TBD Meeting (5111-21)

Up to one-third of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) treated with the B-cell depleting monoclonal antibody ocrelizumab (Ocrevus) show some degree of repletion of B-cells toward the end of the 6-month infusion cycle. However, there are no corresponding worsening of symptoms or signs of a “wearing off” effect, new research shows.

“Most people expect that since this is a B-cell depleting drug, that if you are not depleting B cells, then that should be reflected clinically and there should be some breakthrough activity,” said study investigator Joshua D. Katz, MD, codirector of the Elliot Lewis Center for Multiple Sclerosis Care in Wellesley, Massachusetts.

Real-world study

Preapproval clinical trials of ocrelizumab suggest about 5% of patients experience a repletion of B cells. However, the timing and association with breakthrough symptoms were unclear.

To investigate, Dr. Katz and colleagues conducted two studies. The first is a substudy of the prospective ACAPELLA trial to assess ocrelizumab-associated adverse events in a real-world population. The study included 294 patients with relapsing and progressive forms of MS treated with at least two cycles of ocrelizumab, given as infusion once every 6 months.

The results showed that overall, 91 (31%) of the 294 patients had some degree of repletion at one or more timepoints.

In categorizing patients according to their highest CD19 measure after two cycles, 108 patients (64.7%) had no significant repletion of B-cells after infusion, defined as an increase of less than 10 cells/μL, while 45 (26.9%) were considered mild repleters, defined as having increases of 10-49 cells/μL.

Seven patients (4.2%) were moderate repleters, with an increase of 50-79 cells/μL, and 7 (4.2%) were categorized as marked repleters, with increases of 80 or more cells/μL.

Eight patients in the study fully repleted, with values from 114-319 cells/μL, occurring between 23 and 34 weeks of the last infusion.

However, there was no relationship between repletion of the B-cells and clinical or MRI evidence of relapse.

Of note, the proportion of patients who did not have B-cell repletion increased with greater numbers of infusions. Whereas 64.7% were non-repleters at cycle 2, that number increased to 88.8% by cycle 6, with a slight drop to 85.6% being non-repleters by cycle 7 (36 months).

“Mild B-cell repletion was fairly common after two cycles of ocrelizumab, but with repeated dosing, a greater proportion of patients were non-repleters, suggesting that cumulative exposure to ocrelizumab results in greater depletion,” the researchers noted.

However, “while the number of moderate or marked repleters in our study was small, they had a tendency to remain repleters over time with subsequent infusions,” they added.

In looking at patient characteristics, moderate and marketed repleters had higher mean BMI (34.1 and 32.6, respectively) compared with the non- and mild repleters (27.0 and 29.4, respectively; P < .0001).

Dr. Katz noted that the increased risk of B-cell repletion with higher BMI was not a surprise. This association, he said, “makes sense” because patients’ relative exposure to ocrelizumab decreases with higher BMI. Similar patterns with BMI were observed in the clinical trial for ocrelizumab approval, in which patients with lower BMI tended to have greater improvement.
 

No symptom worsening

In the second study, the investigators further examined changes in symptom burden related to the amount of time from ocrelizumab infusion. They evaluated 110 patients, aged 18-80 (mean age 44.8) who had Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores between 0-7. Study participants were either initiating ocrelizumab or had been on the drug for at least 1 year.

Symptom burden was evaluated with the Neurological Disorders (Neuro-Qol) questionnaire and SymptoMScreen patient-reported outcomes at the beginning of the study at week 4, and near the end of the ocrelizumab infusion cycle, at week 22.

The researchers found that among 69 participants who completed the questionnaires, there were no significant differences at week 22 versus week 4 across a wide range of symptoms, including walking, spasticity, pain, fatigue, cognitive function, dizziness, and depression between the two timepoints.

The only change on the Neuro-QoL score was in the sleep disturbance domain, which improved marginally at the end of the cycle (P = .052). This study did not evaluate changes in B-cells.

Dr. Katz noted that the inclusion of patients over age of 55 in the study offered important insights.

“Our hypothesis was that we were going to start seeing a higher rate of complications, especially infections, in people who are older and may be at a higher risk of infection and disability,” Dr. Katz noted. “But so far, we haven’t seen any higher risk in older patients or those with more disability than anyone else, which is good news.”
 

Amplification of baseline symptoms not uncommon

Commenting on the research, Scott D. Newsome, DO, current president of the CMSC, noted that although no association was observed between the B-cell repletion and symptoms, amplification of flare-up symptoms that are linked to B-cell depleting therapy infusion timing are not uncommon.

“The ‘wearing-off’ phenomenon is not unique to the B-cell therapies,” said Dr. Newsome, who is also director of Johns Hopkins University’s Neurosciences Consultation and Infusion Center and an associate professor of neurology at the JHU med school. “With natalizumab (Tysabri), patients can have an amplification of baseline symptoms as they come closer to their next infusion, and it has been speculated that maybe it was something biologically happening, such as inflammatory cytokines ramping back up or some other mechanisms.”

“Now that we have the B-cell depleting therapies, we tend see the same kind of pattern, where a few weeks leading up to the next infusion, people will develop these amplified symptoms,” he said.

The possibility of a cumulative effect, appearing to address the B-cell repletion associated with early infusions, could have implications over time, Dr. Newsome noted.

“This is important because if people are going on these therapies long-term, the question we may need to ask is whether they actually need to continue to get an infusion every 6 months,” he said.

As these questions around the safety of long-term immunosuppressant drug use continue, different dosing regimens may need to be considered in order to mitigate potential infection risk, he added.

Dr. Katz reports consulting and/or speakers’ bureau relationships with Alexion, Biogen, EMD Serono, Genentech, Novartis, and Sanofi. Dr. Newsome reports relationships with Autobahn, BioIncept, Biogen, Genentech, Novartis, Bristol Myers Squibb, EMD Serono, Greenwich Biosciences, and MedDay Pharmaceuticals.

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

Up to one-third of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) treated with the B-cell depleting monoclonal antibody ocrelizumab (Ocrevus) show some degree of repletion of B-cells toward the end of the 6-month infusion cycle. However, there are no corresponding worsening of symptoms or signs of a “wearing off” effect, new research shows.

“Most people expect that since this is a B-cell depleting drug, that if you are not depleting B cells, then that should be reflected clinically and there should be some breakthrough activity,” said study investigator Joshua D. Katz, MD, codirector of the Elliot Lewis Center for Multiple Sclerosis Care in Wellesley, Massachusetts.

Real-world study

Preapproval clinical trials of ocrelizumab suggest about 5% of patients experience a repletion of B cells. However, the timing and association with breakthrough symptoms were unclear.

To investigate, Dr. Katz and colleagues conducted two studies. The first is a substudy of the prospective ACAPELLA trial to assess ocrelizumab-associated adverse events in a real-world population. The study included 294 patients with relapsing and progressive forms of MS treated with at least two cycles of ocrelizumab, given as infusion once every 6 months.

The results showed that overall, 91 (31%) of the 294 patients had some degree of repletion at one or more timepoints.

In categorizing patients according to their highest CD19 measure after two cycles, 108 patients (64.7%) had no significant repletion of B-cells after infusion, defined as an increase of less than 10 cells/μL, while 45 (26.9%) were considered mild repleters, defined as having increases of 10-49 cells/μL.

Seven patients (4.2%) were moderate repleters, with an increase of 50-79 cells/μL, and 7 (4.2%) were categorized as marked repleters, with increases of 80 or more cells/μL.

Eight patients in the study fully repleted, with values from 114-319 cells/μL, occurring between 23 and 34 weeks of the last infusion.

However, there was no relationship between repletion of the B-cells and clinical or MRI evidence of relapse.

Of note, the proportion of patients who did not have B-cell repletion increased with greater numbers of infusions. Whereas 64.7% were non-repleters at cycle 2, that number increased to 88.8% by cycle 6, with a slight drop to 85.6% being non-repleters by cycle 7 (36 months).

“Mild B-cell repletion was fairly common after two cycles of ocrelizumab, but with repeated dosing, a greater proportion of patients were non-repleters, suggesting that cumulative exposure to ocrelizumab results in greater depletion,” the researchers noted.

However, “while the number of moderate or marked repleters in our study was small, they had a tendency to remain repleters over time with subsequent infusions,” they added.

In looking at patient characteristics, moderate and marketed repleters had higher mean BMI (34.1 and 32.6, respectively) compared with the non- and mild repleters (27.0 and 29.4, respectively; P < .0001).

Dr. Katz noted that the increased risk of B-cell repletion with higher BMI was not a surprise. This association, he said, “makes sense” because patients’ relative exposure to ocrelizumab decreases with higher BMI. Similar patterns with BMI were observed in the clinical trial for ocrelizumab approval, in which patients with lower BMI tended to have greater improvement.
 

No symptom worsening

In the second study, the investigators further examined changes in symptom burden related to the amount of time from ocrelizumab infusion. They evaluated 110 patients, aged 18-80 (mean age 44.8) who had Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores between 0-7. Study participants were either initiating ocrelizumab or had been on the drug for at least 1 year.

Symptom burden was evaluated with the Neurological Disorders (Neuro-Qol) questionnaire and SymptoMScreen patient-reported outcomes at the beginning of the study at week 4, and near the end of the ocrelizumab infusion cycle, at week 22.

The researchers found that among 69 participants who completed the questionnaires, there were no significant differences at week 22 versus week 4 across a wide range of symptoms, including walking, spasticity, pain, fatigue, cognitive function, dizziness, and depression between the two timepoints.

The only change on the Neuro-QoL score was in the sleep disturbance domain, which improved marginally at the end of the cycle (P = .052). This study did not evaluate changes in B-cells.

Dr. Katz noted that the inclusion of patients over age of 55 in the study offered important insights.

“Our hypothesis was that we were going to start seeing a higher rate of complications, especially infections, in people who are older and may be at a higher risk of infection and disability,” Dr. Katz noted. “But so far, we haven’t seen any higher risk in older patients or those with more disability than anyone else, which is good news.”
 

Amplification of baseline symptoms not uncommon

Commenting on the research, Scott D. Newsome, DO, current president of the CMSC, noted that although no association was observed between the B-cell repletion and symptoms, amplification of flare-up symptoms that are linked to B-cell depleting therapy infusion timing are not uncommon.

“The ‘wearing-off’ phenomenon is not unique to the B-cell therapies,” said Dr. Newsome, who is also director of Johns Hopkins University’s Neurosciences Consultation and Infusion Center and an associate professor of neurology at the JHU med school. “With natalizumab (Tysabri), patients can have an amplification of baseline symptoms as they come closer to their next infusion, and it has been speculated that maybe it was something biologically happening, such as inflammatory cytokines ramping back up or some other mechanisms.”

“Now that we have the B-cell depleting therapies, we tend see the same kind of pattern, where a few weeks leading up to the next infusion, people will develop these amplified symptoms,” he said.

The possibility of a cumulative effect, appearing to address the B-cell repletion associated with early infusions, could have implications over time, Dr. Newsome noted.

“This is important because if people are going on these therapies long-term, the question we may need to ask is whether they actually need to continue to get an infusion every 6 months,” he said.

As these questions around the safety of long-term immunosuppressant drug use continue, different dosing regimens may need to be considered in order to mitigate potential infection risk, he added.

Dr. Katz reports consulting and/or speakers’ bureau relationships with Alexion, Biogen, EMD Serono, Genentech, Novartis, and Sanofi. Dr. Newsome reports relationships with Autobahn, BioIncept, Biogen, Genentech, Novartis, Bristol Myers Squibb, EMD Serono, Greenwich Biosciences, and MedDay Pharmaceuticals.

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

Up to one-third of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) treated with the B-cell depleting monoclonal antibody ocrelizumab (Ocrevus) show some degree of repletion of B-cells toward the end of the 6-month infusion cycle. However, there are no corresponding worsening of symptoms or signs of a “wearing off” effect, new research shows.

“Most people expect that since this is a B-cell depleting drug, that if you are not depleting B cells, then that should be reflected clinically and there should be some breakthrough activity,” said study investigator Joshua D. Katz, MD, codirector of the Elliot Lewis Center for Multiple Sclerosis Care in Wellesley, Massachusetts.

Real-world study

Preapproval clinical trials of ocrelizumab suggest about 5% of patients experience a repletion of B cells. However, the timing and association with breakthrough symptoms were unclear.

To investigate, Dr. Katz and colleagues conducted two studies. The first is a substudy of the prospective ACAPELLA trial to assess ocrelizumab-associated adverse events in a real-world population. The study included 294 patients with relapsing and progressive forms of MS treated with at least two cycles of ocrelizumab, given as infusion once every 6 months.

The results showed that overall, 91 (31%) of the 294 patients had some degree of repletion at one or more timepoints.

In categorizing patients according to their highest CD19 measure after two cycles, 108 patients (64.7%) had no significant repletion of B-cells after infusion, defined as an increase of less than 10 cells/μL, while 45 (26.9%) were considered mild repleters, defined as having increases of 10-49 cells/μL.

Seven patients (4.2%) were moderate repleters, with an increase of 50-79 cells/μL, and 7 (4.2%) were categorized as marked repleters, with increases of 80 or more cells/μL.

Eight patients in the study fully repleted, with values from 114-319 cells/μL, occurring between 23 and 34 weeks of the last infusion.

However, there was no relationship between repletion of the B-cells and clinical or MRI evidence of relapse.

Of note, the proportion of patients who did not have B-cell repletion increased with greater numbers of infusions. Whereas 64.7% were non-repleters at cycle 2, that number increased to 88.8% by cycle 6, with a slight drop to 85.6% being non-repleters by cycle 7 (36 months).

“Mild B-cell repletion was fairly common after two cycles of ocrelizumab, but with repeated dosing, a greater proportion of patients were non-repleters, suggesting that cumulative exposure to ocrelizumab results in greater depletion,” the researchers noted.

However, “while the number of moderate or marked repleters in our study was small, they had a tendency to remain repleters over time with subsequent infusions,” they added.

In looking at patient characteristics, moderate and marketed repleters had higher mean BMI (34.1 and 32.6, respectively) compared with the non- and mild repleters (27.0 and 29.4, respectively; P < .0001).

Dr. Katz noted that the increased risk of B-cell repletion with higher BMI was not a surprise. This association, he said, “makes sense” because patients’ relative exposure to ocrelizumab decreases with higher BMI. Similar patterns with BMI were observed in the clinical trial for ocrelizumab approval, in which patients with lower BMI tended to have greater improvement.
 

No symptom worsening

In the second study, the investigators further examined changes in symptom burden related to the amount of time from ocrelizumab infusion. They evaluated 110 patients, aged 18-80 (mean age 44.8) who had Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores between 0-7. Study participants were either initiating ocrelizumab or had been on the drug for at least 1 year.

Symptom burden was evaluated with the Neurological Disorders (Neuro-Qol) questionnaire and SymptoMScreen patient-reported outcomes at the beginning of the study at week 4, and near the end of the ocrelizumab infusion cycle, at week 22.

The researchers found that among 69 participants who completed the questionnaires, there were no significant differences at week 22 versus week 4 across a wide range of symptoms, including walking, spasticity, pain, fatigue, cognitive function, dizziness, and depression between the two timepoints.

The only change on the Neuro-QoL score was in the sleep disturbance domain, which improved marginally at the end of the cycle (P = .052). This study did not evaluate changes in B-cells.

Dr. Katz noted that the inclusion of patients over age of 55 in the study offered important insights.

“Our hypothesis was that we were going to start seeing a higher rate of complications, especially infections, in people who are older and may be at a higher risk of infection and disability,” Dr. Katz noted. “But so far, we haven’t seen any higher risk in older patients or those with more disability than anyone else, which is good news.”
 

Amplification of baseline symptoms not uncommon

Commenting on the research, Scott D. Newsome, DO, current president of the CMSC, noted that although no association was observed between the B-cell repletion and symptoms, amplification of flare-up symptoms that are linked to B-cell depleting therapy infusion timing are not uncommon.

“The ‘wearing-off’ phenomenon is not unique to the B-cell therapies,” said Dr. Newsome, who is also director of Johns Hopkins University’s Neurosciences Consultation and Infusion Center and an associate professor of neurology at the JHU med school. “With natalizumab (Tysabri), patients can have an amplification of baseline symptoms as they come closer to their next infusion, and it has been speculated that maybe it was something biologically happening, such as inflammatory cytokines ramping back up or some other mechanisms.”

“Now that we have the B-cell depleting therapies, we tend see the same kind of pattern, where a few weeks leading up to the next infusion, people will develop these amplified symptoms,” he said.

The possibility of a cumulative effect, appearing to address the B-cell repletion associated with early infusions, could have implications over time, Dr. Newsome noted.

“This is important because if people are going on these therapies long-term, the question we may need to ask is whether they actually need to continue to get an infusion every 6 months,” he said.

As these questions around the safety of long-term immunosuppressant drug use continue, different dosing regimens may need to be considered in order to mitigate potential infection risk, he added.

