Making Connections

Research News


	Summaries of all the latest research findings on MS selected by a team based at the Institute of Neurology, London.

Increasing frequency of multiple sclerosis in Catania, Sicily: a 30-year survey

The authors aimed to determine the prevalence and incidence of multiple sclerosis (MS) and its temporal profiles from 1975 to 2005 in the city of Catania. They found a prevalence rate of 127.1/100,000 and mean annual incidence of 7.0/100,000 which was higher in women (8.4/100,000) than in men (5.3/100,000). Overall the authors found that during the last 30 years the incidence of MS in this population increased from 1.3/100,000 during the first 5 years of the study (1975-9) to 7.0/100,000 during the final 5 years (2000-4), suggesting that the incidence of MS is still rising and supporting data from elsewhere.

authors: Nicoletti A, Patti F, Lo Fermo S, Messina S, Bruno E, Quattrocchi G, Laisa P, Cilia S, Mostile G, Marziolo R, Scillieri R, Maimone D, Zappia M.

source: Mult Scler. 2011 Mar;17(3):273-80.

Primary progressive versus relapsing-onset multiple sclerosis: presence and prognostic value of cerebrospinal fluid oligoclonal IgM

The authors report on the role of intrathecal oligoclonal IgM (OCIgM) production in predicting disease course in relapsing-remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS) and Primary progressive MS (PPMS). Their results suggest OCIgM was more commonly seen in RRMS than PPMS (46% Vs 13%) and that it did not affect disease course in PPMS but predicted a more aggressive disease course in patients with RRMS, defined as time to EDSS 4. The authors suggest that the pathogenetic mechanisms involved in RRMS and PPMS may differ.

authors: Sola P, Mandrioli J, Simone AM, Ferraro D, Bedin R, Annecca R, Venneri MG, Nichelli PF, Merelli E.

source: Mult Scler. 2011 Mar;17(3):303-11

Predictive factors for multiple sclerosis in patients with clinically isolated spinal cord syndrome

The authors aimed to examine the predictive value for conversion to MS of clinical, magnetic resonance imaging and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) variables in 114 patients with acute partial myelitis.

MS was diagnosed in 78 patients during 4.0 ± 1.9 years of follow-up. The diagnosis of isolated myelitis was maintained for 36 patients, following a comparable follow up period to the MS patients.

Multivariate logistic analysis identified three predictors of MS diagnosis: age ≤40 years, inflammatory CSF and ≥3 periventricular lesions on brain MRI. The authors concluded that two out of three baseline factors (age, periventricular lesions and inflammatory CSF) might predict conversion to MS with better accuracy than the revised McDonald criteria for dissemination in space.

authors: Ruet A, Deloire MS, Ouallet JC, Molinier S, Brochet B.

source: Mult Scler. 2010 Nov 11. [Epub ahead of print]

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