Optical coherence tomography assessment of disease activity in cryopyrin-associated periodic syndrome.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Cryopyrin-associated periodic syndrome is a rare autoinflammatory disease caused by gain-of-function mutations or variants in the NLRP3 gene. Clinically, patients suffer from a broad spectrum of both systemic and neurological symptoms. The aim of this study was to determine whether systemic inflammation demonstrated by serum amyloid A (SAA) elevation is associated with neuroinflammation assessed by optical coherence tomography (OCT). METHODS: Thirty eyes of 15 patients with NLRP3 low penetrance mutations (PwNLRP3) and 20 eyes of 10 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were examined by spectral-domain OCT as part of routine clinical care. All retinal layers and clinical features were evaluated. RESULTS: At baseline no significant retinal neuroaxonal inflammation or degeneration was observed in all measured retinal layers amongst PwNLRP3 compared with healthy controls. In a pooled analysis of all individual OCT time points a significant difference regarding the macular retinal nerve fibre layer was detected. Increased levels of SAA showed a positive association with averaged combined outer plexiform layer and outer nuclear layer volumes (ρ < 0.0001, r2 = 0.35). CONCLUSION: In cryopyrin-associated periodic syndrome increased combined outer plexiform layer and outer nuclear layer volumes are mirrored by SAA increase, an acute phase reactant indicating systemic inflammation. Our findings identify OCT as a candidate biomarker to monitor subclinical neuroinflammation and to assess disease activity in PwNLRP3.

Inner retinal layer thinning in radiologically isolated syndrome predicts conversion to multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Individuals with radiologically isolated syndrome (RIS) are at increased risk of converting to multiple sclerosis (MS). Early identification of later converters is crucial for optimal treatment decisions. The purpose of this study was to assess the predictive potential of optical coherence tomography (OCT) measures in individuals with RIS regarding conversion to MS. METHODS: This prospective observational cohort study included 36 individuals with RIS and 36 healthy controls recruited from two German MS centers. All individuals received baseline OCT and clinical examination and were longitudinally followed over up to 6 years. The primary outcome measure was the conversion to MS. RESULTS: During clinical follow-up of 46 (26-58) months (median, 25%-75% interquartile range), eight individuals with RIS converted to MS. Individuals converting to MS showed a thinning of the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) and the common ganglion cell and inner plexiform layer (GCIP) at baseline and during follow-up. Individuals with a pRNFL of 99 µm or lower or a GCIP of 1.99 mm3 or lower were at a 7.5- and 8.0-fold risk for MS conversion, respectively, compared to individuals with higher measures. After correction for other known risk factors, Cox proportional hazards regression revealed a hazard ratio of 1.08 for conversion to MS for each 1 µm decline in pRNFL. CONCLUSIONS: Reduction of the pRNFL might be a novel and independent risk factor for conversion to MS in individuals with RIS. OCT might be useful for risk stratification and therapeutic decision-making in individuals with RIS.

TSPO PET with [18F]GE-180 sensitively detects focal neuroinflammation in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

