New Multiple Sclerosis Lesions Accrue Seasonally

Major Finding: The point estimates for the rate of new T2 lesion accrual per day in MS were higher in the spring (0.024) and summer (0.030) than in the fall (0.010) or winter (0.016).

Data Source: A retrospective, observational study of brain MRI scans in 44 MS patients during 1991-1993.

Disease activity on MRI in multiple sclerosis patients is most likely to occur and is most intense in the spring and summer, according to a retrospective, observational study of a 3-year period in Boston.

Although the rates of clinical attacks and new contrast-enhancing lesions were not associated with significant seasonal differences, new T2 lesions developed in the spring and summer at nearly twice the rate as in the fall and winter. This finding “may raise concerns for design and analysis of clinical trials with MRI outcome measures. If left unaccounted this effect could bias longitudinal assessment both at the individual as well as group level,” wrote Dominik S. Meier, Ph.D., of Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, and colleagues.

The findings agreed with previous studies that measured the seasonality of clinical markers in Japan, Sweden, and the United States (Ohio and Arizona). Another three studies that examined MRI markers across the seasons had biased inclusion criteria or poor longitudinal follow-up, according to the investigators.

They matched meteorological data with clinical data from 44 patients who underwent 939 brain MRI scans during 1991-1993. The cohort included 13 patients with chronic progressive MS and 31 with relapsing-remitting MS. They had a mean age of 38 years, a mean disease duration of 8 years, and a mean Expanded Disability Status Scale score of 3.9.

Each patient had eight weekly scans, followed by eight scans every other week and six monthly examinations. No patient received disease-modifying therapy (Neurology 2010;75:799-806).

In the study, 31 patients developed 310 new T2 lesions, whereas 13 patients had no new lesions. In 42 patients, imaging detected a mean of 22 new contrast-enhancing lesions per patient. Clinical attacks during this period were recorded on 51 occasions in 24 patients, with a mean of 2.1 per patient.

The distribution of disease activity across the seasons was distinctly higher in the spring and summer even after applying several different methods of correcting for individual disease severity.

Point estimates for the rate of new T2 lesion accrual per day were higher in the spring (0.024) and summer (0.030) than in the fall (0.010) or winter (0.016).

Disease activity also was strongly correlated with warmer temperature and greater solar radiation, but not precipitation.

Patients with chronic, progressive MS tended to have an earlier and more pronounced high-activity period but lacked the peak of activity in August found in relapsing-remitting patients.

The findings did not change significantly in a separate analysis that excluded 18 patients who had been treated with brief bouts of steroids.

The findings could have an impact on MS clinical trials. The magnitude of an effect of the spring and summer on disease activity is likely affected by factors such as genetic affinity, disease phenotype, and geographic location, which “will have particular implications for multicenter trials that pool data from geographically distant locations,” the investigators wrote.

They also noted that biases may arise in studies that use prescreening MRI or in trials with crossover arms, depending on the timing of the trial arms.

Many of the investigators involved in this study disclosed that they had received research support from the National Institutes of Health and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, as well as research support, speaker honoraria, or served on scientific advisory boards from MS drug manufacturers, including Biogen Idec, Genentech, EMD Serono and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries.

View on the news

MRI Variation Is a Concern

Evidence for environmental factors in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis has accumulated ever since Dr. John F. Kurtzke's pioneering epidemiological work in the 1960s. Epstein-Barr virus infection, smoking, and vitamin D status have all been shown to exert effects on MS risk. There also have been reports of seasonal variations in disease activity measured as relapse rate and occurrence of optic neuritis, with higher incidence of both in spring and summer. Several studies have shown a correlation between month of birth and MS risk, again with the highest risk in spring and summer.

Dr. Meier and colleagues report further evidence for a seasonal effect on disease activity and MS using serial MRI examinations. They elegantly show that disease activity, measured as new T2 lesions over time, varies over the year with a peak in spring and summer. They also show strong associations with solar radiation and daily temperature, but not precipitation. The levels of vitamin D in serum might be the causal link between season and disease activity, but this assumption remains to be proven.

