Early use of high efficacy therapies in pediatric forms of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: A real-life observational study.

BACKGROUND: Pediatric forms of multiple sclerosis are more active than those in adults. Yet, the effectiveness of different therapeutic approaches is not well studied in this population. Our objective was to compare the effectiveness of the early use of high efficacy therapies (HETs) with the effectiveness of moderate efficacy therapies (METs) in children with MS. METHODS: This observational study included patients diagnosed with pediatric MS, at 4 hospital centers in France, during a 10-year period. METs included: interferon ß-1a, glatiramer acetate, dimethyl fumarate, teriflunomide; HETs included: fingolimod, natalizumab, ocrelizumab, alemtuzumab. The primary endpoint was the occurrence of a new relapse, the secondary endpoint was EDSS worsening. RESULTS: Sixty-four patients were included in the analysis (80% women; mean age 15.5 years, 81% treated with MET) with a median follow-up of 22.5 months. At baseline, 52 patients were on MET (interferon ß-1a, glatiramer acetate, dimethyl fumarate, teriflunomide) and 12 patients were on HET (natalizumab, ocrelizumab). The cumulative probability of being relapse-free at 6.5 years was 23.3% on MET, vs 90.9% on HET (p = 0.013). The cumulative probability of no EDSS worsening did not differ between the 2 groups. CONCLUSION: Patients starting with METs had much higher clinical disease activity than those starting early with HETs. Rapid initiation of more aggressive treatment may allow better disease control; however, the data on EDSS worsening are not conclusive.

Ischemic stroke risk factors not included in the CHADS-VASC score in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation.

BACKGROUND: In patients with atrial fibrillation, the CHA2DS2-VASC score guides stroke prevention using anticoagulants, but it is an imperfect score. Other potential risk factors such as renal failure, the type of atrial fibrillation, active smoking, cancer, sleep apnea or systemic inflammation have less well been investigated. OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of these factors on ischemic stroke risk in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation. METHODS: On a population of 248 patients (124 patients with acute ischemic stroke and 124 controls), we performed a logistic regression to assess the impact of multiple non-classic risk factors for the prediction of acute ischemic stroke. Their impact on mortality was assessed by performing a survival analysis. RESULTS: A high CHA2DS2-VASc score (OR 1.75; 95% CI 1.13-2.70; p = 0.032), treatment with anticoagulants (OR 0.19; 95% CI 0.07-0.51; p < 0.001) and permanent atrial fibrillation (OR 6.31; 95% CI 2.46-16.19; p < 0.001) were independently associated with acute ischemic stroke. Renal failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease predicted a higher mortality. After adjusting for age, sex, the CHA2DS2-VASc score and the use of anticoagulants, the only risk factor predictive for acute ischemic stroke was the permanent type of AF (OR: 8.0 [95% CI 2.5-25.5], p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The CHA2DS2-VASc score, the absence of anticoagulants and the permanent type of atrial fibrillation were the main predictive factors for the occurrence of acute ischemic stroke. Larger studies are necessary for conclusive results about other factors.

ANTECEDENTES: Em pacientes com fibrilação atrial, o escore CHA2DS2-VASC orienta a prevenção de AVC com anticoagulantes, mas é um escore imperfeito. Outros fatores de risco potenciais, como insuficiência renal, o tipo de fibrilação atrial, tabagismo ativo, câncer, apnéia do sono ou inflamação sistêmica foram menos bem investigados. OBJETIVO: Avaliar o impacto desses fatores no risco de AVC isquêmico em pacientes com fibrilação atrial não valvular. MéTODOS: Em uma população de 248 pacientes (124 pacientes com AVC isquêmico agudo e 124 controles), realizamos uma regressão logística para avaliar o impacto de múltiplos fatores de risco não clássicos na predição de AVC isquêmico agudo. O seu impacto na mortalidade foi avaliado através da realização de uma análise de sobrevivência. RESULTADOS: Escore CHA2DS2-VASc alto (OR 1,75; IC 95% 1,13­2,70; p = 0,032), tratamento com anticoagulantes (OR 0,19; IC 95% 0,07­0,51; p < 0,001) e fibrilação atrial permanente (OR 6,31; 95% CI 2,46­16,19; p < 0,001) foram independentemente associados ao AVC isquêmico agudo. Insuficiência renal e doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica previram maior mortalidade. Após ajuste para idade, sexo, pontuação CHA2DS2-VASc e uso de anticoagulantes, o único fator de risco preditivo para AVC isquêmico agudo foi o tipo permanente de FA (OR: 8,0 [IC 95% 2,5­25,5], p < 0,001). CONCLUSõES: O escore CHA2DS2-VASc, a ausência de anticoagulantes e o tipo permanente de fibrilação atrial foram os principais fatores preditivos para a ocorrência de AVC isquêmico agudo. Estudos maiores são necessários para resultados conclusivos sobre outros fatores.

