An Israeli study recently reported a significantly impaired humoral response to COVID-19 vaccination in patients with multiple sclerosis receiving certain disease-modifying therapies (DMT) (Achiron et al. Ther Adv Neurol Disord 2021;14:17562864211012835). In that study, protective humoral immunity following administration of the Pfizer vaccine was observed in 100% of patients treated with cladribine, but only 22.7% of those on ocrelizumab and 3.8% of those receiving fingolimod. (See also Few vaccine responders with fingolimod, ocrelizumab, NeuroSens, April 23, 2021.) Read More
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Secondary-progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS)
July 20, 2021Provides information on SPMS diagnosis, active and progressive sub-phenotypes, time to SPMS in historical and contemporary cohorts, age and EDSS score as predictors of SPMS, and patients’ symptom that may herald the transition to SPMS.
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New failed trials of intrathecal rituximab in PMS
July 9, 2021The limited benefit of B cell-directed therapies in progressive MS has been attributed in part to poor penetration of the CNS by monoclonal antibodies. However, two new studies have reported that intrathecal administration of rituximab has little effect on CNS inflammation, suggesting that limited drug entry into the brain is not the main problem. Read More
T25FW useful to identify early progression in MS
June 29, 2021A new analysis has reported that significant worsening on the Timed 25-Foot Walk (T25FW) is predictive of EDSS progression in a majority of MS cases (Kalinowski et al. Mult Scler 2021; epublished June 8, 2021). Confirmed disability progression (CDP) was defined as >20% change from baseline in T25FW sustained for >90 days. Read More