient from Family with both Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1 and 2.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to present a family co-segregating myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) and 2 (DM2), and one member affected with neuromyelitis optica (NMO). CASE REPORT: Index case underwent cataract surgery at age 39. Although she had no muscle symptoms, genetic testing revealed a DM2 mutation and a DM1 protomutation. The patient noticed difficulties in climbing stairs at age 47. Clinical examination showed mild muscle weakness, calf hypertrophy, mild myotonia and several multisystem signs. Patient's mother had DM1 protomutation and clinically exhibited only cataract. Two proband's sisters, one with DM2 mutation and another with DM2 mutation and DM1 protomutation, had a clinical presentation similar to the index case. In addition, the latter also developed NMO. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that screening for both DM1 and DM2 should be done and a positive result in either gene should not be an indication to stop screening, but to move to the other gene.

What should a person with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis know? - Focus group and survey data of a risk knowledge questionnaire (RIKNO 2.0).

BACKGROUND: Risk knowledge is relevant to make informed decisions in multiple sclerosis (MS). The risk knowledge questionnaire for relapsing-remitting MS (RIKNO 1.0) was developed and piloted in Germany. OBJECTIVE: To produce a revised RIKNO 2.0 questionnaire using mixed methodology in a European setting. METHODS: The questionnaire was translated in seven languages. MS patient and health professional (HP) expert feedback was obtained from Germany, Italy, Estonia, Serbia, and the UK. A German web-based survey of RIKNO 2.0 compared the tool with the MS Knowledge Questionnaire (MSKQ), each one used with two versions (with/without a "don't know" DN option). RESULTS: While RIKNO 2.0 was considered difficult, it was rated as highly educational. One item was reframed, and two new items were added. The web-based German survey (n = 708 completers) showed that the DN version did not increase participation rate and did not produce significantly higher scores. Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) without SN response was 0.73. RIKNO 2.0 scores showed normality distribution irrespective of the answering format. Item difficulty was high ranging from 0.07 to 0.79. Less than 50% of questions were answered correctly (mean 8.9) compared to 80.4% in the MSKQ (mean 20.1). Higher numeracy competency and education were significantly, albeit weakly, associated to higher scores for both RIKNO 2.0 and MSKQ. CONCLUSION: Including "don't know" options in knowledge questionnaires does not increase percentage of correct replies. RIKNO 2.0 is a complex questionnaire to be used in an educational context and studies on patient information. The tool is now available in seven languages.

The epidemiology of multiple sclerosis in Europe.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic and potentially highly disabling disorder with considerable social impact and economic consequences. It is the major cause of non-traumatic disability in young adults. The social costs associated with MS are high because of its long duration, the early loss of productivity, the need for assistance in activities of daily living and the use of immunomodulatory treatments and multidisciplinary health care. Available MS epidemiological estimates are aimed at providing a measure of the disease burden in Europe. The total estimated prevalence rate of MS for the past three decades is 83 per 100,000 with higher rates in northern countries and a female:male ratio around 2.0. Prevalence rates are higher for women for all countries considered. The highest prevalence rates have been estimated for the age group 35-64 years for both sexes and for all countries. The estimated European mean annual MS incidence rate is 4.3 cases per 100,000. The mean distribution by disease course and by disability is also reported. Despite the wealth of epidemiological data on MS, comparing epidemiological indices among European countries is a hard task and often leads only to approximate estimates. This represents a major methodological concern when evaluating the MS burden in Europe and when implementing specific cost-of-illness studies.

Risk Knowledge in Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis (RIKNO 1.0)--Development of an Outcome Instrument for Educational Interventions.