Dr. Katz reports consulting and/or speakers’ bureau relationships with Alexion, Biogen, EMD Serono, Genentech, Novartis, and Sanofi. Dr. Newsome reports relationships with Autobahn, BioIncept, Biogen, Genentech, Novartis, Bristol Myers Squibb, EMD Serono, Greenwich Biosciences, and MedDay Pharmaceuticals.

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

The National Institutes of Health Toolbox Cognitive Battery (NIHTB-CB), a 30-minute, automated, iPad-based battery of psychological tests, offers some key advantages over gold standard cognitive assessments in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), new research shows.

An indicator of disease activity?

Cognitive deficits affecting a range of functions – including memory, attention and communication – are common in MS and affect 34% to 65% of patients with the disease, and the ability to detect and monitor such deficits has important implications.

Cognitive changes can provide a unique opportunity to identify acute disease activity in patients with MS that might be already occurring before physical manifestations become apparent, said Ms. Manglani. “If we can detect subtle changes in cognition that might foreshadow other symptoms of disease worsening, we can then allocate interventions that might stave off cognitive decline,” she explained.

While there is an array of well-established neuropsychological tests for the assessment of cognitive deficits, each has limitations, so a shorter, computerized, convenient, and reliable test could prove beneficial.

The NIHTB-CB has been validated in a large, nationally representative sample of individuals aged 8 to 85 and represents a potentially attractive option, yielding composite measures and scores corrected for age, gender, education, race, and ethnicity.
 

Comparative testing

To compare the test with other leading cognition tools used in MS, the investigators recruited 87 patients with RRMS (79% female, mean age 47.3 years). Participants were recruited to perform the full NIHTB-CB (about 30 minutes) and the full Minimal Assessment of Cognitive Function in Multiple Sclerosis (MACFIMS), which takes about 90 minutes, as well as some subsets from the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-IV (WAIS-IV) covering processing speed and working memory. All patients had an EDSS of 5.0 or below and, on average, had been living with MS for about a decade.

The results showed the normative scores for NIHTB-CB had significant concordance with the other measures in terms of processing speed (concordance correlation coefficient [CCC] range = 0.28-0.48), working memory (CCC range = 0.27-0.37), and episodic memory (CCC range = 0.21-0.32). However, agreement was not shown for executive function (CCC range = 0.096-0.11).

Ms. Manglani noted executive function included various submeasures such as planning and inhibitory control. “Perhaps our gold standard measures tapped into a different facet of executive function than measured by the NIHTB,” she said.

The investigators found the proportion of participants classified as cognitively impaired was similar between the MACFIMS and the NIHTB tests.

Further assessment of fluid cognition on the NIHTB-CB – a composite of processing speed, working memory, episodic memory, and executive function that is automatically generated by the toolbox – showed the measure was negatively associated with disease severity, as measured by the EDSS (P = .006). However, the measure was not associated with a difference in depression (P = .39) or fatigue (P = .69).

Of note, a similar association with lower disease severity on the EDSS was not observed with MACFIMS.

“Interestingly, we found that only the NIHTB-CB fluid cognition was associated with disease severity, such that it was associated with nearly 11% of the variance in EDSS scores, and we were surprised that we didn’t see this with MACFIMS,” Ms. Manglani said.
 

Key advantages

The NIHTB-CB was developed as part of the NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience Research initiative and commissioned by 16 NIH Institutes to provide brief, efficient assessment measures of cognitive function.

The battery has been validated in healthy individuals and tested in other populations with neurologic disorders, including patients who have suffered stroke and traumatic brain injury.

Ms. Manglani noted that the NIHTB-CB had key advantages over other tests. “First, it is a 30-minute iPad-based battery, which is shorter than most cognitive batteries available, and one of the few that is completely computerized. In addition, it automatically scores performance and yields a report with both composite scores and scores for each subtest,” she said.

In addition, said Ms. Manglani, “the NIH toolbox has a large validation sample of individuals between 8-85 years of age and provides normative scores that account for age, gender, education, and race/ethnicity, which allows individuals’ performances to be compared with their peers.”

The findings underscore that with further validation, the battery could have an important role in MS, she added.

“The NIH Toolbox needs to be tested in all subtypes of MS, with a full range of disease severity, and in MS clinics to gauge the clinical feasibility. Larger samples and repeated assessments are also needed to assess the test-retest reliability,” she said.

The study had no specific funding. The authors have disclosed no relevant financial relationships.

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

The National Institutes of Health Toolbox Cognitive Battery (NIHTB-CB), a 30-minute, automated, iPad-based battery of psychological tests, offers some key advantages over gold standard cognitive assessments in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), new research shows.

An indicator of disease activity?

Cognitive deficits affecting a range of functions – including memory, attention and communication – are common in MS and affect 34% to 65% of patients with the disease, and the ability to detect and monitor such deficits has important implications.

Cognitive changes can provide a unique opportunity to identify acute disease activity in patients with MS that might be already occurring before physical manifestations become apparent, said Ms. Manglani. “If we can detect subtle changes in cognition that might foreshadow other symptoms of disease worsening, we can then allocate interventions that might stave off cognitive decline,” she explained.

While there is an array of well-established neuropsychological tests for the assessment of cognitive deficits, each has limitations, so a shorter, computerized, convenient, and reliable test could prove beneficial.

The NIHTB-CB has been validated in a large, nationally representative sample of individuals aged 8 to 85 and represents a potentially attractive option, yielding composite measures and scores corrected for age, gender, education, race, and ethnicity.
 

Comparative testing

To compare the test with other leading cognition tools used in MS, the investigators recruited 87 patients with RRMS (79% female, mean age 47.3 years). Participants were recruited to perform the full NIHTB-CB (about 30 minutes) and the full Minimal Assessment of Cognitive Function in Multiple Sclerosis (MACFIMS), which takes about 90 minutes, as well as some subsets from the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-IV (WAIS-IV) covering processing speed and working memory. All patients had an EDSS of 5.0 or below and, on average, had been living with MS for about a decade.

The results showed the normative scores for NIHTB-CB had significant concordance with the other measures in terms of processing speed (concordance correlation coefficient [CCC] range = 0.28-0.48), working memory (CCC range = 0.27-0.37), and episodic memory (CCC range = 0.21-0.32). However, agreement was not shown for executive function (CCC range = 0.096-0.11).

Ms. Manglani noted executive function included various submeasures such as planning and inhibitory control. “Perhaps our gold standard measures tapped into a different facet of executive function than measured by the NIHTB,” she said.

The investigators found the proportion of participants classified as cognitively impaired was similar between the MACFIMS and the NIHTB tests.

Further assessment of fluid cognition on the NIHTB-CB – a composite of processing speed, working memory, episodic memory, and executive function that is automatically generated by the toolbox – showed the measure was negatively associated with disease severity, as measured by the EDSS (P = .006). However, the measure was not associated with a difference in depression (P = .39) or fatigue (P = .69).

Of note, a similar association with lower disease severity on the EDSS was not observed with MACFIMS.

“Interestingly, we found that only the NIHTB-CB fluid cognition was associated with disease severity, such that it was associated with nearly 11% of the variance in EDSS scores, and we were surprised that we didn’t see this with MACFIMS,” Ms. Manglani said.
 

Key advantages

The NIHTB-CB was developed as part of the NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience Research initiative and commissioned by 16 NIH Institutes to provide brief, efficient assessment measures of cognitive function.

The battery has been validated in healthy individuals and tested in other populations with neurologic disorders, including patients who have suffered stroke and traumatic brain injury.

Ms. Manglani noted that the NIHTB-CB had key advantages over other tests. “First, it is a 30-minute iPad-based battery, which is shorter than most cognitive batteries available, and one of the few that is completely computerized. In addition, it automatically scores performance and yields a report with both composite scores and scores for each subtest,” she said.

In addition, said Ms. Manglani, “the NIH toolbox has a large validation sample of individuals between 8-85 years of age and provides normative scores that account for age, gender, education, and race/ethnicity, which allows individuals’ performances to be compared with their peers.”

The findings underscore that with further validation, the battery could have an important role in MS, she added.

“The NIH Toolbox needs to be tested in all subtypes of MS, with a full range of disease severity, and in MS clinics to gauge the clinical feasibility. Larger samples and repeated assessments are also needed to assess the test-retest reliability,” she said.

The study had no specific funding. The authors have disclosed no relevant financial relationships.

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

The National Institutes of Health Toolbox Cognitive Battery (NIHTB-CB), a 30-minute, automated, iPad-based battery of psychological tests, offers some key advantages over gold standard cognitive assessments in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), new research shows.

An indicator of disease activity?

Cognitive deficits affecting a range of functions – including memory, attention and communication – are common in MS and affect 34% to 65% of patients with the disease, and the ability to detect and monitor such deficits has important implications.

Cognitive changes can provide a unique opportunity to identify acute disease activity in patients with MS that might be already occurring before physical manifestations become apparent, said Ms. Manglani. “If we can detect subtle changes in cognition that might foreshadow other symptoms of disease worsening, we can then allocate interventions that might stave off cognitive decline,” she explained.

While there is an array of well-established neuropsychological tests for the assessment of cognitive deficits, each has limitations, so a shorter, computerized, convenient, and reliable test could prove beneficial.

The NIHTB-CB has been validated in a large, nationally representative sample of individuals aged 8 to 85 and represents a potentially attractive option, yielding composite measures and scores corrected for age, gender, education, race, and ethnicity.
 

Comparative testing

To compare the test with other leading cognition tools used in MS, the investigators recruited 87 patients with RRMS (79% female, mean age 47.3 years). Participants were recruited to perform the full NIHTB-CB (about 30 minutes) and the full Minimal Assessment of Cognitive Function in Multiple Sclerosis (MACFIMS), which takes about 90 minutes, as well as some subsets from the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-IV (WAIS-IV) covering processing speed and working memory. All patients had an EDSS of 5.0 or below and, on average, had been living with MS for about a decade.

The results showed the normative scores for NIHTB-CB had significant concordance with the other measures in terms of processing speed (concordance correlation coefficient [CCC] range = 0.28-0.48), working memory (CCC range = 0.27-0.37), and episodic memory (CCC range = 0.21-0.32). However, agreement was not shown for executive function (CCC range = 0.096-0.11).

Ms. Manglani noted executive function included various submeasures such as planning and inhibitory control. “Perhaps our gold standard measures tapped into a different facet of executive function than measured by the NIHTB,” she said.

The investigators found the proportion of participants classified as cognitively impaired was similar between the MACFIMS and the NIHTB tests.

Further assessment of fluid cognition on the NIHTB-CB – a composite of processing speed, working memory, episodic memory, and executive function that is automatically generated by the toolbox – showed the measure was negatively associated with disease severity, as measured by the EDSS (P = .006). However, the measure was not associated with a difference in depression (P = .39) or fatigue (P = .69).

Of note, a similar association with lower disease severity on the EDSS was not observed with MACFIMS.

“Interestingly, we found that only the NIHTB-CB fluid cognition was associated with disease severity, such that it was associated with nearly 11% of the variance in EDSS scores, and we were surprised that we didn’t see this with MACFIMS,” Ms. Manglani said.
 

Key advantages

The NIHTB-CB was developed as part of the NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience Research initiative and commissioned by 16 NIH Institutes to provide brief, efficient assessment measures of cognitive function.

The battery has been validated in healthy individuals and tested in other populations with neurologic disorders, including patients who have suffered stroke and traumatic brain injury.

Ms. Manglani noted that the NIHTB-CB had key advantages over other tests. “First, it is a 30-minute iPad-based battery, which is shorter than most cognitive batteries available, and one of the few that is completely computerized. In addition, it automatically scores performance and yields a report with both composite scores and scores for each subtest,” she said.

In addition, said Ms. Manglani, “the NIH toolbox has a large validation sample of individuals between 8-85 years of age and provides normative scores that account for age, gender, education, and race/ethnicity, which allows individuals’ performances to be compared with their peers.”

The findings underscore that with further validation, the battery could have an important role in MS, she added.

“The NIH Toolbox needs to be tested in all subtypes of MS, with a full range of disease severity, and in MS clinics to gauge the clinical feasibility. Larger samples and repeated assessments are also needed to assess the test-retest reliability,” she said.

The study had no specific funding. The authors have disclosed no relevant financial relationships.

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

Specialty pharmacists play a key and growing role in navigating the complexities of initiating disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) for multiple sclerosis (MS), resulting in earlier treatment, new data suggest.

Aids early intervention

A report on the Kaiser Permanente Washington (KPWA) MS Pharmacy Program detailed significant reductions in the time to address patients’ needs through the use of specialty pharmacists. In an assessment of 391 referrals to the program from 2019 to 2020, the average total time spent per patient per year dropped from 145 minutes in 2019 to 109 minutes in 2020.

Services included assessment of medication adherence, adverse drug reaction consultation, lab monitoring, patient counseling on initiation of a DMT, shared decision making, and follow-up visits.

“The KPWA MS Pharmacy Program plays an integral role in the care of patients with MS. The MS clinical pharmacists ensure patients are well informed about their DMT options and are fully educated about selected treatment,” the investigators noted.

A report on an outpatient MS clinic at Emory Healthcare, Atlanta, described how use of specialty pharmacist services resulted in a 49% reduction in time to treatment initiation with fingolimod. The time decreased from 83.9 days to 42.9 days following the introduction of specialty pharmacist services.

“Integration of a clinical pharmacy specialist in the therapeutic management of MS patients is crucial to early intervention with disease-modifying therapy,” the investigators noted.

A report on the specialty pharmacy services provided at Johns Hopkins MS Precision Medicine Center of Excellence, Baltimore, described an evaluation of 708 assessments between July 2019 and June 2020. Results showed that the vast majority (98%) of patients reported no missed days from work or school due to MS-related symptoms and that 99.3% reported no hospitalizations due to MS relapses, which are both key measures of MS treatment adherence.
 

High patient satisfaction

Patients reported high satisfaction with the in-house pharmacy on the National Association of Specialty Pharmacy’s patient satisfaction survey. In the survey, the average score was 82, compared with 79 for external specialty pharmacies.

“Moreover, patients were highly satisfied with the services provided at the pharmacy and were likely to continue receiving their comprehensive pharmacy care at our institution,” the researchers reported.

The study “highlights the value of pharmacists’ involvement in patient care and supports the need for continuation of integrated clinical services in health system specialty pharmacy,” the investigators noted.

CMSC President Scott D. Newsome, DO, director of the Neurosciences Consultation and Infusion Center at Green Spring Station, Lutherville, Maryland, and associate professor of neurology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, said that as a clinician, he is highly satisfied with the specialty pharmacy services for MS at Johns Hopkins.

“Our pharmacists are fantastic in communicating with the prescriber if something comes up related to medication safety or they are concerned that the patient isn’t adhering to the medication,” Dr. Newsome said.

He noted that in addition to helping to alleviate the burden of a myriad of tasks associated with prescribing for patients with MS, specialty pharmacists may have an important impact on outcomes, although more data are needed.

“Having a specialty pharmacy involved in the care of our patients can help navigate the challenges associated with the process of obtaining approval for DMTs,” he said. “We know how important it is to expedite and shorten the time frame from writing the prescription to getting the person on their DMT.”
 

Telemedicine, other models

Although integrated specialty pharmacist services may seem out of reach for smaller MS clinics, the use of telemedicine and other models may help achieve similar results.

“A model I have seen is having pharmacists split their time between a specialty pharmacy and the MS clinic,” said Dr. Montgomery.

“A telemedicine model can also be utilized, in which a pharmacist can reach out to patients by telephone or through video visits. This would allow a pharmacist to be utilized for multiple clinics or as an MS specialist within a specialty pharmacy,” she added.

Whether provided in house or through telemedicine, a key benefit for clinicians is in freeing up valuable time, which has a domino effect in improving quality all around.

“In addition to improving safety outcomes, specialty pharmacists help with the allocation of clinic staff to other clinic responsibilities, and the utilization of services by patients results in more resources allocated for their care,” Dr. Montgomery said.

Dr. Montgomery is a nonpromotional speaker for Novartis and is on its advisory board.

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

Specialty pharmacists play a key and growing role in navigating the complexities of initiating disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) for multiple sclerosis (MS), resulting in earlier treatment, new data suggest.

Aids early intervention

A report on the Kaiser Permanente Washington (KPWA) MS Pharmacy Program detailed significant reductions in the time to address patients’ needs through the use of specialty pharmacists. In an assessment of 391 referrals to the program from 2019 to 2020, the average total time spent per patient per year dropped from 145 minutes in 2019 to 109 minutes in 2020.

Services included assessment of medication adherence, adverse drug reaction consultation, lab monitoring, patient counseling on initiation of a DMT, shared decision making, and follow-up visits.

“The KPWA MS Pharmacy Program plays an integral role in the care of patients with MS. The MS clinical pharmacists ensure patients are well informed about their DMT options and are fully educated about selected treatment,” the investigators noted.

