Making Connections

New travel bursary from MS Ireland

MS Ireland has launched a new travel bursary, in memory of epidemiologist Dr Geoffrey Dean, who died last year. This award, to the value of €2,000, will enable MS researchers to travel to centres of excellence to enhance their understanding and knowledge of MS.

Find out more and apply

Research News


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

Pharmacological management of symptoms in multiple sclerosis: current approaches and future directions

Management of symptoms in MS has received little attention compared with disease-modifying treatments. In this review the authors discuss recent clinical trials that have improved the evidence base for pharmacological treatments of MS, and describe pharmacological treatments as a multidisciplinary approach to improve quality of life, ease care, and ensure independence.

authors: Thompson AJ, Toosy AT, Ciccarelli O.

source: Lancet Neurol. 2010 Dec;9(12):1182-1199

Pregnancy and fetal outcomes after interferon-{beta} exposure in multiple sclerosis

The authors studied the pregnancy and fetal outcomes after exposure to interferon-β (IFNβ) in pregnancies occurring in women with multiple sclerosis (MS). They collected data on 396 pregnancies in 388 women, 88 classified as exposed. In the exposed group, they did not observe any significant fetal complications, malformations, or developmental abnormalities over a median follow-up of 2.1 years. The authors concluded that IFNβ exposure times of up to 4 weeks seem relatively safe.

authors: Amato MP, Portaccio E, Ghezzi A, Hakiki B, Zipoli V, Martinelli V, Moiola L, Patti F, La Mantia L, Mancardi GL, Solaro C, Tola MR, Pozzilli C, De Giglio L, Totaro R, Lugaresi A, Di Tommaso V, Paolicelli D, Marrosu MG, Comi G, Pellegrini F, Trojano M; For the MS Study Group of the Italian Neurological Society.

source: Neurology. 2010 Nov 16;75(20):1794-1802

The efficacy of natalizumab in patients with multiple sclerosis according to level of disability: results of an observational study

The authors investigated the effect of natalizumab on relapses in people with different levels of baseline disability associated with MS. They observed the annualised relapse rate (ARR) and Kurtzke Expanded Disability Status Scale scores for the previous year, on starting treatment (baseline) and one year after starting therapy in 77 people with MS. They concluded that natalizumab is effective in reducing ARR in the year after starting treatment in patients with baseline Expanded Disability Status Scale ≤6, but there was no significant benefit in patients with baseline Expanded Disability Status Scale ≥6.

authors: Fernández O, Alvarenga MP, Guerrero M, León A, Alonso A, López-Madrona JC, Leyva L, de Ramón E, Oliver B, Luque G, Fernández V.

source: Mult Scler. 2010 Nov 18

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