PURPOSE: Expression of the translocator protein (TSPO) is upregulated in activated macrophages/microglia and is considered to be a marker of neuroinflammation. We investigated the novel TSPO ligand [18F]GE-180 in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) to determine the feasibility of [18F]GE-180 PET imaging in RRMS patients and to assess its ability to detect active inflammatory lesions in comparison with the current gold standard, contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). METHODS: Nineteen RRMS patients were prospectively included in this study. All patients underwent TSPO genotyping and were classified as high-affinity, medium-affinity or low-affinity binders (HAB/MAB/LAB). PET scans were performed after administration of 189 ± 12 MBq [18F]GE-180, and 60-90 min summation images were used for visual analysis and assessment of standardized uptake values (SUV). The frontal nonaffected cortex served as a pseudoreference region (PRR) for evaluation of SUV ratios (SUVR). PET data were correlated with MRI signal abnormalities, i.e. T2 hyperintensity or contrast enhancement (CE). When available, previous MRI data were used to follow the temporal evolution of individual lesions. RESULTS: Focal lesions were identified as hot spots by visual inspection. Such lesions were detected in 17 of the 19 patients and overall 89 [18F]GE-180-positive lesions were found. TSPO genotyping revealed 11 patients with HAB status, 5 with MAB status and 3 with LAB status. There were no associations between underlying binding status (HAB, MAB and LAB) and the signal intensity in either lesions (SUVR 1.87 ± 0.43, 1.95 ± 0.48 and 1.86 ± 0.80, respectively; p = 0.280) or the PRR (SUV 0.36 ± 0.03, 0.40 ± 0.06 and 0.37 ± 0.03, respectively; p = 0.990). Of the 89 [18F]GE-180-positive lesions, 70 showed CE on MRI, while the remainder presented as T2 lesions without CE. SUVR were significantly higher in lesions with CE than in those without (2.00 ± 0.53 vs. 1.60 ± 0.15; p = 0.001). Notably, of 19 [18F]GE-180-positive lesions without CE, 8 previously showed CE, indicating that [18F]GE-180 imaging may be able to detect lesional activity that is sustained beyond the blood-brain barrier breakdown. CONCLUSION: [18F]GE-180 PET can detect areas of focal macrophage/microglia activation in patients with RRMS in lesions with and without CE on MRI. Therefore, [18F]GE-180 PET imaging is a sensitive and quantitative approach to the detection of active MS lesions. It may provide information beyond contrast-enhanced MRI and is readily applicable to all patients. [18F]GE-180 PET imaging is therefore a promising new tool for the assessment of focal inflammatory activity in MS.

[Immunotherapies for multiple sclerosis : review and update]. / Immuntherapie der multiplen Sklerose : Überblick und Update.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory, presumably autoimmune disease affecting the central nervous system. Early stages of the disease are characterized by conspicuous inflammation of the white and grey matter. During later stages, presumably secondary neurodegeneration leads to physical disability progression. Over the last decade increasingly effective therapeutic options have been approved. Currently 11 immunomodulatory or immunosuppressive therapies targeting relapse rate, disease progression and paraclinical disease activity are available, mostly for relapsing forms of MS. However, the ideal of "precision medicine" is still in the distant future since biomarkers for individualized treatment are lacking. For implementation of risk-management plans to minimize the risk of severe side effects, interdisciplinary collaboration between neurologists and internists is essential. In this review article we summarize practical aspects of the implemented risk-management plans, and discuss possible side effects and special caveats of the three new immunotherapies teriflunomide, dimethyl fumarate, and alemtuzumab. This article is based on, among others, the recently updated guidelines of the German Society of Neurology. Particular attention is given to the risks of new therapies, monitoring, and on special aspects needing attention when changing treatments. Teriflunomide, dimethyl fumarate, and alemtuzumab expand treatment options for relapsing-remitting MS. Treatment selection should take into consideration the safety profile of the substance, previous and concomitant diseases, and other individual factors. This requires in-depth consultation and individual assessment of current disease activity, the potential efficacy of the therapy, and the possible risks and side effects.

Co-occurrence of two cases of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in a natalizumab "infusion group".

We observed two cases of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) that occurred in the same "infusion group". The group consisted of four patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) who had been treated with natalizumab (NAT) in the same medical practice for more than four years at the same times and in the same room, raising concerns about viral transmission between members of the infusion group. DNA amplification and sequence comparison of the non-coding control region (NCCR) of JC virus (JCV) present in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from PML patients #1 and #2 revealed that the amplified JCV sequences differed from the JCV archetype. The NCRR of the viral DNA was unique to each patient, arguing against the possibility of viral transmission between patients. Statistical considerations predict that similar co-occurrences of PML are likely to happen in the future.

Familial Mediterranean fever-associated mutation pyrin E148Q as a potential risk factor for multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND: Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an inherited autoinflammatory disease caused by mutations in the MEFV gene and characterized by recurrent febrile polyserositis. A possible association of FMF and multiple sclerosis (MS) has been suggested in cohorts from Turkey and Israel. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of MEFV mutations in subjects with MS and in controls in Germany. METHODS: One-hundred and fifty seven MS patients with at least one symptom or without symptoms suggestive of FMF from our outpatient clinic were investigated for mutations in exons 2, 3, and 10 of the MEFV gene (group 1). 260 independent MS patients (group 2) and 400 unrelated Caucasian controls (group 3) were screened selectively for the low-penetrance pyrin mutations E148Q and K695R RESULTS: In group 1, 19 MS patients (12.1%) tested positive for a mutation in the MEFV gene, mainly the E148Q (n=7) substitution. Fifteen of the 19 mutation-positive individuals reported at least one symptom suggestive of FMF. In three cases, we could identify additional family members with MS. In these pedigrees, the E148Q exchange co-segregated with MS (p=0.026). Frequencies of the pyrin E148Q and K695R mutations were not statistically different between MS group 2 and controls but they occurred with a surprisingly high frequency in the German population. CONCLUSION: The MEFV gene appears to be another immunologically relevant gene locus which contributes to MS susceptibility. In particular, the pyrin E148Q mutation, which co-segregated with disease in three MS families, is a promising candidate risk factor for MS that should be further explored in larger studies.