A report on an outpatient MS clinic at Emory Healthcare, Atlanta, described how use of specialty pharmacist services resulted in a 49% reduction in time to treatment initiation with fingolimod. The time decreased from 83.9 days to 42.9 days following the introduction of specialty pharmacist services.

“Integration of a clinical pharmacy specialist in the therapeutic management of MS patients is crucial to early intervention with disease-modifying therapy,” the investigators noted.

A report on the specialty pharmacy services provided at Johns Hopkins MS Precision Medicine Center of Excellence, Baltimore, described an evaluation of 708 assessments between July 2019 and June 2020. Results showed that the vast majority (98%) of patients reported no missed days from work or school due to MS-related symptoms and that 99.3% reported no hospitalizations due to MS relapses, which are both key measures of MS treatment adherence.
 

High patient satisfaction

Patients reported high satisfaction with the in-house pharmacy on the National Association of Specialty Pharmacy’s patient satisfaction survey. In the survey, the average score was 82, compared with 79 for external specialty pharmacies.

“Moreover, patients were highly satisfied with the services provided at the pharmacy and were likely to continue receiving their comprehensive pharmacy care at our institution,” the researchers reported.

The study “highlights the value of pharmacists’ involvement in patient care and supports the need for continuation of integrated clinical services in health system specialty pharmacy,” the investigators noted.

CMSC President Scott D. Newsome, DO, director of the Neurosciences Consultation and Infusion Center at Green Spring Station, Lutherville, Maryland, and associate professor of neurology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, said that as a clinician, he is highly satisfied with the specialty pharmacy services for MS at Johns Hopkins.

“Our pharmacists are fantastic in communicating with the prescriber if something comes up related to medication safety or they are concerned that the patient isn’t adhering to the medication,” Dr. Newsome said.

He noted that in addition to helping to alleviate the burden of a myriad of tasks associated with prescribing for patients with MS, specialty pharmacists may have an important impact on outcomes, although more data are needed.

“Having a specialty pharmacy involved in the care of our patients can help navigate the challenges associated with the process of obtaining approval for DMTs,” he said. “We know how important it is to expedite and shorten the time frame from writing the prescription to getting the person on their DMT.”
 

Telemedicine, other models

Although integrated specialty pharmacist services may seem out of reach for smaller MS clinics, the use of telemedicine and other models may help achieve similar results.

“A model I have seen is having pharmacists split their time between a specialty pharmacy and the MS clinic,” said Dr. Montgomery.

“A telemedicine model can also be utilized, in which a pharmacist can reach out to patients by telephone or through video visits. This would allow a pharmacist to be utilized for multiple clinics or as an MS specialist within a specialty pharmacy,” she added.

Whether provided in house or through telemedicine, a key benefit for clinicians is in freeing up valuable time, which has a domino effect in improving quality all around.

“In addition to improving safety outcomes, specialty pharmacists help with the allocation of clinic staff to other clinic responsibilities, and the utilization of services by patients results in more resources allocated for their care,” Dr. Montgomery said.

Dr. Montgomery is a nonpromotional speaker for Novartis and is on its advisory board.

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

Specialty pharmacists play a key and growing role in navigating the complexities of initiating disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) for multiple sclerosis (MS), resulting in earlier treatment, new data suggest.

Aids early intervention

A report on the Kaiser Permanente Washington (KPWA) MS Pharmacy Program detailed significant reductions in the time to address patients’ needs through the use of specialty pharmacists. In an assessment of 391 referrals to the program from 2019 to 2020, the average total time spent per patient per year dropped from 145 minutes in 2019 to 109 minutes in 2020.

Services included assessment of medication adherence, adverse drug reaction consultation, lab monitoring, patient counseling on initiation of a DMT, shared decision making, and follow-up visits.

“The KPWA MS Pharmacy Program plays an integral role in the care of patients with MS. The MS clinical pharmacists ensure patients are well informed about their DMT options and are fully educated about selected treatment,” the investigators noted.

A report on an outpatient MS clinic at Emory Healthcare, Atlanta, described how use of specialty pharmacist services resulted in a 49% reduction in time to treatment initiation with fingolimod. The time decreased from 83.9 days to 42.9 days following the introduction of specialty pharmacist services.

“Integration of a clinical pharmacy specialist in the therapeutic management of MS patients is crucial to early intervention with disease-modifying therapy,” the investigators noted.

A report on the specialty pharmacy services provided at Johns Hopkins MS Precision Medicine Center of Excellence, Baltimore, described an evaluation of 708 assessments between July 2019 and June 2020. Results showed that the vast majority (98%) of patients reported no missed days from work or school due to MS-related symptoms and that 99.3% reported no hospitalizations due to MS relapses, which are both key measures of MS treatment adherence.
 

High patient satisfaction

Patients reported high satisfaction with the in-house pharmacy on the National Association of Specialty Pharmacy’s patient satisfaction survey. In the survey, the average score was 82, compared with 79 for external specialty pharmacies.

“Moreover, patients were highly satisfied with the services provided at the pharmacy and were likely to continue receiving their comprehensive pharmacy care at our institution,” the researchers reported.

The study “highlights the value of pharmacists’ involvement in patient care and supports the need for continuation of integrated clinical services in health system specialty pharmacy,” the investigators noted.

CMSC President Scott D. Newsome, DO, director of the Neurosciences Consultation and Infusion Center at Green Spring Station, Lutherville, Maryland, and associate professor of neurology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, said that as a clinician, he is highly satisfied with the specialty pharmacy services for MS at Johns Hopkins.

“Our pharmacists are fantastic in communicating with the prescriber if something comes up related to medication safety or they are concerned that the patient isn’t adhering to the medication,” Dr. Newsome said.

He noted that in addition to helping to alleviate the burden of a myriad of tasks associated with prescribing for patients with MS, specialty pharmacists may have an important impact on outcomes, although more data are needed.

“Having a specialty pharmacy involved in the care of our patients can help navigate the challenges associated with the process of obtaining approval for DMTs,” he said. “We know how important it is to expedite and shorten the time frame from writing the prescription to getting the person on their DMT.”
 

Telemedicine, other models

Although integrated specialty pharmacist services may seem out of reach for smaller MS clinics, the use of telemedicine and other models may help achieve similar results.

“A model I have seen is having pharmacists split their time between a specialty pharmacy and the MS clinic,” said Dr. Montgomery.

“A telemedicine model can also be utilized, in which a pharmacist can reach out to patients by telephone or through video visits. This would allow a pharmacist to be utilized for multiple clinics or as an MS specialist within a specialty pharmacy,” she added.

Whether provided in house or through telemedicine, a key benefit for clinicians is in freeing up valuable time, which has a domino effect in improving quality all around.

“In addition to improving safety outcomes, specialty pharmacists help with the allocation of clinic staff to other clinic responsibilities, and the utilization of services by patients results in more resources allocated for their care,” Dr. Montgomery said.

Dr. Montgomery is a nonpromotional speaker for Novartis and is on its advisory board.

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

Use of cannabis is common in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), especially for the treatment of MS-related spasticity, new research suggests. Findings from a survey conducted through a large registry in 2020 showed that 31% of patients with MS reported trying cannabis to treat their symptoms – and 20% reported regular use.

Spasticity was reported by 80% as the reason why they used cannabis, while pain was cited as the reason by 69% and sleep problems/insomnia was cited by 61%.

Investigators noted that the new data reflect the latest patterns of use amid sweeping changes in recreational and medical marijuana laws.

“Interest in the use of cannabis for managing MS symptoms continues to increase as more data become available and access becomes easier,” co-investigator Amber Salter, PhD, associate professor, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, told attendees at the 2021 Annual Meeting of the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC).
 

Administration routes vary

The survey was conducted through the longitudinal North American Research Committee on Multiple Sclerosis (NARCOMS) Registry, a voluntary, self-report registry for patients with MS. Of 6,934 registry participants invited to participate, 3,249 (47%) responded. The majority of responders were women (79%) and the mean age was 61 years. About 63% were being treated with disease-modifying therapies.

Overall, 31% of respondents reported having used cannabis to treat their MS symptoms. In addition, 20% reported regular current cannabis use, with an average use of 20 days in the past month. As many as 40% of the current users reported using cannabis daily.

“In general we saw some small differences in current users, who tended to include more males; have higher spasticity, pain, and sleep symptoms; and [were] more likely to be unemployed and younger,” Dr. Salter said.

The most common forms of cannabis administration were smoking (33%) and eating (20%). In addition, 12% reported vaporizing cannabis with a highly concentrated material, 11% administered cannabis sublingually, and 11% reported swallowing it.

Further, 8% reported vaporizing cannabis as a dried flower, 5% used it topically, and 1% reported drinking it.

Of note, the definition of “cannabis/marijuana” in the study excluded hemp cannabidiol (CBD) or products marketed as CBD only.
 

Consistent use

The most common reason for use by far was spasticity (80%). This was followed by for pain (69%) and sleep/insomnia problems (61%). Among users, 37% reported doing so to treat all three of those problems.

Regarding other symptoms, 36% used cannabis for anxiety, 24% for depression, 18% for overactive bladder, 17% for nausea or gastrointestinal problems, 16% for migraine or headaches, 14% for tremors, and 6% for other purposes.

The vast majority (95%) reported cannabis to be very or somewhat helpful for their symptoms.

Among the 69% of respondents who reported not using cannabis for their MS symptoms, the most commonly cited reasons were a lack of evidence on efficacy (40%) or safety (27%), concerns of legality (25%), lack of insurance coverage (22%), prohibitive cost (18%), and adverse side effects.

Surprisingly, the dramatic shift in the legalization of cannabis use in many states does not appear to be reflected in changes in cannabis use for MS, Dr. Salter said.

“We conducted an anonymous NARCOMS survey a couple of years prior to this survey, and our results are generally consistent. There’s been a small increase in the use and an acceptance or willingness to consider cannabis, but it’s relatively consistent,” she said.

“Despite the changes in access, the landscape hasn’t really changed very much in terms of evidence of the effects on MS symptoms, so that could be why,” Dr. Salter added.

Most patients appear to feel comfortable discussing their cannabis use with their physician, with 75% reporting doing so. However, the most common primary source of medical guidance for treating MS with cannabis was “nobody/self”; for 20%, the source for medical guidance was a dispensary professional.

As many as 62% of respondents reported obtaining their cannabis products from dispensaries, while other sources included family/friend (18%) or an acquaintance (13%). About 31% reported their most preferred type of cannabis to be equal parts THC and cannabidiol, while 30% preferred high THC/low cannabidiol (30%).
 

Mirrors clinical practice findings

Commenting on the study, Laura T. Safar, MD, vice chair of Psychiatry at Lahey Hospital and Medical Center and assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, Boston, said the findings generally fall in line with cannabis use among patients with MS in her practice.

“This is [consistent] with my general experience: A high percentage of my patients with MS are using cannabis with the goal of addressing their MS symptoms that way,” said Dr. Safar, who was not involved with the research.

One notable recent change in patients’ inquiries about cannabis is their apparent confidence in the information they’re getting, she noted. This is a sign of the ever-expanding sources of information – but from sources who may or may not have an understanding of effects in MS, she added.

“What seems new is a certain level of specificity in the information patients state – regardless of its accuracy. There is more technical information widely available about cannabis online and in the dispensaries,” said Dr. Safar.

“A lot of that information may not have been tested scientifically, but it is presented with an aura of truth,” she said.

While misconceptions about cannabis use in MS may not be new, “the conviction with which they are stated and believed seems stronger,” even though they have been validated by questionably expert sources, Dr. Safar noted.

She pointed out that psychiatric effects are among her patients’ notable concerns of cannabis use in MS.

“Cannabis use, especially daily use in moderate to large amounts, can have negative cognitive side effects,” she said. “In addition, it can have other psychiatric side effects: worsening of mood and anxiety, apathy, and anhedonia, a lack of pleasure or enjoyment, and a flattening of the emotional experience.”
 

Countering misinformation

Dr. Safar said she works to counter misinformation and provide more reliable, evidence-based recommendations.

“I educate my patients about what we know from scientific trials about the potential benefits, including possible help with pain, excluding central pain, and with spasticity,” she said. Dr. Safar added that she also discusses possible risks, such as worsening of cognition, mood, and anxiety.

On the basis of an individual’s presentation, and working in collaboration with their neurologist as appropriate, Dr. Safar said she discusses the following issues with the patient:

• Does cannabis make sense for the symptoms being presented?
• Has the patient received benefit so far?
• Are there side effects they may be experiencing?
• Would it be appropriate to lower the cannabis dose/frequency of its use?
• If a patient is using cannabis with an objective that is not backed up by the literature, such as depression, are they open to information about other treatment options?

The study was sponsored by GW Research. Dr. Salter has conducted research for GW Pharmaceuticals companies. Dr. Safar has disclosed no relevant financial relationships.

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

Use of cannabis is common in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), especially for the treatment of MS-related spasticity, new research suggests. Findings from a survey conducted through a large registry in 2020 showed that 31% of patients with MS reported trying cannabis to treat their symptoms – and 20% reported regular use.

Spasticity was reported by 80% as the reason why they used cannabis, while pain was cited as the reason by 69% and sleep problems/insomnia was cited by 61%.

Investigators noted that the new data reflect the latest patterns of use amid sweeping changes in recreational and medical marijuana laws.

“Interest in the use of cannabis for managing MS symptoms continues to increase as more data become available and access becomes easier,” co-investigator Amber Salter, PhD, associate professor, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, told attendees at the 2021 Annual Meeting of the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC).
 

Administration routes vary

The survey was conducted through the longitudinal North American Research Committee on Multiple Sclerosis (NARCOMS) Registry, a voluntary, self-report registry for patients with MS. Of 6,934 registry participants invited to participate, 3,249 (47%) responded. The majority of responders were women (79%) and the mean age was 61 years. About 63% were being treated with disease-modifying therapies.

Overall, 31% of respondents reported having used cannabis to treat their MS symptoms. In addition, 20% reported regular current cannabis use, with an average use of 20 days in the past month. As many as 40% of the current users reported using cannabis daily.

“In general we saw some small differences in current users, who tended to include more males; have higher spasticity, pain, and sleep symptoms; and [were] more likely to be unemployed and younger,” Dr. Salter said.

The most common forms of cannabis administration were smoking (33%) and eating (20%). In addition, 12% reported vaporizing cannabis with a highly concentrated material, 11% administered cannabis sublingually, and 11% reported swallowing it.

Further, 8% reported vaporizing cannabis as a dried flower, 5% used it topically, and 1% reported drinking it.

Of note, the definition of “cannabis/marijuana” in the study excluded hemp cannabidiol (CBD) or products marketed as CBD only.
 

Consistent use

The most common reason for use by far was spasticity (80%). This was followed by for pain (69%) and sleep/insomnia problems (61%). Among users, 37% reported doing so to treat all three of those problems.

Regarding other symptoms, 36% used cannabis for anxiety, 24% for depression, 18% for overactive bladder, 17% for nausea or gastrointestinal problems, 16% for migraine or headaches, 14% for tremors, and 6% for other purposes.

The vast majority (95%) reported cannabis to be very or somewhat helpful for their symptoms.

Among the 69% of respondents who reported not using cannabis for their MS symptoms, the most commonly cited reasons were a lack of evidence on efficacy (40%) or safety (27%), concerns of legality (25%), lack of insurance coverage (22%), prohibitive cost (18%), and adverse side effects.

Surprisingly, the dramatic shift in the legalization of cannabis use in many states does not appear to be reflected in changes in cannabis use for MS, Dr. Salter said.

“We conducted an anonymous NARCOMS survey a couple of years prior to this survey, and our results are generally consistent. There’s been a small increase in the use and an acceptance or willingness to consider cannabis, but it’s relatively consistent,” she said.

“Despite the changes in access, the landscape hasn’t really changed very much in terms of evidence of the effects on MS symptoms, so that could be why,” Dr. Salter added.

Most patients appear to feel comfortable discussing their cannabis use with their physician, with 75% reporting doing so. However, the most common primary source of medical guidance for treating MS with cannabis was “nobody/self”; for 20%, the source for medical guidance was a dispensary professional.

As many as 62% of respondents reported obtaining their cannabis products from dispensaries, while other sources included family/friend (18%) or an acquaintance (13%). About 31% reported their most preferred type of cannabis to be equal parts THC and cannabidiol, while 30% preferred high THC/low cannabidiol (30%).
 

Mirrors clinical practice findings

Commenting on the study, Laura T. Safar, MD, vice chair of Psychiatry at Lahey Hospital and Medical Center and assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, Boston, said the findings generally fall in line with cannabis use among patients with MS in her practice.

“This is [consistent] with my general experience: A high percentage of my patients with MS are using cannabis with the goal of addressing their MS symptoms that way,” said Dr. Safar, who was not involved with the research.