What is of great concern, however, is that MRI variables, a common measure of disease activity and thus treatment efficacy, seem to be influenced by season. This could bias trials aimed at assessing the effect of drugs on disease activity and need to be considered when designing future studies.

JONATAN SALZER, M.D., is a doctoral student in the department of pharmacology and clinical neuroscience at Umeå (Sweden) University. He has no relevant disclosures.

Vitals

Major Finding: The point estimates for the rate of new T2 lesion accrual per day in MS were higher in the spring (0.024) and summer (0.030) than in the fall (0.010) or winter (0.016).

Data Source: A retrospective, observational study of brain MRI scans in 44 MS patients during 1991-1993.

Disease activity on MRI in multiple sclerosis patients is most likely to occur and is most intense in the spring and summer, according to a retrospective, observational study of a 3-year period in Boston.

Although the rates of clinical attacks and new contrast-enhancing lesions were not associated with significant seasonal differences, new T2 lesions developed in the spring and summer at nearly twice the rate as in the fall and winter. This finding “may raise concerns for design and analysis of clinical trials with MRI outcome measures. If left unaccounted this effect could bias longitudinal assessment both at the individual as well as group level,” wrote Dominik S. Meier, Ph.D., of Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, and colleagues.

The findings agreed with previous studies that measured the seasonality of clinical markers in Japan, Sweden, and the United States (Ohio and Arizona). Another three studies that examined MRI markers across the seasons had biased inclusion criteria or poor longitudinal follow-up, according to the investigators.

They matched meteorological data with clinical data from 44 patients who underwent 939 brain MRI scans during 1991-1993. The cohort included 13 patients with chronic progressive MS and 31 with relapsing-remitting MS. They had a mean age of 38 years, a mean disease duration of 8 years, and a mean Expanded Disability Status Scale score of 3.9.

Each patient had eight weekly scans, followed by eight scans every other week and six monthly examinations. No patient received disease-modifying therapy (Neurology 2010;75:799-806).

In the study, 31 patients developed 310 new T2 lesions, whereas 13 patients had no new lesions. In 42 patients, imaging detected a mean of 22 new contrast-enhancing lesions per patient. Clinical attacks during this period were recorded on 51 occasions in 24 patients, with a mean of 2.1 per patient.

The distribution of disease activity across the seasons was distinctly higher in the spring and summer even after applying several different methods of correcting for individual disease severity.

Point estimates for the rate of new T2 lesion accrual per day were higher in the spring (0.024) and summer (0.030) than in the fall (0.010) or winter (0.016).

Disease activity also was strongly correlated with warmer temperature and greater solar radiation, but not precipitation.

Patients with chronic, progressive MS tended to have an earlier and more pronounced high-activity period but lacked the peak of activity in August found in relapsing-remitting patients.

The findings did not change significantly in a separate analysis that excluded 18 patients who had been treated with brief bouts of steroids.

The findings could have an impact on MS clinical trials. The magnitude of an effect of the spring and summer on disease activity is likely affected by factors such as genetic affinity, disease phenotype, and geographic location, which “will have particular implications for multicenter trials that pool data from geographically distant locations,” the investigators wrote.

They also noted that biases may arise in studies that use prescreening MRI or in trials with crossover arms, depending on the timing of the trial arms.

Many of the investigators involved in this study disclosed that they had received research support from the National Institutes of Health and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, as well as research support, speaker honoraria, or served on scientific advisory boards from MS drug manufacturers, including Biogen Idec, Genentech, EMD Serono and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries.

View on the news

MRI Variation Is a Concern

Evidence for environmental factors in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis has accumulated ever since Dr. John F. Kurtzke's pioneering epidemiological work in the 1960s. Epstein-Barr virus infection, smoking, and vitamin D status have all been shown to exert effects on MS risk. There also have been reports of seasonal variations in disease activity measured as relapse rate and occurrence of optic neuritis, with higher incidence of both in spring and summer. Several studies have shown a correlation between month of birth and MS risk, again with the highest risk in spring and summer.