Clinical onset of CNS demyelinating disease after COVID-19 vaccination: denovo disease?

BACKGROUND: Clinical onset of multiple sclerosis (MSpostvacc) and myelin-oligodendrocyte-glycoprotein-antibody-associated disease (MOGADpostvacc) has been reported in association with SARS-CoV-2-vaccination. There is uncertainty as to whether this is causality (denovo disease) or temporal coincidence (manifestation of a preexisting, subclinical neuroinflammation). OBJECTIVES: Comparing the clinical characteristics of MSpostvacc-patients versus patients with MS (PwMS) whose clinical onset occurred independently of vaccination (MSreference). METHODS: Consecutive patients with clinical onset ≤30 days after SARS-CoV-2-vaccination were included. Clinical data, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) parameters and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as well as optical coherence tomography (OCT) data were compared to an age- and sex-matched MSreference-cohort. RESULTS: We identified 5 MSpostvacc and 1 MOGADpostvacc patients who developed their clinical onset ≤ 30 days after SARS-CoV-2-vaccination. Clinical characteristics, CSF, MRI and OCT parameters from MSpostvacc patients were comparable to the MSreference cohort and showed evidence of preexisting subclinical CNS disease. The single case with MOGADpostvacc clearly differed from PwMS in higher CSF cell counts, remission of MRI lesions during follow-up, and absence of oligoclonal bands. CONCLUSIONS: Our case series indicates that MSpostvacc patients showed a rather typical initial manifestation in temporal association with SARS-CoV-2-vaccination and harbored preexisting subclinical neuroinflammation. This argues against the denovo development of MS in this cohort.

Characteristic retinal atrophy pattern allows differentiation between pediatric MOGAD and MS after a single optic neuritis episode.

BACKGROUND: Optic neuritis (ON) is the most prevalent manifestation of pediatric multiple sclerosis (MSped) and myelin-oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGADped) in children > 6 years. In this study, we investigated retinal atrophy patterns and diagnostic accuracy of optical coherence tomography (OCT) in differentiating between both diseases after the first ON episode. METHODS: Patients were retrospectively identified in eight tertial referral centers. OCT, VEP and high/low-contrast visual acuity (HCVA/LCVA) have been investigated > 6 months after the first ON. Prevalence of pathological OCT findings was identified based on data of 144 age-matched healthy controls. RESULTS: Thirteen MOGADped (10.7 ± 4.2 years, F:M 8:5, 21 ON eyes) and 21 MSped (14.3 ± 2.4 years, F:M 19:2, 24 ON eyes) patients were recruited. We observed a significantly more profound atrophy of both peripapillary and macular retinal nerve fiber layer in MOGADped compared to MSped (pRNFL global: 68.2 ± 16.9 vs. 89.4 ± 12.3 µm, p < 0.001; mRNFL: 0.12 ± 0.01 vs. 0.14 ± 0.01 mm3, p < 0.001). Neither other macular layers nor P100 latency differed. MOGADped developed global atrophy affecting all peripapillary segments, while MSped displayed predominantly temporal thinning. Nasal pRNFL allowed differentiation between both diseases with the highest diagnostic accuracy (AUC = 0.902, cutoff < 62.5 µm, 90.5% sensitivity and 70.8% specificity for MOGADped). OCT was also substantially more sensitive compared to VEP in identification of ON eyes in MOGAD (pathological findings in 90% vs. 14%, p = 0.016). CONCLUSION: First MOGAD-ON results in a more severe global peripapillary atrophy compared to predominantly temporal thinning in MS-ON. Nasal pRNFL allows differentiation between both diseases with the highest accuracy, supporting the additional diagnostic value of OCT in children with ON.

