Biomarkers indicating worsening of progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) can inform decisions about treatment, and two studies presented at the 2024 American Academy of Neurology meeting show promise in this area.
Dr Patricia Coyle of Stony Brook University Hospital in Stony Brook, New York, discusses a study showing that stool glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) was markedly increased in patients with progressive MS vs those with relapsing-remitting disease or healthy controls.
A separate study using brain and cervical spine MRI showed that cervical spine gray matter atrophy, particularly at C2-3, strongly correlated with disability markers in patients with progressive MS.
Dr Coyle closes by outlining a small but important study showing that nasal foralumab dampened microglial activation and stabilized clinical progression in patients with progressive MS.
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Patricia K. Coyle, MD, Professor and Interim Chair, Department of Neurology; Director, MS Comprehensive Care Center, Stony Brook University Hospital, Stony Brook, New York
Patricia K. Coyle, MD, has disclosed the following relevant financial relationships:
Serve(d) as a director, officer, partner, employee, advisor, consultant, or trustee for: Accordant; Amgen; Biogen; Bristol Myers Squibb; Eli Lilly & Company; EMD Serono; GSK; Genentech; Horizon; LabCorp; Mylan; Novartis; Sanofi Genzyme; Viatris
Received research grant from: Celgene; CorEvitas LLC; Genentech/Roche; NINDS; Sanofi Genzyme