One notable recent change in patients’ inquiries about cannabis is their apparent confidence in the information they’re getting, she noted. This is a sign of the ever-expanding sources of information – but from sources who may or may not have an understanding of effects in MS, she added.

“What seems new is a certain level of specificity in the information patients state – regardless of its accuracy. There is more technical information widely available about cannabis online and in the dispensaries,” said Dr. Safar.

“A lot of that information may not have been tested scientifically, but it is presented with an aura of truth,” she said.

While misconceptions about cannabis use in MS may not be new, “the conviction with which they are stated and believed seems stronger,” even though they have been validated by questionably expert sources, Dr. Safar noted.

She pointed out that psychiatric effects are among her patients’ notable concerns of cannabis use in MS.

“Cannabis use, especially daily use in moderate to large amounts, can have negative cognitive side effects,” she said. “In addition, it can have other psychiatric side effects: worsening of mood and anxiety, apathy, and anhedonia, a lack of pleasure or enjoyment, and a flattening of the emotional experience.”
 

Countering misinformation

Dr. Safar said she works to counter misinformation and provide more reliable, evidence-based recommendations.

“I educate my patients about what we know from scientific trials about the potential benefits, including possible help with pain, excluding central pain, and with spasticity,” she said. Dr. Safar added that she also discusses possible risks, such as worsening of cognition, mood, and anxiety.

On the basis of an individual’s presentation, and working in collaboration with their neurologist as appropriate, Dr. Safar said she discusses the following issues with the patient:

• Does cannabis make sense for the symptoms being presented?
• Has the patient received benefit so far?
• Are there side effects they may be experiencing?
• Would it be appropriate to lower the cannabis dose/frequency of its use?
• If a patient is using cannabis with an objective that is not backed up by the literature, such as depression, are they open to information about other treatment options?

The study was sponsored by GW Research. Dr. Salter has conducted research for GW Pharmaceuticals companies. Dr. Safar has disclosed no relevant financial relationships.

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

Use of cannabis is common in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), especially for the treatment of MS-related spasticity, new research suggests. Findings from a survey conducted through a large registry in 2020 showed that 31% of patients with MS reported trying cannabis to treat their symptoms – and 20% reported regular use.

Spasticity was reported by 80% as the reason why they used cannabis, while pain was cited as the reason by 69% and sleep problems/insomnia was cited by 61%.

Investigators noted that the new data reflect the latest patterns of use amid sweeping changes in recreational and medical marijuana laws.

“Interest in the use of cannabis for managing MS symptoms continues to increase as more data become available and access becomes easier,” co-investigator Amber Salter, PhD, associate professor, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, told attendees at the 2021 Annual Meeting of the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC).
 

Administration routes vary

The survey was conducted through the longitudinal North American Research Committee on Multiple Sclerosis (NARCOMS) Registry, a voluntary, self-report registry for patients with MS. Of 6,934 registry participants invited to participate, 3,249 (47%) responded. The majority of responders were women (79%) and the mean age was 61 years. About 63% were being treated with disease-modifying therapies.

Overall, 31% of respondents reported having used cannabis to treat their MS symptoms. In addition, 20% reported regular current cannabis use, with an average use of 20 days in the past month. As many as 40% of the current users reported using cannabis daily.

“In general we saw some small differences in current users, who tended to include more males; have higher spasticity, pain, and sleep symptoms; and [were] more likely to be unemployed and younger,” Dr. Salter said.

The most common forms of cannabis administration were smoking (33%) and eating (20%). In addition, 12% reported vaporizing cannabis with a highly concentrated material, 11% administered cannabis sublingually, and 11% reported swallowing it.

Further, 8% reported vaporizing cannabis as a dried flower, 5% used it topically, and 1% reported drinking it.

Of note, the definition of “cannabis/marijuana” in the study excluded hemp cannabidiol (CBD) or products marketed as CBD only.
 

Consistent use

The most common reason for use by far was spasticity (80%). This was followed by for pain (69%) and sleep/insomnia problems (61%). Among users, 37% reported doing so to treat all three of those problems.

Regarding other symptoms, 36% used cannabis for anxiety, 24% for depression, 18% for overactive bladder, 17% for nausea or gastrointestinal problems, 16% for migraine or headaches, 14% for tremors, and 6% for other purposes.

The vast majority (95%) reported cannabis to be very or somewhat helpful for their symptoms.

Among the 69% of respondents who reported not using cannabis for their MS symptoms, the most commonly cited reasons were a lack of evidence on efficacy (40%) or safety (27%), concerns of legality (25%), lack of insurance coverage (22%), prohibitive cost (18%), and adverse side effects.

Surprisingly, the dramatic shift in the legalization of cannabis use in many states does not appear to be reflected in changes in cannabis use for MS, Dr. Salter said.

“We conducted an anonymous NARCOMS survey a couple of years prior to this survey, and our results are generally consistent. There’s been a small increase in the use and an acceptance or willingness to consider cannabis, but it’s relatively consistent,” she said.

“Despite the changes in access, the landscape hasn’t really changed very much in terms of evidence of the effects on MS symptoms, so that could be why,” Dr. Salter added.

Most patients appear to feel comfortable discussing their cannabis use with their physician, with 75% reporting doing so. However, the most common primary source of medical guidance for treating MS with cannabis was “nobody/self”; for 20%, the source for medical guidance was a dispensary professional.

As many as 62% of respondents reported obtaining their cannabis products from dispensaries, while other sources included family/friend (18%) or an acquaintance (13%). About 31% reported their most preferred type of cannabis to be equal parts THC and cannabidiol, while 30% preferred high THC/low cannabidiol (30%).
 

Mirrors clinical practice findings

Commenting on the study, Laura T. Safar, MD, vice chair of Psychiatry at Lahey Hospital and Medical Center and assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, Boston, said the findings generally fall in line with cannabis use among patients with MS in her practice.

“This is [consistent] with my general experience: A high percentage of my patients with MS are using cannabis with the goal of addressing their MS symptoms that way,” said Dr. Safar, who was not involved with the research.

One notable recent change in patients’ inquiries about cannabis is their apparent confidence in the information they’re getting, she noted. This is a sign of the ever-expanding sources of information – but from sources who may or may not have an understanding of effects in MS, she added.

“What seems new is a certain level of specificity in the information patients state – regardless of its accuracy. There is more technical information widely available about cannabis online and in the dispensaries,” said Dr. Safar.

“A lot of that information may not have been tested scientifically, but it is presented with an aura of truth,” she said.

While misconceptions about cannabis use in MS may not be new, “the conviction with which they are stated and believed seems stronger,” even though they have been validated by questionably expert sources, Dr. Safar noted.

She pointed out that psychiatric effects are among her patients’ notable concerns of cannabis use in MS.

“Cannabis use, especially daily use in moderate to large amounts, can have negative cognitive side effects,” she said. “In addition, it can have other psychiatric side effects: worsening of mood and anxiety, apathy, and anhedonia, a lack of pleasure or enjoyment, and a flattening of the emotional experience.”
 

Countering misinformation

Dr. Safar said she works to counter misinformation and provide more reliable, evidence-based recommendations.

“I educate my patients about what we know from scientific trials about the potential benefits, including possible help with pain, excluding central pain, and with spasticity,” she said. Dr. Safar added that she also discusses possible risks, such as worsening of cognition, mood, and anxiety.

On the basis of an individual’s presentation, and working in collaboration with their neurologist as appropriate, Dr. Safar said she discusses the following issues with the patient:

• Does cannabis make sense for the symptoms being presented?
• Has the patient received benefit so far?
• Are there side effects they may be experiencing?
• Would it be appropriate to lower the cannabis dose/frequency of its use?
• If a patient is using cannabis with an objective that is not backed up by the literature, such as depression, are they open to information about other treatment options?

The study was sponsored by GW Research. Dr. Salter has conducted research for GW Pharmaceuticals companies. Dr. Safar has disclosed no relevant financial relationships.

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

An updated consensus guideline on routine clinical use of magnetic resonance imaging in multiple sclerosis (MS) has been released collaboratively by three international expert groups.

The guideline represents a collaboration between the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers, the European-based Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Multiple Sclerosis, and North American Imaging in Multiple Sclerosis.

Among its recommendations for improving diagnosis and management of MS is the establishment of much-needed ways to boost protocol adherence. “The key part of these recommendations that we want to emphasize is how important it is for them to be used,” said David Li, MD, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, and cochair of the MRI guideline committee.

Dr. Li noted that there was a widespread lack of adherence among MRI centers to compliance with the 2018 CMSC guidelines in imaging for MS. This potentially compromised clinicians’ ability to identify lesions that allow for earlier and confident diagnoses and to monitor for disease changes that may necessitate the initiation or change of therapy, he said.

“The key to being able to know that brain changes have occurred in patients over time is to have scans that have been performed using standardized protocols – to be certain that the change is truly the result of a change in disease activity and progression and not erroneously due to differences resulting from different MRI scanning procedures,” he said to attendees at the 2021 Annual Meeting of the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC).

The guideline was also published this summer as a position paper in Lancet Neurology.

Key recommendations

The new guideline covers a broad range of imaging topics, with key areas of focus including the use of three-dimensional imaging, when and when not to use gadolinium contrast, and spinal cord imaging.

For example, a 3 Tesla magnet strength is preferred when imaging the brain with MRI because of its increased sensitivity for detecting lesions – but a minimum magnet strength of at least 1.5 T can also be used. For the spinal cord, there is no advantage of 3 T over 1.5 T, the guideline notes.

Other recommendations include:

• Core sequences for the brain should include sagittal and axial T2-weighted 3D fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR), along with axial T2-weighted and diffusion-weighted sequences.
• 3D acquisition, which is now available on most scanners, is preferable to 2D acquisitions.
• Use of the subcallosal plane for consistent and reproducible alignment of axial scans is again emphasized, as it allows for easier and more confident comparison of follow-up studies to detect changes over time.
• At least two of three sagittal sequences are recommended for spinal cord MRI.
• The judicious use of macrocyclic gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCA) is reemphasized because of its invaluable role in specific circumstances.
• However, for routine follow-up monitoring for subclinical disease activity, high-quality nonenhanced scans will allow for identification of new or enlarging T2 lesions without the need for GBCA.
• A new baseline brain MRI scan without gadolinium is recommended at least 3 months after treatment initiation, with annual follow-up scans without gadolinium.

For the diagnosis of MS, imaging of the entire spinal cord, as opposed to only the cervical segments, is recommended for the detection of lesions in the lower thoracic spinal segments and conus. However, 1.5-T scans are acceptable in that imaging, as 3-T scans provide no advantage. For routine follow-up monitoring, spinal cord MRI is optional.

“The current guidelines do not recommend routine follow-up spinal cord MRI, as it remains technically challenging and would disproportionately increase the scanning time, however experienced centers have the option to do so as a small number of asymptomatic spinal cord lesions do develop on follow-up,” the authors noted.

“However, follow up spinal cord MRI is recommended in special circumstances, including unexpected disease worsening and the possibility of a diagnosis other than multiple sclerosis,” they added.

Although the central vein sign has gained significant interest as a potential biomarker of inflammatory demyelination to help distinguish between MS and non-MS lesions, the 2021 protocol does not currently recommend imaging for the feature. However, those recommendations may change in future guidelines, the authors noted.

Low protocol adherence

The ongoing lack of adherence to guidelines that has resulted in frustrating inconsistencies in imaging was documented in no less than four studies presented at the meeting. They showed compliance with standard protocols to be strikingly poor.

Among the studies was one presented by Anthony Traboulsee, MD, professor and research chair of the MS Society of Canada, and from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. Findings showed that only about half of scans acquired in a real-world dataset satisfied 2018 CMSC Standardized Brain MRI recommendations.

“Of note was that all the scans that were compliant were acquired in 3D while none of the 2D-acquired sequences were adherent,” Dr. Li commented.

Another study assessed use of standardized MRI protocols in a pragmatic, multisite MS clinical trial, the Traditional vs. Early Aggressive Therapy in Multiple Sclerosis (TREAT-MS) trial. Results showed that, upon enrollment, only 10% of scans followed CMSC guidelines for all three structural contrasts.

In that study, when the images provided by Johns Hopkins University Medical School were excluded, that figure dropped to 2.75% of remaining scans that met the criteria.

“Despite the importance of standardization of high-quality MRIs for the monitoring of people with MS, adoption of recommended imaging remains low,” the investigators wrote.

Resistance to change?

Commenting on the research and new guideline, Blake E. Dewey, PhD student, department of electrical and computer engineering at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, speculated that the noncompliance is often simply a matter of resistance to change.

“There are a number of reasons that are given for the retention of older, noncompliant MRI scans at different institutions, such as timing and patient throughput; but in my mind the issue is institutional inertia,” he said.

“It is difficult in many instances to get the clinician [radiologist] and institutional buy-in to make these kinds of changes across the board,” Mr. Dewey noted.

“The most common protocol that we see acquired is a set of 2D, low-resolution images with gaps between slices. These are simply not sufficient given modern MRI technology and the needs of MS clinicians,” he added.

Importantly, Mr. Dewey noted that, through direct communication with imaging staff and practitioners in the trial, compliance increased substantially – nearly 20-fold, “indicating a real possibility for outreach, including to commonly used outpatient radiology facilities.”

The updated MAGNIMS-CMSC-NAIMS MRI protocol is beneficial in providing “simple, reasonable guidelines that can be easily acquired at almost any imaging location in the U.S., and much of the rest of the world,” he said.

“As imaging researchers, we often reach for more that is needed clinically to properly diagnose and monitor a patient’s disease,” Mr. Dewey added. “This updated protocol has ‘trimmed the fat’ and left some discretion to institutions, which should help with compliance.”

Mr. Dewey said he also encourages imaging professionals to consider performing the sequences described as “optional” as well.

“Some of these are useful in measuring potential biomarkers currently under extensive validation, such as brain volumetrics and the central vein sign, that may help patient populations that are currently underserved by more traditional imaging, such as progressive patients and patients that could be potentially misdiagnosed,” he said.

Spreading the word

In the meantime, as part of its own outreach efforts, the CMSC is providing laminated cards that detail in simplified tables the 2021 updated MRI protocol. This makes it easy for centers to access the information and patients to help improve awareness of the protocol.

“We are urging clinicians to provide the cards to their MS patients and have them present the cards to their imaging center,” Dr. Li said. “This effort could make such an important difference in helping to encourage more to follow the protocol.”

Clinicians and patients alike can download the MRI protocol card from the CMSC website.

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

An updated consensus guideline on routine clinical use of magnetic resonance imaging in multiple sclerosis (MS) has been released collaboratively by three international expert groups.

The guideline represents a collaboration between the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers, the European-based Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Multiple Sclerosis, and North American Imaging in Multiple Sclerosis.

Among its recommendations for improving diagnosis and management of MS is the establishment of much-needed ways to boost protocol adherence. “The key part of these recommendations that we want to emphasize is how important it is for them to be used,” said David Li, MD, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, and cochair of the MRI guideline committee.

Dr. Li noted that there was a widespread lack of adherence among MRI centers to compliance with the 2018 CMSC guidelines in imaging for MS. This potentially compromised clinicians’ ability to identify lesions that allow for earlier and confident diagnoses and to monitor for disease changes that may necessitate the initiation or change of therapy, he said.

“The key to being able to know that brain changes have occurred in patients over time is to have scans that have been performed using standardized protocols – to be certain that the change is truly the result of a change in disease activity and progression and not erroneously due to differences resulting from different MRI scanning procedures,” he said to attendees at the 2021 Annual Meeting of the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC).

The guideline was also published this summer as a position paper in Lancet Neurology.

Key recommendations

The new guideline covers a broad range of imaging topics, with key areas of focus including the use of three-dimensional imaging, when and when not to use gadolinium contrast, and spinal cord imaging.

For example, a 3 Tesla magnet strength is preferred when imaging the brain with MRI because of its increased sensitivity for detecting lesions – but a minimum magnet strength of at least 1.5 T can also be used. For the spinal cord, there is no advantage of 3 T over 1.5 T, the guideline notes.

Other recommendations include:

• Core sequences for the brain should include sagittal and axial T2-weighted 3D fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR), along with axial T2-weighted and diffusion-weighted sequences.
• 3D acquisition, which is now available on most scanners, is preferable to 2D acquisitions.
• Use of the subcallosal plane for consistent and reproducible alignment of axial scans is again emphasized, as it allows for easier and more confident comparison of follow-up studies to detect changes over time.
• At least two of three sagittal sequences are recommended for spinal cord MRI.
• The judicious use of macrocyclic gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCA) is reemphasized because of its invaluable role in specific circumstances.
• However, for routine follow-up monitoring for subclinical disease activity, high-quality nonenhanced scans will allow for identification of new or enlarging T2 lesions without the need for GBCA.
• A new baseline brain MRI scan without gadolinium is recommended at least 3 months after treatment initiation, with annual follow-up scans without gadolinium.