[Reproducibility and reliability of phonovibrograms. Quantification of healthy vocal fold vibrations]. / Reproduzierbarkeit und Reliabilität des Phonovibrogramms. Quantifizierung gesunder Stimmlippenschwingungen.

BACKGROUND: Phonovibrography is capable of visualizing vocal fold vibrations in a static two-dimensional image, the so-called phonovibrogram (PVG). It allows quantification of the entire vocal fold vibration patterns. In this study we investigated the accuracy and reproducibility of PVG measures by analyzing high-speed laryngoscopy videos of healthy vocal fold vibrations. METHODS: High-speed laryngoscopy videos of 12 female speech therapists and 12 vocalists from the Regensburg Cathedral choir were analyzed. For evaluation purposes, PVG analysis was performed for two different sections of each video. RESULTS: The mean difference between the high-speed sections was 1.6 degrees +/-0.5 degrees for the female and 2.3 degrees +/-0.6 degrees for the male subjects. Within the sections, the mean variance of the PVG parameters was 3.5 degrees +/-0.7 degrees (therapists) and 3.7 degrees +/-1.0 degrees (vocalists). Likewise, a high left/right accordance of the PVG parameters, 5.3 degrees +/-0.5 degrees for therapists and 5.9 degrees +/-1.9 degrees for vocalists, was obtained. CONCLUSION: Vibrational patterns of normal vocal fold vibrations were very precisely quantified by the introduced PVG parameters. The high accuracy and reproducibility of PVG analysis provides a basis for prospective clinical trials dealing with precise characterization of pathological vibration patterns.

Long-term follow-up of patients with neuromyelitis optica after repeated therapy with rituximab.

BACKGROUND: Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is a severe autoimmune disease targeting optic nerves and spinal cord. The monoclonal anti-CD20 B-cell antibody rituximab is an emerging therapeutic option in NMO. However, neither long-term efficacy or safety of rituximab, nor the correlation between B-cell counts, B-cell fostering cytokines, aquaporin-4 antibodies (AQP4-ab), and disease activity in NMO, have been investigated prospectively. METHODS: We performed a prospective long-term cohort study of 10 patients with NMO who were treated up to 5 times with rituximab as a second-line therapy. Clinical examinations, B-cell counts, and serum concentrations of BAFF (B-cell activating factor of the TNF family; also called TNFSF13b), APRIL (a proliferation-inducing ligand; also called TNFSF13), AQP4-ab, and immunoglobulin levels were measured every 3 months. RESULTS: Repeated treatment with rituximab led to sustained clinical stabilization in most patients with NMO. Disease activity correlated with B-cell depletion, but not clearly with AQP4-ab or levels of APRIL. BAFF levels increased after application of rituximab and indicated persisting efficacy of the drug but did not correlate with disease activity. Overall, rituximab was well-tolerated even after up to 5 consecutive treatment courses; however, we observed several severe adverse reactions. CONCLUSION: Our data indicate that long-term therapy with rituximab is effective in NMO as a second-line therapy and has an acceptable safety profile. Retreatment with rituximab should be applied before reappearance of circulating B cells. CLASSIFICATION OF EVIDENCE: This study provides Class IV evidence that repeated doses of rituximab result in stabilization in most patients.

Evaluation of the mutagenic effects of myosmine in human lymphocytes using the HPRT gene mutation assay.

The minor tobacco alkaloid myosmine is implicated in DNA damage through pyridyloxobutylation similar to the tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNA). In contrast to TSNA, occurrence of myosmine is not restricted to tobacco. Myosmine is genotoxic to human cells in the comet assay. In this study, the mutagenic effect of myosmine was evaluated using the cloning hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT) gene mutation assay. Four hour exposure of isolated peripheral blood lymphocytes from 14 subjects homozygous for the Leu84 wild-type of the O6-methylguanine-DNA-methyltransferase (MGMT) gene to 1mM of myosmine increased mutant frequency from 0.73+/-0.58 x 10(-6) in control to 1.14+/-0.89 x 10(-6) lymphocytes (P<0.05). These new data further confirm the mutagenic effects of myosmine.