Ofatumumab, an anti-CD20 MAb administered subcutaneously, appears to have only modest effects on serum immunoglobulins, according to an updated safety analysis from recent clinical trials (Hauser et al. Mult Scler 2022; epublished March 1, 2022). A preliminary analysis of the data was published at last year’s ECTRIMS (Wiendl et al. ECTRIMS 2021;P931) (see also ECTRIMS 2021 slide deck, NeuroSens, October 21, 2021). Read More
Neurology
Can COVID vaccination cause demyelination?
March 7, 2022At the 2022 ACTRIMS Forum, three groups presented data on acute demyelinating events following COVID-19 vaccination. Read More
ACTRIMS Forum 2022 – Update on anti-CD20s and vaccine response
March 1, 2022SPECIAL REPORT
Several studies presented at the ACTRIMS Forum 2022 provided some additional details on the COVID-19 vaccine response among MS patients treated with anti-CD20 therapies. The data suggest that vaccine response may differ somewhat among anti-CD20 agents, which may be related to the depth and/or duration of B cell suppression, the timing of vaccination and patient factors such as age. Read More
SPMS – Toward earlier diagnosis
February 15, 2022Part 2
The onset of secondary-progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) may be seen as the time at which progressive disability accumulation becomes clinically evident. The process of irreversible disability likely begins much earlier during the relapsing phase; however, a diagnosis is typically made only after relapses have ceased or a level of disability has been reached, which results in a considerable diagnostic delay (Katz Sand et al. Mult Scler 2014;20:1654-1657) (see also Part 1 of this article). Read More
Does EBV infection cause MS?
February 3, 2022A new study claims that Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection is the cause of multiple sclerosis, suggesting that people who do not acquire the virus will not develop MS (Bjornevik et al. Science 2022;375:296-301). Read More