Ischemic stroke risk factors not included in the CHADS-VASC score in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation / Fatores de risco de AVC isquêmico não incluídos no escore CHADS-VASC em pacientes com fibrilação atrial não valvar

Abstract Background In patients with atrial fibrillation, the CHA2DS2-VASC score guides stroke prevention using anticoagulants, but it is an imperfect score. Other potential risk factors such as renal failure, the type of atrial fibrillation, active smoking, cancer, sleep apnea or systemic inflammation have less well been investigated. Objective To assess the impact of these factors on ischemic stroke risk in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation. Methods On a population of 248 patients (124 patients with acute ischemic stroke and 124 controls), we performed a logistic regression to assess the impact of multiple non-classic risk factors for the prediction of acute ischemic stroke. Their impact on mortality was assessed by performing a survival analysis. Results A high CHA2DS2-VASc score (OR 1.75; 95% CI 1.13-2.70; p = 0.032), treatment with anticoagulants (OR 0.19; 95% CI 0.07-0.51; p < 0.001) and permanent atrial fibrillation (OR 6.31; 95% CI 2.46-16.19; p < 0.001) were independently associated with acute ischemic stroke. Renal failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease predicted a higher mortality. After adjusting for age, sex, the CHA2DS2-VASc score and the use of anticoagulants, the only risk factor predictive for acute ischemic stroke was the permanent type of AF (OR: 8.0 [95% CI 2.5-25.5], p < 0.001). Conclusions The CHA2DS2-VASc score, the absence of anticoagulants and the permanent type of atrial fibrillation were the main predictive factors for the occurrence of acute ischemic stroke. Larger studies are necessary for conclusive results about other factors.

Resumo Antecedentes Em pacientes com fibrilação atrial, o escore CHA2DS2-VASC orienta a prevenção de AVC com anticoagulantes, mas é um escore imperfeito. Outros fatores de risco potenciais, como insuficiência renal, o tipo de fibrilação atrial, tabagismo ativo, câncer, apnéia do sono ou inflamação sistêmica foram menos bem investigados. Objetivo Avaliar o impacto desses fatores no risco de AVC isquêmico em pacientes com fibrilação atrial não valvular. Métodos Em uma população de 248 pacientes (124 pacientes com AVC isquêmico agudo e 124 controles), realizamos uma regressão logística para avaliar o impacto de múltiplos fatores de risco não clássicos na predição de AVC isquêmico agudo. O seu impacto na mortalidade foi avaliado através da realização de uma análise de sobrevivência. Resultados Escore CHA2DS2-VASc alto (OR 1,75; IC 95% 1,13-2,70; p = 0,032), tratamento com anticoagulantes (OR 0,19; IC 95% 0,07-0,51; p < 0,001) e fibrilação atrial permanente (OR 6,31; 95% CI 2,46-16,19; p < 0,001) foram independentemente associados ao AVC isquêmico agudo. Insuficiência renal e doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica previram maior mortalidade. Após ajuste para idade, sexo, pontuação CHA2DS2-VASc e uso de anticoagulantes, o único fator de risco preditivo para AVC isquêmico agudo foi o tipo permanente de FA (OR: 8,0 [IC 95% 2,5-25,5], p < 0,001). Conclusões O escore CHA2DS2-VASc, a ausência de anticoagulantes e o tipo permanente de fibrilação atrial foram os principais fatores preditivos para a ocorrência de AVC isquêmico agudo. Estudos maiores são necessários para resultados conclusivos sobre outros fatores.

Is the Montreal Cognitive Assessment superior to the Mini-Mental State Examination to detect poststroke cognitive impairment? A study with neuropsychological evaluation.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: A screening test is required to improve the diagnosis of poststroke cognitive impairment. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), a newly designed screening test, has been found to be more sensitive than Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), but its clinical value has not been established by means of a comprehensive neuropsychological battery. This study was designed to assess the value of MoCA and MMSE to detect poststroke cognitive impairment determined by a neuropsychological battery. METHODS: Both screening tests and a neuropsychological battery were administered during the acute phase in 95 patients referred for recent infarct or hemorrhage. Raw MMSE and MoCA scores were used with published cutoffs and new cutoff scores for MMSE and MoCA were also computed after adjustment for age and education. RESULTS: Using raw scores, MoCA was more frequently impaired (P=0.0001) than MMSE. MoCA showed good sensitivity (sensitivity, 0.94) but moderate specificity (specificity, 0.42; positive predictive value, 0.77; negative predictive value, 0.76), whereas an inverse profile was observed for MMSE (sensitivity, 0.66; specificity, 0.97; positive predictive value, 0.98; negative predictive value, 0.58). Adjusted scores with new cutoffs (MMSE(adj) ≤24, MoCA(adj) ≤20) provided good sensitivity and very good specificity for both tests (MMSE(adj): sensitivity, 0.7, specificity, 0.97, positive predictive value, 0.98, negative predictive value, 0.61; MoCA(adj): sensitivity, 0.67, specificity, 0.9, positive predictive value, 0.93, negative predictive value, 0.57). On receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, areas under the curve of all scores were >0.88. CONCLUSIONS: The previously reported high sensitivity of MoCA is associated with low specificity. Both screening tests are moderately sensitive to acute poststroke cognitive impairment. This study provides indications for the diagnosis of poststroke cognitive impairment.