For the diagnosis of MS, imaging of the entire spinal cord, as opposed to only the cervical segments, is recommended for the detection of lesions in the lower thoracic spinal segments and conus. However, 1.5-T scans are acceptable in that imaging, as 3-T scans provide no advantage. For routine follow-up monitoring, spinal cord MRI is optional.

“The current guidelines do not recommend routine follow-up spinal cord MRI, as it remains technically challenging and would disproportionately increase the scanning time, however experienced centers have the option to do so as a small number of asymptomatic spinal cord lesions do develop on follow-up,” the authors noted.

“However, follow up spinal cord MRI is recommended in special circumstances, including unexpected disease worsening and the possibility of a diagnosis other than multiple sclerosis,” they added.

Although the central vein sign has gained significant interest as a potential biomarker of inflammatory demyelination to help distinguish between MS and non-MS lesions, the 2021 protocol does not currently recommend imaging for the feature. However, those recommendations may change in future guidelines, the authors noted.

Low protocol adherence

The ongoing lack of adherence to guidelines that has resulted in frustrating inconsistencies in imaging was documented in no less than four studies presented at the meeting. They showed compliance with standard protocols to be strikingly poor.

Among the studies was one presented by Anthony Traboulsee, MD, professor and research chair of the MS Society of Canada, and from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. Findings showed that only about half of scans acquired in a real-world dataset satisfied 2018 CMSC Standardized Brain MRI recommendations.

“Of note was that all the scans that were compliant were acquired in 3D while none of the 2D-acquired sequences were adherent,” Dr. Li commented.

Another study assessed use of standardized MRI protocols in a pragmatic, multisite MS clinical trial, the Traditional vs. Early Aggressive Therapy in Multiple Sclerosis (TREAT-MS) trial. Results showed that, upon enrollment, only 10% of scans followed CMSC guidelines for all three structural contrasts.

In that study, when the images provided by Johns Hopkins University Medical School were excluded, that figure dropped to 2.75% of remaining scans that met the criteria.

“Despite the importance of standardization of high-quality MRIs for the monitoring of people with MS, adoption of recommended imaging remains low,” the investigators wrote.

Resistance to change?

Commenting on the research and new guideline, Blake E. Dewey, PhD student, department of electrical and computer engineering at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, speculated that the noncompliance is often simply a matter of resistance to change.

“There are a number of reasons that are given for the retention of older, noncompliant MRI scans at different institutions, such as timing and patient throughput; but in my mind the issue is institutional inertia,” he said.

“It is difficult in many instances to get the clinician [radiologist] and institutional buy-in to make these kinds of changes across the board,” Mr. Dewey noted.

“The most common protocol that we see acquired is a set of 2D, low-resolution images with gaps between slices. These are simply not sufficient given modern MRI technology and the needs of MS clinicians,” he added.

Importantly, Mr. Dewey noted that, through direct communication with imaging staff and practitioners in the trial, compliance increased substantially – nearly 20-fold, “indicating a real possibility for outreach, including to commonly used outpatient radiology facilities.”

The updated MAGNIMS-CMSC-NAIMS MRI protocol is beneficial in providing “simple, reasonable guidelines that can be easily acquired at almost any imaging location in the U.S., and much of the rest of the world,” he said.

“As imaging researchers, we often reach for more that is needed clinically to properly diagnose and monitor a patient’s disease,” Mr. Dewey added. “This updated protocol has ‘trimmed the fat’ and left some discretion to institutions, which should help with compliance.”

Mr. Dewey said he also encourages imaging professionals to consider performing the sequences described as “optional” as well.

“Some of these are useful in measuring potential biomarkers currently under extensive validation, such as brain volumetrics and the central vein sign, that may help patient populations that are currently underserved by more traditional imaging, such as progressive patients and patients that could be potentially misdiagnosed,” he said.

Spreading the word

In the meantime, as part of its own outreach efforts, the CMSC is providing laminated cards that detail in simplified tables the 2021 updated MRI protocol. This makes it easy for centers to access the information and patients to help improve awareness of the protocol.

“We are urging clinicians to provide the cards to their MS patients and have them present the cards to their imaging center,” Dr. Li said. “This effort could make such an important difference in helping to encourage more to follow the protocol.”

Clinicians and patients alike can download the MRI protocol card from the CMSC website.

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

An updated consensus guideline on routine clinical use of magnetic resonance imaging in multiple sclerosis (MS) has been released collaboratively by three international expert groups.

The guideline represents a collaboration between the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers, the European-based Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Multiple Sclerosis, and North American Imaging in Multiple Sclerosis.

Among its recommendations for improving diagnosis and management of MS is the establishment of much-needed ways to boost protocol adherence. “The key part of these recommendations that we want to emphasize is how important it is for them to be used,” said David Li, MD, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, and cochair of the MRI guideline committee.

Dr. Li noted that there was a widespread lack of adherence among MRI centers to compliance with the 2018 CMSC guidelines in imaging for MS. This potentially compromised clinicians’ ability to identify lesions that allow for earlier and confident diagnoses and to monitor for disease changes that may necessitate the initiation or change of therapy, he said.

“The key to being able to know that brain changes have occurred in patients over time is to have scans that have been performed using standardized protocols – to be certain that the change is truly the result of a change in disease activity and progression and not erroneously due to differences resulting from different MRI scanning procedures,” he said to attendees at the 2021 Annual Meeting of the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC).

The guideline was also published this summer as a position paper in Lancet Neurology.

Key recommendations

The new guideline covers a broad range of imaging topics, with key areas of focus including the use of three-dimensional imaging, when and when not to use gadolinium contrast, and spinal cord imaging.

For example, a 3 Tesla magnet strength is preferred when imaging the brain with MRI because of its increased sensitivity for detecting lesions – but a minimum magnet strength of at least 1.5 T can also be used. For the spinal cord, there is no advantage of 3 T over 1.5 T, the guideline notes.

Other recommendations include:

• Core sequences for the brain should include sagittal and axial T2-weighted 3D fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR), along with axial T2-weighted and diffusion-weighted sequences.
• 3D acquisition, which is now available on most scanners, is preferable to 2D acquisitions.
• Use of the subcallosal plane for consistent and reproducible alignment of axial scans is again emphasized, as it allows for easier and more confident comparison of follow-up studies to detect changes over time.
• At least two of three sagittal sequences are recommended for spinal cord MRI.
• The judicious use of macrocyclic gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCA) is reemphasized because of its invaluable role in specific circumstances.
• However, for routine follow-up monitoring for subclinical disease activity, high-quality nonenhanced scans will allow for identification of new or enlarging T2 lesions without the need for GBCA.
• A new baseline brain MRI scan without gadolinium is recommended at least 3 months after treatment initiation, with annual follow-up scans without gadolinium.

For the diagnosis of MS, imaging of the entire spinal cord, as opposed to only the cervical segments, is recommended for the detection of lesions in the lower thoracic spinal segments and conus. However, 1.5-T scans are acceptable in that imaging, as 3-T scans provide no advantage. For routine follow-up monitoring, spinal cord MRI is optional.

“The current guidelines do not recommend routine follow-up spinal cord MRI, as it remains technically challenging and would disproportionately increase the scanning time, however experienced centers have the option to do so as a small number of asymptomatic spinal cord lesions do develop on follow-up,” the authors noted.

“However, follow up spinal cord MRI is recommended in special circumstances, including unexpected disease worsening and the possibility of a diagnosis other than multiple sclerosis,” they added.

Although the central vein sign has gained significant interest as a potential biomarker of inflammatory demyelination to help distinguish between MS and non-MS lesions, the 2021 protocol does not currently recommend imaging for the feature. However, those recommendations may change in future guidelines, the authors noted.

Low protocol adherence

The ongoing lack of adherence to guidelines that has resulted in frustrating inconsistencies in imaging was documented in no less than four studies presented at the meeting. They showed compliance with standard protocols to be strikingly poor.

Among the studies was one presented by Anthony Traboulsee, MD, professor and research chair of the MS Society of Canada, and from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. Findings showed that only about half of scans acquired in a real-world dataset satisfied 2018 CMSC Standardized Brain MRI recommendations.

“Of note was that all the scans that were compliant were acquired in 3D while none of the 2D-acquired sequences were adherent,” Dr. Li commented.

Another study assessed use of standardized MRI protocols in a pragmatic, multisite MS clinical trial, the Traditional vs. Early Aggressive Therapy in Multiple Sclerosis (TREAT-MS) trial. Results showed that, upon enrollment, only 10% of scans followed CMSC guidelines for all three structural contrasts.

In that study, when the images provided by Johns Hopkins University Medical School were excluded, that figure dropped to 2.75% of remaining scans that met the criteria.

“Despite the importance of standardization of high-quality MRIs for the monitoring of people with MS, adoption of recommended imaging remains low,” the investigators wrote.

Resistance to change?

Commenting on the research and new guideline, Blake E. Dewey, PhD student, department of electrical and computer engineering at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, speculated that the noncompliance is often simply a matter of resistance to change.

“There are a number of reasons that are given for the retention of older, noncompliant MRI scans at different institutions, such as timing and patient throughput; but in my mind the issue is institutional inertia,” he said.

“It is difficult in many instances to get the clinician [radiologist] and institutional buy-in to make these kinds of changes across the board,” Mr. Dewey noted.

“The most common protocol that we see acquired is a set of 2D, low-resolution images with gaps between slices. These are simply not sufficient given modern MRI technology and the needs of MS clinicians,” he added.

Importantly, Mr. Dewey noted that, through direct communication with imaging staff and practitioners in the trial, compliance increased substantially – nearly 20-fold, “indicating a real possibility for outreach, including to commonly used outpatient radiology facilities.”

The updated MAGNIMS-CMSC-NAIMS MRI protocol is beneficial in providing “simple, reasonable guidelines that can be easily acquired at almost any imaging location in the U.S., and much of the rest of the world,” he said.

“As imaging researchers, we often reach for more that is needed clinically to properly diagnose and monitor a patient’s disease,” Mr. Dewey added. “This updated protocol has ‘trimmed the fat’ and left some discretion to institutions, which should help with compliance.”

Mr. Dewey said he also encourages imaging professionals to consider performing the sequences described as “optional” as well.

“Some of these are useful in measuring potential biomarkers currently under extensive validation, such as brain volumetrics and the central vein sign, that may help patient populations that are currently underserved by more traditional imaging, such as progressive patients and patients that could be potentially misdiagnosed,” he said.

Spreading the word

In the meantime, as part of its own outreach efforts, the CMSC is providing laminated cards that detail in simplified tables the 2021 updated MRI protocol. This makes it easy for centers to access the information and patients to help improve awareness of the protocol.

“We are urging clinicians to provide the cards to their MS patients and have them present the cards to their imaging center,” Dr. Li said. “This effort could make such an important difference in helping to encourage more to follow the protocol.”

Clinicians and patients alike can download the MRI protocol card from the CMSC website.

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

Women who take a wide variety of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) for multiple sclerosis (MS) – not just those on a few types – may be especially susceptible to hair loss via alopecia, a new study finds.

From 2009 to 2019, the Food and Drug Administration received 7,978 reports of new-onset alopecia in patients taking DMTs, particularly teriflunomide (3,255, 40.8%; 90% female), dimethyl fumarate (1,641, 20.6%; 89% female), natalizumab (955, 12.0%; 92% female), and fingolimod (776, 9.7% of the total reports; 93% female), several researchers reported at the 2021 Annual Meeting of the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC). Of these, only teriflunomide had previously been linked to alopecia, study coauthor Ahmed Obeidat, MD, PhD, a neurologist at the Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, said in an interview.

“Our finding of frequent reports of alopecia on DMTs studied calls for further investigation into the subject,” Dr. Obeidat said. “Alopecia can cause deep personal impacts and can be a source of significant psychological concern for some patients.”

According to Dr. Obeidat, alopecia has been linked to the only a few DMTs – cladribine and the interferons – in addition to teriflunomide. “To our surprise, we received anecdotal reports of hair thinning from several of our MS patients treated with various other [DMTs]. Upon further investigation, we could not find substantial literature to explain this phenomenon which led us to conduct our investigation.”

Dr. Obeidat and colleagues identified DMT-related alopecia cases (18.3%) among 43,655 reports in the skin and subcutaneous tissue disorder category in the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System. Other DMTs with more than 1 case report were interferon beta-1a (635, 8.0%; 92% female), glatiramer acetate (332, 4.2%; 87% female), ocrelizumab (142, 1.8%; 94% female), interferon beta-1b (126, 1.6%; 95% female), alemtuzumab (86, 1.1%; 88% female), cladribine (17, 0.2%; 65% female), and rituximab (10, 0.1%; 90% female).

The average age for the case reports varied from 42 to 51 years for most of the drugs except alemtuzumab (mean age, 40 years) and cladribine (average age, 38 years), which had low numbers of cases.

Siponimod (three cases) and ozanimod (no cases) were not included in the age and gender analyses.

Why do so many women seem to be affected, well beyond their percentage of MS cases overall? The answer is unclear, said medical student Mokshal H. Porwal, the study’s lead author. “There could be a biological explanation,” Mr. Porwal said, “or women may report cases more often: “Earlier studies suggested that alopecia may affect women more adversely in terms of body image as well as overall psychological well-being, compared to males.”

The researchers also noted that patients – not medical professionals – provided most of the case reports in the FDA database. “We believe this indicates that alopecia is a patient-centered concern that may have a larger impact on their lives than what the health care teams may perceive,” Mr. Porwal said. “Oftentimes, we as health care providers, look for the more acute and apparent adverse events, which can overshadow issues such as hair thinning/alopecia that could have even greater psychological impacts on our patients.”

Dr. Obeidat said there are still multiple mysteries about DMT and alopecia risk: the true incidence of cases per DMT or DMT class, the mechanism(s) behind a link, the permanent or transient nature of the alopecia cases, and the risk factors in individual patients.

Going forward, he said, “we advise clinicians to discuss hair thinning or alopecia as a possible side effect that has been reported in association with all DMTs in the real-world, postmarketing era.”

No study funding was reported. Dr. Obeidat reported various disclosures; the other authors reported no disclosures.

Women who take a wide variety of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) for multiple sclerosis (MS) – not just those on a few types – may be especially susceptible to hair loss via alopecia, a new study finds.

From 2009 to 2019, the Food and Drug Administration received 7,978 reports of new-onset alopecia in patients taking DMTs, particularly teriflunomide (3,255, 40.8%; 90% female), dimethyl fumarate (1,641, 20.6%; 89% female), natalizumab (955, 12.0%; 92% female), and fingolimod (776, 9.7% of the total reports; 93% female), several researchers reported at the 2021 Annual Meeting of the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC). Of these, only teriflunomide had previously been linked to alopecia, study coauthor Ahmed Obeidat, MD, PhD, a neurologist at the Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, said in an interview.

“Our finding of frequent reports of alopecia on DMTs studied calls for further investigation into the subject,” Dr. Obeidat said. “Alopecia can cause deep personal impacts and can be a source of significant psychological concern for some patients.”

According to Dr. Obeidat, alopecia has been linked to the only a few DMTs – cladribine and the interferons – in addition to teriflunomide. “To our surprise, we received anecdotal reports of hair thinning from several of our MS patients treated with various other [DMTs]. Upon further investigation, we could not find substantial literature to explain this phenomenon which led us to conduct our investigation.”

Dr. Obeidat and colleagues identified DMT-related alopecia cases (18.3%) among 43,655 reports in the skin and subcutaneous tissue disorder category in the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System. Other DMTs with more than 1 case report were interferon beta-1a (635, 8.0%; 92% female), glatiramer acetate (332, 4.2%; 87% female), ocrelizumab (142, 1.8%; 94% female), interferon beta-1b (126, 1.6%; 95% female), alemtuzumab (86, 1.1%; 88% female), cladribine (17, 0.2%; 65% female), and rituximab (10, 0.1%; 90% female).

The average age for the case reports varied from 42 to 51 years for most of the drugs except alemtuzumab (mean age, 40 years) and cladribine (average age, 38 years), which had low numbers of cases.

Siponimod (three cases) and ozanimod (no cases) were not included in the age and gender analyses.

Why do so many women seem to be affected, well beyond their percentage of MS cases overall? The answer is unclear, said medical student Mokshal H. Porwal, the study’s lead author. “There could be a biological explanation,” Mr. Porwal said, “or women may report cases more often: “Earlier studies suggested that alopecia may affect women more adversely in terms of body image as well as overall psychological well-being, compared to males.”

The researchers also noted that patients – not medical professionals – provided most of the case reports in the FDA database. “We believe this indicates that alopecia is a patient-centered concern that may have a larger impact on their lives than what the health care teams may perceive,” Mr. Porwal said. “Oftentimes, we as health care providers, look for the more acute and apparent adverse events, which can overshadow issues such as hair thinning/alopecia that could have even greater psychological impacts on our patients.”

Dr. Obeidat said there are still multiple mysteries about DMT and alopecia risk: the true incidence of cases per DMT or DMT class, the mechanism(s) behind a link, the permanent or transient nature of the alopecia cases, and the risk factors in individual patients.