BACKGROUND: Adequate risk knowledge of patients is a prerequisite for shared decision making but few attempts have been made to develop assessment tools. Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease of young adults with an increasing number of partially effective immunotherapies and therefore a paradigmatic disease to study patient involvement. OBJECTIVE/METHODS: Based on an item bank of MS risk knowledge items and patient feedback including perceived relevance we developed a risk knowledge questionnaire for relapsing remitting (RR) MS (RIKNO 1.0) which was a primary outcome measure in a patient education trial (192 early RRMS patients). RESULTS: Fourteen of the RIKNO 1.0 multiple-choice items were selected based on patient perceived relevance and item difficulty indices, and five on expert opinion. Mean item difficulty was 0.58, ranging from 0.14 to 0.79. Mean RIKNO 1.0 score increased after the educational intervention from 10.6 to 12.4 (p = 0.0003). Selected items were particularly difficult (e.g. those on absolute risk reductions of having a second relapse) and were answered correctly in only 30% of the patients, even after the intervention. CONCLUSION: Despite its high difficulty, RIKNO 1.0 is a responsive instrument to assess risk knowledge in RRMS patients participating in educational interventions.

A 44-month clinical-brain MRI follow-up in a patient with B12 deficiency.

We report a 51-year-old woman with vitamin B12 deficiency who presented with slight megaloblastic anemia and severe neurologic deficits associated with multiple focal and confluent T2-weighted white matter hyperintensities on brain MRI. Forty-four months after initiation of hydroxocobalamin therapy, there was clinical improvement and striking reduction in the MRI abnormalities. B12 deficiency should be considered in the differential diagnosis of neurologic disorders associated with multiple areas of white matter hyperintensities on T2-weighted brain MRI.

Uric acid levels in sera from patients with multiple sclerosis.

The levels of uric acid (UA), a natural peroxynitrite scavenger, were measured in sera from 240 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and 104 sex- and age-matched control patients with other neurological diseases (OND). The mean serum UA concentration was lower in the MS than in the OND group, but the difference did not reach the level of statistical significance (P = 0.068). However, the mean serum UA level from patients with active MS (202.6 + 67.1 mumol/l) was significantly lower than that in inactive MS patients (226.5 + 78.6 mumol/l; P = 0.046) and OND controls (P = 0.007). We found a significant inverse correlation of serum UA concentration with female gender (P = 0.0001), disease activity (P = 0.012) and duration (P = 0.017), and a trend towards an inverse correlation with disability as assessed by EDSS score, which did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.067). Finally, multivariate linear regression analyses showed that UA concentration was independently correlated with gender (P = 0.0001), disease activity (P = 0.014) and duration of the disease (P = 0.043) in MS patients. These findings suggest that serum UA might serve as a possible marker of disease activity in MS. They also provide support to the potential beneficial therapeutic effect of radical-scavenging substances in MS.

Serum interleukin-12 levels in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Increasing body of evidence which suggests a crucial role for interleukin (IL)-12 in modulating immune responses in multiple sclerosis (MS) prompted us to analyze IL-12 in serum from MS patients. We measured the sera concentrations of IL-12, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and transforming growth factor-beta1, in 21 MS patients and 13 patients with non-inflammatory nervous diseases. In clinically active MS, serum levels of IL-12 were detectable in 53% and TNF-alpha in 40% of patients. None of the patients with clinically inactive MS had detectable IL-12 and TNF-alpha sera levels. Analysis of serum concentrations of all three cytokines revealed no significant differences between MS patients and controls. These findings provide further evidence that both IL-12 and TNF-alpha might have an active role in immunopathogenesis of MS.

The effects of high-dose intravenous methylprednisolone on event-related potentials in patients with multiple sclerosis.

The aim of this study was to assess the effects of high-dose (i.e. 1000 mg per day) intravenous methylprednisolone (HDMP) on event-related potentials (ERPs), elicited by a standard auditory 'oddball' paradigm, in patients with clinically active multiple sclerosis. In a double-blind study design, forty-four consecutive inpatients were randomly assigned in two clinically similar groups of 22 subjects each; one treated with HDMP for five days, and other with placebo. ERPs were recorded before and after the treatment. After HDMP therapy the P3 peak latency was significantly shortened (P=0.006), while peak latencies of other waves (i.e. N1, P2, and N2) remained unchanged. On the other hand, ERPs were uninfluenced by placebo treatment. Our results suggest the beneficial effect of intravenous HDMP therapy on, at least some aspects of, cognitive processing capabilities (as assessed by the auditory ERPs) in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Unusual association of multiple sclerosis and tomaculous neuropathy.

