REPORT FROM THE 26TH CONGRESS OF THE EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR TREATMENT AND RESEARCH IN MS (ECTRIMS), GOTHENBURG, SWEDEN, OCTOBER 13-16, 2010 -Five new cases of acute CNS demyelination following immunization with the human papilloma virus vaccine (Gardasil®) have been reported by researchers in Greece (Balamoutsos et al. ECTRIMS 2010; P297). Four cases were diagnosed with a clinically isolated syndrome, and one case experienced repeated episodes of neurological dysfunction. In all cases, multiple demyelinating lesions were identified on brain and cervical spinal cord MRI and oligoclonal bands were present in CSF.
Neurology
Need for early, aggressive treatment in RRMS
October 18, 2010REPORT FROM THE 26TH CONGRESS OF THE EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR TREATMENT AND RESEARCH IN MS (ECTRIMS), GOTHENBURG, SWEDEN, OCTOBER 13-16, 2010 – An aggressive approach to therapy earlier in the MS disease process appears to be generally preferable to an escalating treatment strategy, according to Dr. Giancarlo Comi, Milan, at a special session on current treatment approaches (ECTRIMS 2010; invited review 126).
New data on fingolimod in RRMS
October 18, 2010REPORT FROM THE 26TH CONGRESS OF THE EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR TREATMENT AND RESEARCH IN MS (ECTRIMS), GOTHENBURG, SWEDEN, OCTOBER 13-16, 2010 – The oral agent fingolimod consistently reduces relapse rates regardless of disease severity or treatment history, and drug discontinuation is not associated with significant clinical complications, according to new studies and analyses presented at ECTRIMS.
Treatment discontinuations common in CIS
October 15, 2010REPORT FROM THE 26TH CONGRESS OF THE EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR TREATMENT AND RESEARCH IN MS (ECTRIMS), GOTHENBURG, SWEDEN, OCTOBER 13-16, 2010 – Patients with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) suggestive of MS treated with an immunomodulatory therapy are at high risk of stopping treatment once they experience a relapse, according to an analysis of data from the MSBase Incident Study (MSBASIS) (Spelman et al. ECTRIMS 2010; abstract P819).
Switching to fingolimod: TRANSFORMS extension study results
October 15, 2010REPORT FROM THE 26TH CONGRESS OF THE EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR TREATMENT AND RESEARCH IN MS (ECTRIMS), GOTHENBURG, SWEDEN, OCTOBER 13-16, 2010 – TRANSFORMS (Trials assessing injectable interferon vs. fingolimod oral in RRMS) was a phase III trial comparing fingolimod and intramuscular beta-interferon-1a in patients with relapsing-remitting MS (Cohen et al. N Engl J Med 2010; 362: 402-415; updated results in Clinical Developments in Multiple Sclerosis , Neurosens, July 7, 2010). The 12-month study reported annualized relapse rates (ARR) of 0.16 with fingolimod 0.5 mg/day, 0.20 with fingolimod 1.25 mg/day and 0.33 with beta-interferon-1a.