Going forward, he said, “we advise clinicians to discuss hair thinning or alopecia as a possible side effect that has been reported in association with all DMTs in the real-world, postmarketing era.”

No study funding was reported. Dr. Obeidat reported various disclosures; the other authors reported no disclosures.

Women who take a wide variety of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) for multiple sclerosis (MS) – not just those on a few types – may be especially susceptible to hair loss via alopecia, a new study finds.

From 2009 to 2019, the Food and Drug Administration received 7,978 reports of new-onset alopecia in patients taking DMTs, particularly teriflunomide (3,255, 40.8%; 90% female), dimethyl fumarate (1,641, 20.6%; 89% female), natalizumab (955, 12.0%; 92% female), and fingolimod (776, 9.7% of the total reports; 93% female), several researchers reported at the 2021 Annual Meeting of the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC). Of these, only teriflunomide had previously been linked to alopecia, study coauthor Ahmed Obeidat, MD, PhD, a neurologist at the Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, said in an interview.

“Our finding of frequent reports of alopecia on DMTs studied calls for further investigation into the subject,” Dr. Obeidat said. “Alopecia can cause deep personal impacts and can be a source of significant psychological concern for some patients.”

According to Dr. Obeidat, alopecia has been linked to the only a few DMTs – cladribine and the interferons – in addition to teriflunomide. “To our surprise, we received anecdotal reports of hair thinning from several of our MS patients treated with various other [DMTs]. Upon further investigation, we could not find substantial literature to explain this phenomenon which led us to conduct our investigation.”

Dr. Obeidat and colleagues identified DMT-related alopecia cases (18.3%) among 43,655 reports in the skin and subcutaneous tissue disorder category in the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System. Other DMTs with more than 1 case report were interferon beta-1a (635, 8.0%; 92% female), glatiramer acetate (332, 4.2%; 87% female), ocrelizumab (142, 1.8%; 94% female), interferon beta-1b (126, 1.6%; 95% female), alemtuzumab (86, 1.1%; 88% female), cladribine (17, 0.2%; 65% female), and rituximab (10, 0.1%; 90% female).

The average age for the case reports varied from 42 to 51 years for most of the drugs except alemtuzumab (mean age, 40 years) and cladribine (average age, 38 years), which had low numbers of cases.

Siponimod (three cases) and ozanimod (no cases) were not included in the age and gender analyses.

Why do so many women seem to be affected, well beyond their percentage of MS cases overall? The answer is unclear, said medical student Mokshal H. Porwal, the study’s lead author. “There could be a biological explanation,” Mr. Porwal said, “or women may report cases more often: “Earlier studies suggested that alopecia may affect women more adversely in terms of body image as well as overall psychological well-being, compared to males.”

The researchers also noted that patients – not medical professionals – provided most of the case reports in the FDA database. “We believe this indicates that alopecia is a patient-centered concern that may have a larger impact on their lives than what the health care teams may perceive,” Mr. Porwal said. “Oftentimes, we as health care providers, look for the more acute and apparent adverse events, which can overshadow issues such as hair thinning/alopecia that could have even greater psychological impacts on our patients.”

Dr. Obeidat said there are still multiple mysteries about DMT and alopecia risk: the true incidence of cases per DMT or DMT class, the mechanism(s) behind a link, the permanent or transient nature of the alopecia cases, and the risk factors in individual patients.

Going forward, he said, “we advise clinicians to discuss hair thinning or alopecia as a possible side effect that has been reported in association with all DMTs in the real-world, postmarketing era.”

No study funding was reported. Dr. Obeidat reported various disclosures; the other authors reported no disclosures.

Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) may be more likely to develop psoriasis if they take certain B cell-depleting therapies, a new study finds. However, overall rates of reported disease are very low, and there’s no confirmation of a connection.

“People with MS and comorbid psoriasis – or those at a known high-risk for developing psoriasis – may benefit from a careful consideration of disease-modifying therapy (DMT), specifically when B cell-depleting therapies are considered,” study coauthor and Medical College of Wisconsin neurologist Ahmed Obeidat, MD, PhD, said in an interview. The findings were presented at the 2021 Annual Meeting of the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC).

Dr. Obeidat and colleagues launched the study after noticing cases of psoriasis that developed months to years after patients started taking ocrelizumab, a B cell-depleting therapy. “We referred to the published literature and only found very scant reports of MS, psoriasis, and B cell-depleting therapy use,” he said. “Thus we decided to pursue an investigation of a large [Food and Drug Administration] database to examine for possible out-of-proportion reports for psoriasis in patients with MS who were receiving B cell-depleting therapy.”

The researchers tracked case reports of psoriasis in patients with MS on DMTs from 2009 to 2020 via the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System. They found 517 psoriasis reports among 45,547 reports of skin/cutaneous conditions. The reports were linked to interferon beta 1a (136 reports, 26% of total), natalizumab (107, 21%), fingolimod (75, 15%), dimethyl fumarate (64, 12%), ocrelizumab (49, 10%), teriflunomide (28, 5%), interferon beta 1b (22, 4%), glatiramer acetate (12, 2%), rituximab (10, 2%), and alemtuzumab (9, 2%).

The total numbers of cases is low, but this may reflect underreporting due to the assumption that “autoimmunity begets autoimmunity” and therefore cases of psoriasis in MS are not alarming, medical student Mokshal H. Porwal, the study lead author, said in an interview.

The average age of patients – 48-51 – was similar for all of the drugs except alemtuzumab (mean age 41), which had a very small number of cases. The percentage of cases in females was 71%-77% for most of the drugs, with a few exceptions: rituximab (60%), ocrelizumab (63%), and alemtuzumab (33%).

Other drugs – cladribine, siponimod, and ozanimod – had 1, 1, and 0 reports, respectively, and were not included in the age and gender analyses.

The researchers also found that psoriasis made up about 65% of all skin/cutaneous adverse reports for rituximab, the highest number among DMTs. By comparison, that number was about 30% for ocrelizumab and under 1% for dimethyl fumarate and alemtuzumab.

Links between psoriasis and MS are murky, Dr. Obeidat said. “Some studies consider the presence of psoriasis as a possible indicator of increased future risk for MS, but there’s no clear association between the two conditions,” he said.

As for DMTs, “a few case reports of psoriasis in association with interferon-beta and rare case reports in association with ocrelizumab therapy have been published. However, the possible association between certain DMTs and psoriasis remains unclear,” he said.

Going forward, “we advise that patients with psoriasis on B cell-depleting agents are monitored more closely,” Dr. Obeidat said. “If the psoriasis worsens, it may be beneficial to think about potential alternative therapies.”

No study funding is reported. Dr. Obeidat reports various disclosures; the other authors report no disclosures.

Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) may be more likely to develop psoriasis if they take certain B cell-depleting therapies, a new study finds. However, overall rates of reported disease are very low, and there’s no confirmation of a connection.

“People with MS and comorbid psoriasis – or those at a known high-risk for developing psoriasis – may benefit from a careful consideration of disease-modifying therapy (DMT), specifically when B cell-depleting therapies are considered,” study coauthor and Medical College of Wisconsin neurologist Ahmed Obeidat, MD, PhD, said in an interview. The findings were presented at the 2021 Annual Meeting of the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC).

Dr. Obeidat and colleagues launched the study after noticing cases of psoriasis that developed months to years after patients started taking ocrelizumab, a B cell-depleting therapy. “We referred to the published literature and only found very scant reports of MS, psoriasis, and B cell-depleting therapy use,” he said. “Thus we decided to pursue an investigation of a large [Food and Drug Administration] database to examine for possible out-of-proportion reports for psoriasis in patients with MS who were receiving B cell-depleting therapy.”

The researchers tracked case reports of psoriasis in patients with MS on DMTs from 2009 to 2020 via the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System. They found 517 psoriasis reports among 45,547 reports of skin/cutaneous conditions. The reports were linked to interferon beta 1a (136 reports, 26% of total), natalizumab (107, 21%), fingolimod (75, 15%), dimethyl fumarate (64, 12%), ocrelizumab (49, 10%), teriflunomide (28, 5%), interferon beta 1b (22, 4%), glatiramer acetate (12, 2%), rituximab (10, 2%), and alemtuzumab (9, 2%).

The total numbers of cases is low, but this may reflect underreporting due to the assumption that “autoimmunity begets autoimmunity” and therefore cases of psoriasis in MS are not alarming, medical student Mokshal H. Porwal, the study lead author, said in an interview.

The average age of patients – 48-51 – was similar for all of the drugs except alemtuzumab (mean age 41), which had a very small number of cases. The percentage of cases in females was 71%-77% for most of the drugs, with a few exceptions: rituximab (60%), ocrelizumab (63%), and alemtuzumab (33%).

Other drugs – cladribine, siponimod, and ozanimod – had 1, 1, and 0 reports, respectively, and were not included in the age and gender analyses.

The researchers also found that psoriasis made up about 65% of all skin/cutaneous adverse reports for rituximab, the highest number among DMTs. By comparison, that number was about 30% for ocrelizumab and under 1% for dimethyl fumarate and alemtuzumab.

Links between psoriasis and MS are murky, Dr. Obeidat said. “Some studies consider the presence of psoriasis as a possible indicator of increased future risk for MS, but there’s no clear association between the two conditions,” he said.

As for DMTs, “a few case reports of psoriasis in association with interferon-beta and rare case reports in association with ocrelizumab therapy have been published. However, the possible association between certain DMTs and psoriasis remains unclear,” he said.

Going forward, “we advise that patients with psoriasis on B cell-depleting agents are monitored more closely,” Dr. Obeidat said. “If the psoriasis worsens, it may be beneficial to think about potential alternative therapies.”

No study funding is reported. Dr. Obeidat reports various disclosures; the other authors report no disclosures.

Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) may be more likely to develop psoriasis if they take certain B cell-depleting therapies, a new study finds. However, overall rates of reported disease are very low, and there’s no confirmation of a connection.

“People with MS and comorbid psoriasis – or those at a known high-risk for developing psoriasis – may benefit from a careful consideration of disease-modifying therapy (DMT), specifically when B cell-depleting therapies are considered,” study coauthor and Medical College of Wisconsin neurologist Ahmed Obeidat, MD, PhD, said in an interview. The findings were presented at the 2021 Annual Meeting of the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC).

Dr. Obeidat and colleagues launched the study after noticing cases of psoriasis that developed months to years after patients started taking ocrelizumab, a B cell-depleting therapy. “We referred to the published literature and only found very scant reports of MS, psoriasis, and B cell-depleting therapy use,” he said. “Thus we decided to pursue an investigation of a large [Food and Drug Administration] database to examine for possible out-of-proportion reports for psoriasis in patients with MS who were receiving B cell-depleting therapy.”

The researchers tracked case reports of psoriasis in patients with MS on DMTs from 2009 to 2020 via the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System. They found 517 psoriasis reports among 45,547 reports of skin/cutaneous conditions. The reports were linked to interferon beta 1a (136 reports, 26% of total), natalizumab (107, 21%), fingolimod (75, 15%), dimethyl fumarate (64, 12%), ocrelizumab (49, 10%), teriflunomide (28, 5%), interferon beta 1b (22, 4%), glatiramer acetate (12, 2%), rituximab (10, 2%), and alemtuzumab (9, 2%).

The total numbers of cases is low, but this may reflect underreporting due to the assumption that “autoimmunity begets autoimmunity” and therefore cases of psoriasis in MS are not alarming, medical student Mokshal H. Porwal, the study lead author, said in an interview.

The average age of patients – 48-51 – was similar for all of the drugs except alemtuzumab (mean age 41), which had a very small number of cases. The percentage of cases in females was 71%-77% for most of the drugs, with a few exceptions: rituximab (60%), ocrelizumab (63%), and alemtuzumab (33%).

Other drugs – cladribine, siponimod, and ozanimod – had 1, 1, and 0 reports, respectively, and were not included in the age and gender analyses.

The researchers also found that psoriasis made up about 65% of all skin/cutaneous adverse reports for rituximab, the highest number among DMTs. By comparison, that number was about 30% for ocrelizumab and under 1% for dimethyl fumarate and alemtuzumab.

Links between psoriasis and MS are murky, Dr. Obeidat said. “Some studies consider the presence of psoriasis as a possible indicator of increased future risk for MS, but there’s no clear association between the two conditions,” he said.

As for DMTs, “a few case reports of psoriasis in association with interferon-beta and rare case reports in association with ocrelizumab therapy have been published. However, the possible association between certain DMTs and psoriasis remains unclear,” he said.

Going forward, “we advise that patients with psoriasis on B cell-depleting agents are monitored more closely,” Dr. Obeidat said. “If the psoriasis worsens, it may be beneficial to think about potential alternative therapies.”

No study funding is reported. Dr. Obeidat reports various disclosures; the other authors report no disclosures.

A Paleolithic elimination diet (Wahls diet) or a low-saturated fat diet (Swank diet) are associated with improved cognition, among other clinical outcomes, in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), new research suggests.

In a randomized study of patients with RRMS, the group that followed a Wahls diet and the group that followed a Swank diet both showed significant, unique improvement in measures of cognitive dysfunction, fatigue, and quality of life.

“Several dietary intervention studies have demonstrated favorable results on MS-related fatigue and quality of life. However, these results are among the first to show favorable reductions in cognitive dysfunction,” said co-investigator Tyler Titcomb, PhD, department of internal medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City.

The results were presented at the 2021 Annual Meeting of the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC).
 

Similar diets

The CMSC findings came from a secondary analysis of a randomized trial published online in July in the Multiple Sclerosis Journal Experimental, Translational, and Clinical (MSJ-ETC).

The primary analysis of the single-blind, parallel group, randomized trial showed the Wahls and Swank diets were linked to significant improvement in outcomes on the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS), and other measures among participants with RRMS. There were no significant differences between the two dietary regimens.

The Swank diet restricts saturated fat to a maximum of 15 g per day while providing 20 g to 50 g (4 to 10 teaspoons) of unsaturated fat per day, with four servings each of whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.

The Wahls diet recommends six to nine servings of fruits and vegetables per day, in addition to 6 to 12 ounces of meat per day, according to gender. Grains, legumes, eggs, and dairy, with the exception of clarified butter or ghee, are not permitted on this diet. Both diets eschew processed foods.

To further evaluate the diets’ effects on perceived fatigue and cognitive dysfunction, the researchers returned to the trial, which enrolled 95 adults with stable RRMS at the University of Iowa Prevention Intervention Center between August 2016 and May 2019.

After a 12-week run-in period with support and education from registered dietitians, participants were randomly assigned to either the Swank or Wahls diets in a 24-week intervention that did not include dietitian support.

Inclusion criteria included having moderate to severe fatigue, as shown by an FSS score of at least 4.0, while not having severe mental impairment, an eating disorder, or liver or kidney disease. There were no significant differences in baseline demographic or clinical characteristics between the groups.

Of the patients, 77 completed the 12-week run-in (38 in the Swank diet group and 39 in the Wahls group). A total of 72 participants completed the 24-week follow-up (37 and 35, respectively).
 

Reduction in fatigue, cognitive dysfunction

After the researchers controlled for smoking, alcohol consumption, age, sex, baseline distance 6-minute walk test, body mass index, serum vitamin D, and years with MS, results at 12 and 24 weeks showed significant improvements from baseline in the key outcomes of fatigue and cognitive function, as measured by the Fatigue Scale for Motor and Cognitive Function (FSMC).

Scores were −5.7 and −9.0, respectively, for the Swank diet group and −9.3 and −14.9 for the Wahls group (P ≤ .001 for all comparisons).

In addition, there was a significant reduction in both groups on the total Perceived Deficits Questionnaire (PDQ) at 12 and 24 weeks (Swank, −7.4 and −6.3, respectively; Wahls, −6.8 and −10.8; P ≤ .001 for all).

There were similar improvements for both diets in an analysis of the mental and physical scores on FSMC and on the subscales on PDQ of attention, retrospective memory, prospective memory, and planning.

As observed in the primary analysis, there were no significant differences between the two groups in absolute mean scores on FSMC, PDQ, or their subscales at any timepoint.

“Both diets led to significant reductions in fatigue and cognitive dysfunction,” Dr. Titcomb said.

Of note, the primary analysis further showed statistically and clinically significant increases in the 6-minute walk test at 24-weeks of 6% in the Wahls group (P = .007). After removal of nonadherent participants, the improvement was still significant at 24 weeks in the Wahls group (P = .02), as well as in the Swank group (P = .001).

Dr. Titcomb noted that the majority of study participants were taking disease-modifying therapies (DMTs). However, there were no interactions between any specific DMTs and dietary benefits.
 

Potential mechanisms

Although the similar outcomes between the diets point to a common mechanism, there are also various other possibilities, said Dr. Titcomb. These include modulation of the microbiome, inflammation, immune system, or micronutrient optimization, he said.