We describe two cases in which multiple sclerosis (MS) occurred in association with tomaculous neuropathy, presenting as chronic, distal sensorimotor polyneuropathy. In Case 1, monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance with monoclonal IgG lambda reactive against GM1 ganglioside, was also detected. The diagnosis of tomaculous neuropathy was established after sural nerve biopsy. Teased fibers examination revealed focal 'sausage-like' thickenings of the myelin sheaths in intact fibers and in fibers with segmental demyelination. Electron microscopy showed them to be due, mostly, to multiple windings of redundant myelin and concentric apposition of numerous lamellae, in contact with an intact myelin sheath. These are the first reported cases of tomaculous neuropathy in patients with MS. Whether the combination of the two conditions is purely coincidental or suggests the possible causal relation between MS and tomaculous neuropathy, is not certain.

Interleukin-12 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels in cerebrospinal fluid of multiple sclerosis patients.

Concentrations of interleukin (IL)-12 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were measured in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and control patients with non-inflammatory neurological diseases (NIND) by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. TNF-alpha was detectable in the CSF of 60% of the patients with active MS, none of those with inactive MS and 29% of patients with NIND. CSF concentrations of TNF-alpha correlated with the degree of disability in MS patients (P < 0.05). Detectable levels of IL-12 were found in 10% of the MS CSF samples and 18% of NIND CSF samples. There was a significant relationship between CSF concentrations of IL-12 and those of TNF-alpha in MS patients (P < 0.05); no relationship was observed between the presence of IL-12 and disease activity or severity. These findings further stress the involvement of T helper 1 type-response within the central nervous system in MS.

Long-term adherence to interferon-beta treatment in a cohort of RRMS patients in Belgrade, Serbia.

OBJECTIVE: Long-term adherence to interferon-beta (IFNß) treatment in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) varies considerably in daily clinical practice. The aim of the present study was to assess the frequency and reasons for stopping the INFß treatment in our relapsing-remitting (RR) MS patients' cohort. PATIENTS AND METHOD: All patients with RRMS initiating treatment with IFNß at the Clinic of neurology, CCS, in Belgrade, from January 2004 to June 2009, were included in the study. Treatment was initiated in RRMS patients with at least two relapses in the previous two years, and EDSS score at entry ≤3.5. During the follow-up, patients underwent regular detailed clinical evaluation performed by MS specialists. RESULTS: The study comprised a total of 290 RRMS patients. During the 6-year follow up period (mean 3.5±2.1 years), 18% of patients stopped the treatment. The main reason for treatment discontinuation was lack of efficacy (54%); 21% of patients stopped therapy because of pregnancy and only 17% because of AE. CONCLUSION: The frequency of treatment discontinuation in our study pointed to the low permanent termination rate reflecting good adherence to IFNß in our RRMS patients. Our results support the notion that long-term adherence to IFNß treatment might be significantly influenced by optimizing the benefits to be achieved from therapy, adequate patient selection and easy accessibility of MS health professionals.

Diffusion tensor MRI tractography and cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the correlation between cognitive impairment and overall vs regional CNS damage, quantified using conventional and diffusion tensor (DT) MRI tractography in multiple sclerosis (MS). METHODS: Brain dual-echo, T1-weighted, and DT MRI data were acquired from 82 patients with MS. DT tractography was used to produce maps of white matter (WM) tracts involved in cognition. The sensory thalamocortical projections and optic radiations were studied as "control" WM tracts. The contribution of global brain damage (T2 lesion volume, normalized brain volume, gray matter [GM] volume, WM volume, DT MRI measures of normal-appearing WM and GM damage) and damage to selected WM tracts to overall cognitive impairment and to impairment at individual neuropsychological tests was assessed using a random forest (RF) analysis. RESULTS: Thirty-three patients had cognitive impairment. The majority of MRI measures differed significantly between cognitively impaired and cognitively preserved (CP) patients. Significant correlations were found between performance in the majority of neuropsychological tests and global or regional brain damage (r ranging from -0.60 to 0.57). The RF analysis showed a high performance in classifying cognitively impaired vs CP patients, with a classification (C)-index = 76.8, as well as in classifying patients' impairment in individual neuropsychological tests (C-index between 75.6% and 86.6%). Measures of lesional damage in cognitive-related tracts, rather than measures of normal-appearing WM damage in the same tracts or global brain/WM/GM damage, resulted in the highest classification accuracy. CONCLUSIONS: Lesions in strategic brain WM tracts contribute to cognitive impairment in MS through a multisystem disconnection syndrome.

