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World MS Day is here! US woman with MS reaches Everest summit, over 200 events in 61 countries, global campaign film launch in ten languages

The first World MS Day is truly set to raise awareness about MS and build global solidarity for the MS movement.

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Profile of the Month : January 2010

Reni de Boer

Country: Netherlands
Age: 29
Type of MS: relapsing-remitting
Year of Diagnosis: 2004

"I am happy to be acting in MSIF’s awareness raising video for World MS Day and am proud to be playing a part in raising more awareness for the 2 million people worldwide with MS."

English Español Francais Italiano Русский

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Humoral immune response to EBV in multiple sclerosis is associated with disease activity on MRI

The pathogenesis of MS is complex and it is well established that viral infections may play a role. Evidence suggests that Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) could be involved in triggering or perpetuating disease activity in MS, as EBV can be reactivated under certain circumstances, even years after the first infection. In this study the authors aimed to investigate whether reactivation of EBV was related to the presence of high MRI inflammatory activity (new, active lesions) in people with MS. Though the authors found some correlation between past EBV infection and active brain lesions, they failed to demonstrate that reactivation of EBV was related to a higher presence of such active lesions.

authors: Farrell RA, Antony D, Wall GR, Clark DA, Fisniku L, Swanton J, Khaleeli Z, Schmierer K, Miller DH, Giovannoni G

source: Neurology. 2009 May 20

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Prognostic implications of a carefully performed neurological assessment in patients with a first event suggestive of multiple sclerosis

To diagnose MS, evidence for dissemination in time and space is required. In this article the authors have demonstrated that a precise neurological examination after a first episode suggestive of MS is indispensable, as the prognostic value of certain MRI features indicating higher severity of the disease seems be different depending on the neurological examination.

authors: Nielsen JM, Pohl C, Polman CH, Barkhof F, Freedman MS, Edan G, Miller DH, Bauer L, Sandbrink R, Kappos L, Uitdehaag BM

source: BMC Neurol. 2009 May 20;9(1):19

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Quality of life in multiple sclerosis is associated with lesion burden and brain volume measures

In MS, health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is reduced. However, it is not yet well established that measures related to quality of life are to be taken into account as outcome measures in clinical trials. In this study the authors have shown that there is a significant association between MRI characteristics such as lesion burden and brain volume loss and HRQOL. These findings strengthen the argument for the use of HRQOL outcome measures in clinical trials.

authors: Mowry EM, Beheshtian A, Waubant E, Goodin DS, Cree BA, Qualley P, Lincoln R, George MF, Gomez R, Hauser SL, Okuda DT, Pelletier D

source: Neurology. 2009 May 19;72(20):1760-5

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Parity and secondary progression in multiple sclerosis

It is known that MS more frequently affects women than men. It is also known that relapses occur less frequently during pregnancy, and that there is a rebound effect with an increase in relapse frequency after delivery. All these facts indicate a hormonal involvement in the pathogenesis of the disease, especially in the appearance of relapses. The authors of this study aimed to investigate the influence of the number of births in the risk of development of secondary progression. They found no evidence that parity (the number of times a woman has given birth) could influence the risk of such progression after the relapsing-remitting phase.

authors: Koch M, Uyttenboogaart M, Heersema D, Steen C, De Keyser J

source: J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2009 Jun;80(6):676-8

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A pilot test of pioglitazone as an add-on in patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis

In this study the authors aimed to investigate the effects of oral pioglitazone, a drug that has been shown to have anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects, in people with relapsing-remitting MS, when added to IFN beta. After one year of treatment, though no differences were observed between the two groups of treatment (IFN+pioglitazone and IFN+placebo) from the clinical point of view, some differences were observed in terms of MRI parameters. These findings would suggest hints of efficacy favouring the pioglitazone treatment. Further studies are needed to establish clinical efficacy of pioglitazone.

authors: Kaiser CC, Shukla DK, Stebbins GT, Skias DD, Jeffery DR, Stefoski D, Katsamakis G, Feinstein DL

source: J Neuroimmunol. 2009 May 14

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Lori Schneider, USA, reaches summit of Mount Everest

source: www.empowermentthroughadventure.com and www.wendybooker.net

On 23 May, five days before World MS Day, Lori Schneider, USA, was successful in her attempt to climb Mount Everest.

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