Previous research has shown reduced mass and diversity in the gut microbiota among patients with MS compared with those without MS, potentially promoting inflammation. Other research has shown improvements in those factors with dietary modification.

While there is no evidence of gut microbiota changes with the Wahls and Swank diets, each is rich in fiber and plant-derived phytochemicals, which are known to be associated with improvements in gut microbiota and neuroinflammation, the investigators noted.

Dr. Titcomb reported that research into the diets is continuing as they evaluate longer-term and other effects. “This trial was a short-term parallel arm trial that did not include MRI or a control group,” he said, adding that the investigators will soon start recruiting for a follow-up study that will include a control group, long-term follow-up, and MRIs.

That upcoming study “has the potential to answer several of the unknown questions regarding the effect of diet on MS,” Dr. Titcomb said.
 

Notable research with limitations

Commenting on the study, Rebecca Spain, MD, MSPH, associate professor of neurology at the Oregon Health & Science University, and associate director of clinical care at VA MS Center of Excellence West in Portland, said there were several notable findings.

This includes that most people with MS “were able to adhere to the protocols for significant lengths of time, even without the support of dietitians for the final 12 weeks of the study,” said Spain, who was not involved with the research.

A significant limitation was the lack of a control group. Without that, “it’s hard to know for sure if the improvements in fatigue and cognition were from the diets or were simply from the social support of participating in a research study,” she said

Nevertheless, trials reporting on dietary effects in MS such as the current study are important, Dr. Spain noted. They demonstrate “that it is feasible and safe to conduct dietary studies and suggest which key MS symptoms may benefit and should be evaluated in future studies.”

“Critically, diet studies address one of the most frequent concerns of people with MS, promoting self-management and empowerment,” Dr. Spain concluded.

General guidelines for common dietary elements with evidence of improving fatigue, cognition, and mood are available on the National MS Society’s website.

The study received no outside funding. Dr. Titcomb and Dr. Spain have disclosed no relevant financial relationships. Terry L. Wahls, MD, who developed the Wahls diet, was a senior author of the study.

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

A Paleolithic elimination diet (Wahls diet) or a low-saturated fat diet (Swank diet) are associated with improved cognition, among other clinical outcomes, in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), new research suggests.

In a randomized study of patients with RRMS, the group that followed a Wahls diet and the group that followed a Swank diet both showed significant, unique improvement in measures of cognitive dysfunction, fatigue, and quality of life.

“Several dietary intervention studies have demonstrated favorable results on MS-related fatigue and quality of life. However, these results are among the first to show favorable reductions in cognitive dysfunction,” said co-investigator Tyler Titcomb, PhD, department of internal medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City.

The results were presented at the 2021 Annual Meeting of the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC).
 

Similar diets

The CMSC findings came from a secondary analysis of a randomized trial published online in July in the Multiple Sclerosis Journal Experimental, Translational, and Clinical (MSJ-ETC).

The primary analysis of the single-blind, parallel group, randomized trial showed the Wahls and Swank diets were linked to significant improvement in outcomes on the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS), and other measures among participants with RRMS. There were no significant differences between the two dietary regimens.

The Swank diet restricts saturated fat to a maximum of 15 g per day while providing 20 g to 50 g (4 to 10 teaspoons) of unsaturated fat per day, with four servings each of whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.

The Wahls diet recommends six to nine servings of fruits and vegetables per day, in addition to 6 to 12 ounces of meat per day, according to gender. Grains, legumes, eggs, and dairy, with the exception of clarified butter or ghee, are not permitted on this diet. Both diets eschew processed foods.

To further evaluate the diets’ effects on perceived fatigue and cognitive dysfunction, the researchers returned to the trial, which enrolled 95 adults with stable RRMS at the University of Iowa Prevention Intervention Center between August 2016 and May 2019.

After a 12-week run-in period with support and education from registered dietitians, participants were randomly assigned to either the Swank or Wahls diets in a 24-week intervention that did not include dietitian support.

Inclusion criteria included having moderate to severe fatigue, as shown by an FSS score of at least 4.0, while not having severe mental impairment, an eating disorder, or liver or kidney disease. There were no significant differences in baseline demographic or clinical characteristics between the groups.

Of the patients, 77 completed the 12-week run-in (38 in the Swank diet group and 39 in the Wahls group). A total of 72 participants completed the 24-week follow-up (37 and 35, respectively).
 

Reduction in fatigue, cognitive dysfunction

After the researchers controlled for smoking, alcohol consumption, age, sex, baseline distance 6-minute walk test, body mass index, serum vitamin D, and years with MS, results at 12 and 24 weeks showed significant improvements from baseline in the key outcomes of fatigue and cognitive function, as measured by the Fatigue Scale for Motor and Cognitive Function (FSMC).

Scores were −5.7 and −9.0, respectively, for the Swank diet group and −9.3 and −14.9 for the Wahls group (P ≤ .001 for all comparisons).

In addition, there was a significant reduction in both groups on the total Perceived Deficits Questionnaire (PDQ) at 12 and 24 weeks (Swank, −7.4 and −6.3, respectively; Wahls, −6.8 and −10.8; P ≤ .001 for all).

There were similar improvements for both diets in an analysis of the mental and physical scores on FSMC and on the subscales on PDQ of attention, retrospective memory, prospective memory, and planning.

As observed in the primary analysis, there were no significant differences between the two groups in absolute mean scores on FSMC, PDQ, or their subscales at any timepoint.

“Both diets led to significant reductions in fatigue and cognitive dysfunction,” Dr. Titcomb said.

Of note, the primary analysis further showed statistically and clinically significant increases in the 6-minute walk test at 24-weeks of 6% in the Wahls group (P = .007). After removal of nonadherent participants, the improvement was still significant at 24 weeks in the Wahls group (P = .02), as well as in the Swank group (P = .001).

Dr. Titcomb noted that the majority of study participants were taking disease-modifying therapies (DMTs). However, there were no interactions between any specific DMTs and dietary benefits.
 

Potential mechanisms

Although the similar outcomes between the diets point to a common mechanism, there are also various other possibilities, said Dr. Titcomb. These include modulation of the microbiome, inflammation, immune system, or micronutrient optimization, he said.

Previous research has shown reduced mass and diversity in the gut microbiota among patients with MS compared with those without MS, potentially promoting inflammation. Other research has shown improvements in those factors with dietary modification.

While there is no evidence of gut microbiota changes with the Wahls and Swank diets, each is rich in fiber and plant-derived phytochemicals, which are known to be associated with improvements in gut microbiota and neuroinflammation, the investigators noted.

Dr. Titcomb reported that research into the diets is continuing as they evaluate longer-term and other effects. “This trial was a short-term parallel arm trial that did not include MRI or a control group,” he said, adding that the investigators will soon start recruiting for a follow-up study that will include a control group, long-term follow-up, and MRIs.

That upcoming study “has the potential to answer several of the unknown questions regarding the effect of diet on MS,” Dr. Titcomb said.
 

Notable research with limitations

Commenting on the study, Rebecca Spain, MD, MSPH, associate professor of neurology at the Oregon Health & Science University, and associate director of clinical care at VA MS Center of Excellence West in Portland, said there were several notable findings.

This includes that most people with MS “were able to adhere to the protocols for significant lengths of time, even without the support of dietitians for the final 12 weeks of the study,” said Spain, who was not involved with the research.

A significant limitation was the lack of a control group. Without that, “it’s hard to know for sure if the improvements in fatigue and cognition were from the diets or were simply from the social support of participating in a research study,” she said

Nevertheless, trials reporting on dietary effects in MS such as the current study are important, Dr. Spain noted. They demonstrate “that it is feasible and safe to conduct dietary studies and suggest which key MS symptoms may benefit and should be evaluated in future studies.”

“Critically, diet studies address one of the most frequent concerns of people with MS, promoting self-management and empowerment,” Dr. Spain concluded.

General guidelines for common dietary elements with evidence of improving fatigue, cognition, and mood are available on the National MS Society’s website.

The study received no outside funding. Dr. Titcomb and Dr. Spain have disclosed no relevant financial relationships. Terry L. Wahls, MD, who developed the Wahls diet, was a senior author of the study.

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

A Paleolithic elimination diet (Wahls diet) or a low-saturated fat diet (Swank diet) are associated with improved cognition, among other clinical outcomes, in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), new research suggests.

In a randomized study of patients with RRMS, the group that followed a Wahls diet and the group that followed a Swank diet both showed significant, unique improvement in measures of cognitive dysfunction, fatigue, and quality of life.

“Several dietary intervention studies have demonstrated favorable results on MS-related fatigue and quality of life. However, these results are among the first to show favorable reductions in cognitive dysfunction,” said co-investigator Tyler Titcomb, PhD, department of internal medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City.

The results were presented at the 2021 Annual Meeting of the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC).
 

Similar diets

The CMSC findings came from a secondary analysis of a randomized trial published online in July in the Multiple Sclerosis Journal Experimental, Translational, and Clinical (MSJ-ETC).

The primary analysis of the single-blind, parallel group, randomized trial showed the Wahls and Swank diets were linked to significant improvement in outcomes on the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS), and other measures among participants with RRMS. There were no significant differences between the two dietary regimens.

The Swank diet restricts saturated fat to a maximum of 15 g per day while providing 20 g to 50 g (4 to 10 teaspoons) of unsaturated fat per day, with four servings each of whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.

The Wahls diet recommends six to nine servings of fruits and vegetables per day, in addition to 6 to 12 ounces of meat per day, according to gender. Grains, legumes, eggs, and dairy, with the exception of clarified butter or ghee, are not permitted on this diet. Both diets eschew processed foods.

To further evaluate the diets’ effects on perceived fatigue and cognitive dysfunction, the researchers returned to the trial, which enrolled 95 adults with stable RRMS at the University of Iowa Prevention Intervention Center between August 2016 and May 2019.

After a 12-week run-in period with support and education from registered dietitians, participants were randomly assigned to either the Swank or Wahls diets in a 24-week intervention that did not include dietitian support.

Inclusion criteria included having moderate to severe fatigue, as shown by an FSS score of at least 4.0, while not having severe mental impairment, an eating disorder, or liver or kidney disease. There were no significant differences in baseline demographic or clinical characteristics between the groups.

Of the patients, 77 completed the 12-week run-in (38 in the Swank diet group and 39 in the Wahls group). A total of 72 participants completed the 24-week follow-up (37 and 35, respectively).
 

Reduction in fatigue, cognitive dysfunction

After the researchers controlled for smoking, alcohol consumption, age, sex, baseline distance 6-minute walk test, body mass index, serum vitamin D, and years with MS, results at 12 and 24 weeks showed significant improvements from baseline in the key outcomes of fatigue and cognitive function, as measured by the Fatigue Scale for Motor and Cognitive Function (FSMC).

Scores were −5.7 and −9.0, respectively, for the Swank diet group and −9.3 and −14.9 for the Wahls group (P ≤ .001 for all comparisons).

In addition, there was a significant reduction in both groups on the total Perceived Deficits Questionnaire (PDQ) at 12 and 24 weeks (Swank, −7.4 and −6.3, respectively; Wahls, −6.8 and −10.8; P ≤ .001 for all).

There were similar improvements for both diets in an analysis of the mental and physical scores on FSMC and on the subscales on PDQ of attention, retrospective memory, prospective memory, and planning.

As observed in the primary analysis, there were no significant differences between the two groups in absolute mean scores on FSMC, PDQ, or their subscales at any timepoint.

“Both diets led to significant reductions in fatigue and cognitive dysfunction,” Dr. Titcomb said.

Of note, the primary analysis further showed statistically and clinically significant increases in the 6-minute walk test at 24-weeks of 6% in the Wahls group (P = .007). After removal of nonadherent participants, the improvement was still significant at 24 weeks in the Wahls group (P = .02), as well as in the Swank group (P = .001).

Dr. Titcomb noted that the majority of study participants were taking disease-modifying therapies (DMTs). However, there were no interactions between any specific DMTs and dietary benefits.
 

Potential mechanisms

Although the similar outcomes between the diets point to a common mechanism, there are also various other possibilities, said Dr. Titcomb. These include modulation of the microbiome, inflammation, immune system, or micronutrient optimization, he said.

Previous research has shown reduced mass and diversity in the gut microbiota among patients with MS compared with those without MS, potentially promoting inflammation. Other research has shown improvements in those factors with dietary modification.

While there is no evidence of gut microbiota changes with the Wahls and Swank diets, each is rich in fiber and plant-derived phytochemicals, which are known to be associated with improvements in gut microbiota and neuroinflammation, the investigators noted.

Dr. Titcomb reported that research into the diets is continuing as they evaluate longer-term and other effects. “This trial was a short-term parallel arm trial that did not include MRI or a control group,” he said, adding that the investigators will soon start recruiting for a follow-up study that will include a control group, long-term follow-up, and MRIs.

That upcoming study “has the potential to answer several of the unknown questions regarding the effect of diet on MS,” Dr. Titcomb said.
 

Notable research with limitations

Commenting on the study, Rebecca Spain, MD, MSPH, associate professor of neurology at the Oregon Health & Science University, and associate director of clinical care at VA MS Center of Excellence West in Portland, said there were several notable findings.

This includes that most people with MS “were able to adhere to the protocols for significant lengths of time, even without the support of dietitians for the final 12 weeks of the study,” said Spain, who was not involved with the research.

A significant limitation was the lack of a control group. Without that, “it’s hard to know for sure if the improvements in fatigue and cognition were from the diets or were simply from the social support of participating in a research study,” she said

Nevertheless, trials reporting on dietary effects in MS such as the current study are important, Dr. Spain noted. They demonstrate “that it is feasible and safe to conduct dietary studies and suggest which key MS symptoms may benefit and should be evaluated in future studies.”

“Critically, diet studies address one of the most frequent concerns of people with MS, promoting self-management and empowerment,” Dr. Spain concluded.

General guidelines for common dietary elements with evidence of improving fatigue, cognition, and mood are available on the National MS Society’s website.

The study received no outside funding. Dr. Titcomb and Dr. Spain have disclosed no relevant financial relationships. Terry L. Wahls, MD, who developed the Wahls diet, was a senior author of the study.

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

Most U.S. medical professionals who treat patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) appear to have adjusted drug regimens during the pandemic’s early months to lower the risk of COVID-19 infection. But they actually didn’t need to make changes then – or now. These are the messages of a pair of new studies that examine the impact of the pandemic on the treatment of MS.

One report finds that 80% of specialists surveyed in the summer of 2020 said the pandemic may have changed how they prescribe disease-modifying therapies (DMTs). However, the other report finds no evidence that choice of DMT affects risk of COVID-19 infection. Both studies were presented at the 2021 Annual Meeting of the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC).

For the survey, researchers led by neurologist Elizabeth H. Morrison-Banks, MD, of the University of California, Riverside, sent questions to 188 clinicians who serve on regional National Multiple Sclerosis Society Healthcare Provider Councils. A total of 86 people responded: 45 physicians, 18 rehabilitation therapists, 7 psychologists, 8 advanced practice clinicians, 4 social workers, 2 nurses, a pharmacist, and a researcher.

The results, which were published earlier in 2021 in Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders, revealed that the survey participants were prescribing certain DMTs more often: beta-interferons (prescribed more by 28.6% of prescribers), natalizumab (23.8%), and glatiramer acetate (21.4%). Those prescribed less included alemtuzumab (64.2% prescribed it less), cladribine (52.4%), and B cell–depleting agents including ocrelizumab and rituximab (50%). Some specialists suspended drugs entirely (21.4% for alemtuzumab, 16.7% for B cell–depleting agents) or extending dosing intervals (38.1% for natalizumab, 11.9% for fingolimod and siponimod).

“We suspect that some of the lower-efficacy therapies were prescribed more often because these therapies were much less immunosuppressive, and because they did not require in-person visits that would increase risk of viral exposure from infusion center staff, or from other infusion patients,” Dr. Morrison-Banks said in an interview. “We also suspect that some of our survey respondents may have increased the dosing intervals for higher-efficacy therapies such as B cell–modulating agents – or even avoided these therapies altogether – because they were concerned that immunosuppressive agents might trigger severe complications from COVID-19.”

As she noted, “in retrospect, at least some of the concerns expressed in our survey may not have been entirely warranted, but then again, we all knew even less then about COVID-19.”

Indeed, researchers led by neurologist Tyler E. Smith, MD, of New York University Langone Multiple Sclerosis Care Center are reporting that they couldn’t find any link between the following DMTs and higher rates of COVID-19 at the New York City center: rituximab, ocrelizumab, fumerate (dimethyl fumarate, monomethyl fumarate, diroximel fumarate), sphingosine-1-phosphate modulators (fingolimod, siponimod), and natalizumab.

The researchers tracked 1,439 patients with MS who were taking the DMTs from March 2020 to March 2021. Of those, 16.0% were infected with COVID-19 (75% lab confirmed), 6.5% were hospitalized, and 0.9% died.