A questionnaire for multinational case-control studies of environmental risk factors in multiple sclerosis (EnvIMS-Q).

OBJECTIVES: The increasing incidence of multiple sclerosis (MS) worldwide, especially in women, points to the crucial role of environmental and lifestyle risk factors in determining the disease occurrence. An international multicentre case-control study of Environmental Risk Factors In Multiple Sclerosis (EnvIMS) has been launched in Norway, Sweden, Italy, Serbia and Canada, aimed to examine MS environmental risk factors in a large study population and disclose reciprocal interactions. To ensure equivalent methodology in detecting age-related past exposures in individuals with and without MS across the study sites, a new questionnaire (EnvIMS-Q) is presented. MATERIALS AND METHODS: EnvIMS-Q builds on previously developed guidelines for epidemiological studies in MS and is a 6-page self-administered postal questionnaire. Participants are de-identified through the use of a numerical code. Its content is identical for cases and controls including 'core' and population-specific questions as proxies for vitamin D exposure (sun exposure, dietary habits and supplementation), childhood infections (including infectious mononucleosis) and cigarette smoking. Information on possible confounders or effect modifiers is also obtained. EnvIMS-Q was initially drafted in English and subsequently translated into Italian, Serbian, Norwegian, Swedish and French-Canadian. EnvIMS-Q has been tested for acceptability, feasibility and reliability. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: EnvIMS-Q has shown cross-cultural feasibility, acceptability and reliability in both patients with MS and healthy subjects from all sites. EnvIMS-Q is an efficient tool to ensure proper assessment of age-specific exposure to environmental factors in large multinational population-based case-control studies of MS risk factors.

A multicenter assessment of cervical cord atrophy among MS clinical phenotypes.

OBJECTIVE: In this multicenter study, a new semiautomatic method for segmenting the cervical cord from C2 to C5 was used to investigate the correlation between cord atrophy and clinical disability in a large sample of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). METHODS: T2 and 3-dimensional T1-weighted cervical cord scans and dual-echo brain scans were acquired from 143 healthy controls, 22 patients with clinically isolated syndromes (CIS), 101 patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), 79 patients with secondary progressive MS (SPMS), 58 patients with benign MS (BMS), and 75 patients with primary progressive MS (PPMS) in 3 European centers. Normalized cervical cord cross-sectional area (CSAn) was measured by an active surface cord model. Between-group comparisons were performed using linear mixed-effect models. A nonparametric kernel estimator was used to obtain smoothed plots of CSA along the cervical cord. RESULTS: Cord CSAn was significantly lower in PPMS vs healthy controls, BMS vs RRMS, SPMS vs BMS, and RRMS. From C2 to C5, a net separation and definition of the plots of patients with BMS, PPMS, and SPMS was seen with respect to those of the other study groups. CSAn was correlated with Expanded Disability Status Scale (r = -0.49, p < 0.0001), with a differential effect among disease clinical phenotypes: no association in either CIS or in BMS; association in RRMS (r = -0.30, p = 0.001), SPMS (r = -0.34, p = 0.001), and PPMS (r = -0.27, p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Cervical cord atrophy provides a relevant and useful marker for the characterization of clinical heterogeneity of patients with MS. The stability of this measure among different centers supports its use as potential outcome measure to monitor disease progression in multicenter trials.