Two surrogate markers commonly used in multiple sclerosis clinical trials are near-perfect measures of the effect of treatment with interferon, researchers reported.Iron accumulation in the basal ganglia was found in patients with advanced multiple sclerosis, but not in patients with a clinically isolated syndrome that is suggestive of MS, Austrian researchers reported.An investigational biologic drug that deactivates antibody-producing B cells reduced gadolinium-enhancing T1 lesions in multiple sclerosis patients, potentially offering yet another treatment approach to the disease, researchers said.Dimethyl fumarate (BG12), an investigational oral drug for multiple sclerosis, cut annualized relapse rates by half in a second phase III trial, according to topline results announced by its manufacturer.AMSTERDAM -- Of a dozen studies presented here on the chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) theory of multiple sclerosis, most failed to find any support for it.Supplementation with high-dose vitamin D failed to reduce the number or volume of MRI lesions in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, a small randomized trial found.AMSTERDAM -- Stopping natalizumab (Tysabri) to reduce the risk of a rare, life-threatening side effect in patients with multiple sclerosis may mean renewed disease activity within six months, a researcher said here.AMSTERDAM -- Treatment with daclizumab cut annualized relapse rates in half among patients with early relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, according to the results of a placebo-controlled trial.
Mayo Clinic’s first live broadcast from a national medical conference is now history. Medical Edge Radio — hosted by Dr. Tom Shives and Tracy McCray — debuted from the Mayo booth on the exhibit floor here at the Orlando Convention … Continue reading →AMSTERDAM -- With one exception, the investigational oral drug laquinimod was more effective than placebo, and possibly better than interferon-beta-1a (Avonex), in reducing clinically relevant aspects of multiple sclerosis, a researcher said here.AMSTERDAM -- A low-dose regimen of the leukemia drug alemtuzumab (Lemtrada) slashed annualized relapse rates in patients with newly diagnosed multiple sclerosis in a head-to-head trial against interferon-beta-1a (Rebif), a researcher reported here.AMSTERDAM -- Efficacy and safety data from a phase III trial of dimethyl fumarate (BG12) in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis were impressive enough to elicit a "wow" when they were shared with neurologists here.Teens who are employed in shift work are at increased risk for developing multiple sclerosis, possibly because of sleep loss and the resulting negative effects on circadian rhythm, Swedish researchers found.