“We did not find an association between the choice of disease-modifying therapy and developing COVID-19 infection, nor having increased disease severity,” Dr. Smith said in an interview. “We are still analyzing data and hope to publish an updated analysis, but at this point, we don’t have conclusive evidence that DMTs, including anti-CD20 agents, need to be changed to lower the risk of COVID-19.”

Instead, he said, “at this point, we feel our energies should be spent on educating our patients on importance of vaccines and boosters. I don’t think it is necessary to switch DMTs because of COVID-19 concerns. However, this should be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.”

No funding is reported for the survey study, and the authors reported various disclosures. The DMT study was funded by an investigator-initiated grant from the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers, and the authors reported various disclosures.
 

Most U.S. medical professionals who treat patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) appear to have adjusted drug regimens during the pandemic’s early months to lower the risk of COVID-19 infection. But they actually didn’t need to make changes then – or now. These are the messages of a pair of new studies that examine the impact of the pandemic on the treatment of MS.

One report finds that 80% of specialists surveyed in the summer of 2020 said the pandemic may have changed how they prescribe disease-modifying therapies (DMTs). However, the other report finds no evidence that choice of DMT affects risk of COVID-19 infection. Both studies were presented at the 2021 Annual Meeting of the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC).

For the survey, researchers led by neurologist Elizabeth H. Morrison-Banks, MD, of the University of California, Riverside, sent questions to 188 clinicians who serve on regional National Multiple Sclerosis Society Healthcare Provider Councils. A total of 86 people responded: 45 physicians, 18 rehabilitation therapists, 7 psychologists, 8 advanced practice clinicians, 4 social workers, 2 nurses, a pharmacist, and a researcher.

The results, which were published earlier in 2021 in Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders, revealed that the survey participants were prescribing certain DMTs more often: beta-interferons (prescribed more by 28.6% of prescribers), natalizumab (23.8%), and glatiramer acetate (21.4%). Those prescribed less included alemtuzumab (64.2% prescribed it less), cladribine (52.4%), and B cell–depleting agents including ocrelizumab and rituximab (50%). Some specialists suspended drugs entirely (21.4% for alemtuzumab, 16.7% for B cell–depleting agents) or extending dosing intervals (38.1% for natalizumab, 11.9% for fingolimod and siponimod).

“We suspect that some of the lower-efficacy therapies were prescribed more often because these therapies were much less immunosuppressive, and because they did not require in-person visits that would increase risk of viral exposure from infusion center staff, or from other infusion patients,” Dr. Morrison-Banks said in an interview. “We also suspect that some of our survey respondents may have increased the dosing intervals for higher-efficacy therapies such as B cell–modulating agents – or even avoided these therapies altogether – because they were concerned that immunosuppressive agents might trigger severe complications from COVID-19.”

As she noted, “in retrospect, at least some of the concerns expressed in our survey may not have been entirely warranted, but then again, we all knew even less then about COVID-19.”

Indeed, researchers led by neurologist Tyler E. Smith, MD, of New York University Langone Multiple Sclerosis Care Center are reporting that they couldn’t find any link between the following DMTs and higher rates of COVID-19 at the New York City center: rituximab, ocrelizumab, fumerate (dimethyl fumarate, monomethyl fumarate, diroximel fumarate), sphingosine-1-phosphate modulators (fingolimod, siponimod), and natalizumab.

The researchers tracked 1,439 patients with MS who were taking the DMTs from March 2020 to March 2021. Of those, 16.0% were infected with COVID-19 (75% lab confirmed), 6.5% were hospitalized, and 0.9% died.

“We did not find an association between the choice of disease-modifying therapy and developing COVID-19 infection, nor having increased disease severity,” Dr. Smith said in an interview. “We are still analyzing data and hope to publish an updated analysis, but at this point, we don’t have conclusive evidence that DMTs, including anti-CD20 agents, need to be changed to lower the risk of COVID-19.”

Instead, he said, “at this point, we feel our energies should be spent on educating our patients on importance of vaccines and boosters. I don’t think it is necessary to switch DMTs because of COVID-19 concerns. However, this should be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.”

No funding is reported for the survey study, and the authors reported various disclosures. The DMT study was funded by an investigator-initiated grant from the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers, and the authors reported various disclosures.
 

Most U.S. medical professionals who treat patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) appear to have adjusted drug regimens during the pandemic’s early months to lower the risk of COVID-19 infection. But they actually didn’t need to make changes then – or now. These are the messages of a pair of new studies that examine the impact of the pandemic on the treatment of MS.

One report finds that 80% of specialists surveyed in the summer of 2020 said the pandemic may have changed how they prescribe disease-modifying therapies (DMTs). However, the other report finds no evidence that choice of DMT affects risk of COVID-19 infection. Both studies were presented at the 2021 Annual Meeting of the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC).

For the survey, researchers led by neurologist Elizabeth H. Morrison-Banks, MD, of the University of California, Riverside, sent questions to 188 clinicians who serve on regional National Multiple Sclerosis Society Healthcare Provider Councils. A total of 86 people responded: 45 physicians, 18 rehabilitation therapists, 7 psychologists, 8 advanced practice clinicians, 4 social workers, 2 nurses, a pharmacist, and a researcher.

The results, which were published earlier in 2021 in Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders, revealed that the survey participants were prescribing certain DMTs more often: beta-interferons (prescribed more by 28.6% of prescribers), natalizumab (23.8%), and glatiramer acetate (21.4%). Those prescribed less included alemtuzumab (64.2% prescribed it less), cladribine (52.4%), and B cell–depleting agents including ocrelizumab and rituximab (50%). Some specialists suspended drugs entirely (21.4% for alemtuzumab, 16.7% for B cell–depleting agents) or extending dosing intervals (38.1% for natalizumab, 11.9% for fingolimod and siponimod).

“We suspect that some of the lower-efficacy therapies were prescribed more often because these therapies were much less immunosuppressive, and because they did not require in-person visits that would increase risk of viral exposure from infusion center staff, or from other infusion patients,” Dr. Morrison-Banks said in an interview. “We also suspect that some of our survey respondents may have increased the dosing intervals for higher-efficacy therapies such as B cell–modulating agents – or even avoided these therapies altogether – because they were concerned that immunosuppressive agents might trigger severe complications from COVID-19.”

As she noted, “in retrospect, at least some of the concerns expressed in our survey may not have been entirely warranted, but then again, we all knew even less then about COVID-19.”

Indeed, researchers led by neurologist Tyler E. Smith, MD, of New York University Langone Multiple Sclerosis Care Center are reporting that they couldn’t find any link between the following DMTs and higher rates of COVID-19 at the New York City center: rituximab, ocrelizumab, fumerate (dimethyl fumarate, monomethyl fumarate, diroximel fumarate), sphingosine-1-phosphate modulators (fingolimod, siponimod), and natalizumab.

The researchers tracked 1,439 patients with MS who were taking the DMTs from March 2020 to March 2021. Of those, 16.0% were infected with COVID-19 (75% lab confirmed), 6.5% were hospitalized, and 0.9% died.

“We did not find an association between the choice of disease-modifying therapy and developing COVID-19 infection, nor having increased disease severity,” Dr. Smith said in an interview. “We are still analyzing data and hope to publish an updated analysis, but at this point, we don’t have conclusive evidence that DMTs, including anti-CD20 agents, need to be changed to lower the risk of COVID-19.”

Instead, he said, “at this point, we feel our energies should be spent on educating our patients on importance of vaccines and boosters. I don’t think it is necessary to switch DMTs because of COVID-19 concerns. However, this should be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.”

No funding is reported for the survey study, and the authors reported various disclosures. The DMT study was funded by an investigator-initiated grant from the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers, and the authors reported various disclosures.
 

Personalized medicine is just about the biggest buzzword in health. But neurologist Ellen M. Mowry, MD, of Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, steers patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) away from the concept when she first starts talking to them about initial therapy options and possible ways to forestall disability down the line.

“I try to be quite honest,” she told colleagues at the 2021 Annual Meeting of the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC). “I describe the escalation and early intensive-therapy paradigms very broadly, and I tell them that we don’t have a great way of individualizing their treatment decisions at this point.”

Observational and clinical trials offer extremely limited insight, she said in a keynote address, so there aren’t any simple answers about the best strategies. However, she highlighted new research projects that aim to provide more reliable answers.

As Dr. Mowry noted, patients tend to do well early on regardless of the choice of drug, so the question isn’t how to immediately control MS. “I personally find that most people can have control of relapses and the development of new lesions. I don’t find that there are too many individuals these days who don’t achieve control of their inflammatory activity,” she said. “I’m really interested in understanding whether the treatment choices a person with MS and myself make – at the time of their diagnosis – matters with respect to how they’re doing several years down the road. One major question is: Should I be using higher-efficacy therapy right out of the gate to better impact long-term disability?”

Research suggests that disability in MS is declining dramatically, she said, although it’s not quite clear if this is caused by evolving definitions of the disease or better medications. If the latter is the case, it’s useful to know that “there have been several publications suggesting that using stronger therapies right out of the gate may have an even greater impact on the long-term disability trajectory [than lower-efficacy treatments],” she said.

But some studies in this area are observational and come with various weaknesses, she said. Clinical trials offer data of their own, but “the conditions of clinical trials are also not real world or generalizable.” They often have healthier subjects than physicians actually see, and their requirements – such as requiring patients to have failed certain therapies – can muddy the messages of their outcomes. And, she added, people are more complicated in real life than in these trials, with many having a mix of both higher- and lower-risk features.

So how can physicians make the best decisions? Dr. Mowry recommends considering several factors, such patient comorbidities and reproductive status, the way drugs are administered, monitoring requirements, and cost. Safety is crucial too. She noted that newly diagnosed patients with MS are very concerned about safety – “they’re very much afraid of risks of stronger medications” – and many choose escalation therapy instead of immediately embracing higher-efficacy therapy for that reason.

At her clinic, she doesn’t push quick decisions. “I find that the treatment-decision discussion with individuals with MS takes several appointments, which we offer typically in quick succession. If we go with the escalation route, we are very strongly conscientious about escalating if there’s breakthrough disease. For me, that means after the medication should have kicked in, we may indeed escalate that therapy right away if there’s a new relapse or more than one new lesion.”

As for the future, Dr. Mowry highlighted two ongoing clinical trials that are expected to provide guidance about first-line therapy options. One is TREAT-MS, which will track intermediate-term risk of disability based on choices regarding first-line and later therapy. The pragmatic trial aims to enroll 900 subjects for up to 5 years. The other is DELIVER-MS, which aims to track how treatment choices affect brain volume.

“We really do need more definitive data to support the early treatment choices that people need to make,” she said.

Dr. Mowry disclosed grant/research support from Biogen, Teva, and Genentech, as welll as honoraria (editorial royalties) from UpToDate.

Personalized medicine is just about the biggest buzzword in health. But neurologist Ellen M. Mowry, MD, of Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, steers patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) away from the concept when she first starts talking to them about initial therapy options and possible ways to forestall disability down the line.

“I try to be quite honest,” she told colleagues at the 2021 Annual Meeting of the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC). “I describe the escalation and early intensive-therapy paradigms very broadly, and I tell them that we don’t have a great way of individualizing their treatment decisions at this point.”

Observational and clinical trials offer extremely limited insight, she said in a keynote address, so there aren’t any simple answers about the best strategies. However, she highlighted new research projects that aim to provide more reliable answers.

As Dr. Mowry noted, patients tend to do well early on regardless of the choice of drug, so the question isn’t how to immediately control MS. “I personally find that most people can have control of relapses and the development of new lesions. I don’t find that there are too many individuals these days who don’t achieve control of their inflammatory activity,” she said. “I’m really interested in understanding whether the treatment choices a person with MS and myself make – at the time of their diagnosis – matters with respect to how they’re doing several years down the road. One major question is: Should I be using higher-efficacy therapy right out of the gate to better impact long-term disability?”

Research suggests that disability in MS is declining dramatically, she said, although it’s not quite clear if this is caused by evolving definitions of the disease or better medications. If the latter is the case, it’s useful to know that “there have been several publications suggesting that using stronger therapies right out of the gate may have an even greater impact on the long-term disability trajectory [than lower-efficacy treatments],” she said.

But some studies in this area are observational and come with various weaknesses, she said. Clinical trials offer data of their own, but “the conditions of clinical trials are also not real world or generalizable.” They often have healthier subjects than physicians actually see, and their requirements – such as requiring patients to have failed certain therapies – can muddy the messages of their outcomes. And, she added, people are more complicated in real life than in these trials, with many having a mix of both higher- and lower-risk features.

So how can physicians make the best decisions? Dr. Mowry recommends considering several factors, such patient comorbidities and reproductive status, the way drugs are administered, monitoring requirements, and cost. Safety is crucial too. She noted that newly diagnosed patients with MS are very concerned about safety – “they’re very much afraid of risks of stronger medications” – and many choose escalation therapy instead of immediately embracing higher-efficacy therapy for that reason.

At her clinic, she doesn’t push quick decisions. “I find that the treatment-decision discussion with individuals with MS takes several appointments, which we offer typically in quick succession. If we go with the escalation route, we are very strongly conscientious about escalating if there’s breakthrough disease. For me, that means after the medication should have kicked in, we may indeed escalate that therapy right away if there’s a new relapse or more than one new lesion.”

As for the future, Dr. Mowry highlighted two ongoing clinical trials that are expected to provide guidance about first-line therapy options. One is TREAT-MS, which will track intermediate-term risk of disability based on choices regarding first-line and later therapy. The pragmatic trial aims to enroll 900 subjects for up to 5 years. The other is DELIVER-MS, which aims to track how treatment choices affect brain volume.

“We really do need more definitive data to support the early treatment choices that people need to make,” she said.

Dr. Mowry disclosed grant/research support from Biogen, Teva, and Genentech, as welll as honoraria (editorial royalties) from UpToDate.

Personalized medicine is just about the biggest buzzword in health. But neurologist Ellen M. Mowry, MD, of Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, steers patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) away from the concept when she first starts talking to them about initial therapy options and possible ways to forestall disability down the line.

“I try to be quite honest,” she told colleagues at the 2021 Annual Meeting of the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC). “I describe the escalation and early intensive-therapy paradigms very broadly, and I tell them that we don’t have a great way of individualizing their treatment decisions at this point.”

Observational and clinical trials offer extremely limited insight, she said in a keynote address, so there aren’t any simple answers about the best strategies. However, she highlighted new research projects that aim to provide more reliable answers.

As Dr. Mowry noted, patients tend to do well early on regardless of the choice of drug, so the question isn’t how to immediately control MS. “I personally find that most people can have control of relapses and the development of new lesions. I don’t find that there are too many individuals these days who don’t achieve control of their inflammatory activity,” she said. “I’m really interested in understanding whether the treatment choices a person with MS and myself make – at the time of their diagnosis – matters with respect to how they’re doing several years down the road. One major question is: Should I be using higher-efficacy therapy right out of the gate to better impact long-term disability?”

Research suggests that disability in MS is declining dramatically, she said, although it’s not quite clear if this is caused by evolving definitions of the disease or better medications. If the latter is the case, it’s useful to know that “there have been several publications suggesting that using stronger therapies right out of the gate may have an even greater impact on the long-term disability trajectory [than lower-efficacy treatments],” she said.

But some studies in this area are observational and come with various weaknesses, she said. Clinical trials offer data of their own, but “the conditions of clinical trials are also not real world or generalizable.” They often have healthier subjects than physicians actually see, and their requirements – such as requiring patients to have failed certain therapies – can muddy the messages of their outcomes. And, she added, people are more complicated in real life than in these trials, with many having a mix of both higher- and lower-risk features.

So how can physicians make the best decisions? Dr. Mowry recommends considering several factors, such patient comorbidities and reproductive status, the way drugs are administered, monitoring requirements, and cost. Safety is crucial too. She noted that newly diagnosed patients with MS are very concerned about safety – “they’re very much afraid of risks of stronger medications” – and many choose escalation therapy instead of immediately embracing higher-efficacy therapy for that reason.

At her clinic, she doesn’t push quick decisions. “I find that the treatment-decision discussion with individuals with MS takes several appointments, which we offer typically in quick succession. If we go with the escalation route, we are very strongly conscientious about escalating if there’s breakthrough disease. For me, that means after the medication should have kicked in, we may indeed escalate that therapy right away if there’s a new relapse or more than one new lesion.”

As for the future, Dr. Mowry highlighted two ongoing clinical trials that are expected to provide guidance about first-line therapy options. One is TREAT-MS, which will track intermediate-term risk of disability based on choices regarding first-line and later therapy. The pragmatic trial aims to enroll 900 subjects for up to 5 years. The other is DELIVER-MS, which aims to track how treatment choices affect brain volume.

“We really do need more definitive data to support the early treatment choices that people need to make,” she said.

Dr. Mowry disclosed grant/research support from Biogen, Teva, and Genentech, as welll as honoraria (editorial royalties) from UpToDate.