Dr. Meier and colleagues report further evidence for a seasonal effect on disease activity and MS using serial MRI examinations. They elegantly show that disease activity, measured as new T2 lesions over time, varies over the year with a peak in spring and summer. They also show strong associations with solar radiation and daily temperature, but not precipitation. The levels of vitamin D in serum might be the causal link between season and disease activity, but this assumption remains to be proven.

What is of great concern, however, is that MRI variables, a common measure of disease activity and thus treatment efficacy, seem to be influenced by season. This could bias trials aimed at assessing the effect of drugs on disease activity and need to be considered when designing future studies.

JONATAN SALZER, M.D., is a doctoral student in the department of pharmacology and clinical neuroscience at Umeå (Sweden) University. He has no relevant disclosures.

Vitals

Major Finding: The point estimates for the rate of new T2 lesion accrual per day in MS were higher in the spring (0.024) and summer (0.030) than in the fall (0.010) or winter (0.016).

Data Source: A retrospective, observational study of brain MRI scans in 44 MS patients during 1991-1993.

Disease activity on MRI in multiple sclerosis patients is most likely to occur and is most intense in the spring and summer, according to a retrospective, observational study of a 3-year period in Boston.

Although the rates of clinical attacks and new contrast-enhancing lesions were not associated with significant seasonal differences, new T2 lesions developed in the spring and summer at nearly twice the rate as in the fall and winter. This finding “may raise concerns for design and analysis of clinical trials with MRI outcome measures. If left unaccounted this effect could bias longitudinal assessment both at the individual as well as group level,” wrote Dominik S. Meier, Ph.D., of Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, and colleagues.

The findings agreed with previous studies that measured the seasonality of clinical markers in Japan, Sweden, and the United States (Ohio and Arizona). Another three studies that examined MRI markers across the seasons had biased inclusion criteria or poor longitudinal follow-up, according to the investigators.

They matched meteorological data with clinical data from 44 patients who underwent 939 brain MRI scans during 1991-1993. The cohort included 13 patients with chronic progressive MS and 31 with relapsing-remitting MS. They had a mean age of 38 years, a mean disease duration of 8 years, and a mean Expanded Disability Status Scale score of 3.9.

Each patient had eight weekly scans, followed by eight scans every other week and six monthly examinations. No patient received disease-modifying therapy (Neurology 2010;75:799-806).

In the study, 31 patients developed 310 new T2 lesions, whereas 13 patients had no new lesions. In 42 patients, imaging detected a mean of 22 new contrast-enhancing lesions per patient. Clinical attacks during this period were recorded on 51 occasions in 24 patients, with a mean of 2.1 per patient.

The distribution of disease activity across the seasons was distinctly higher in the spring and summer even after applying several different methods of correcting for individual disease severity.

Point estimates for the rate of new T2 lesion accrual per day were higher in the spring (0.024) and summer (0.030) than in the fall (0.010) or winter (0.016).

Disease activity also was strongly correlated with warmer temperature and greater solar radiation, but not precipitation.

Patients with chronic, progressive MS tended to have an earlier and more pronounced high-activity period but lacked the peak of activity in August found in relapsing-remitting patients.

The findings did not change significantly in a separate analysis that excluded 18 patients who had been treated with brief bouts of steroids.

The findings could have an impact on MS clinical trials. The magnitude of an effect of the spring and summer on disease activity is likely affected by factors such as genetic affinity, disease phenotype, and geographic location, which “will have particular implications for multicenter trials that pool data from geographically distant locations,” the investigators wrote.

They also noted that biases may arise in studies that use prescreening MRI or in trials with crossover arms, depending on the timing of the trial arms.

Many of the investigators involved in this study disclosed that they had received research support from the National Institutes of Health and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, as well as research support, speaker honoraria, or served on scientific advisory boards from MS drug manufacturers, including Biogen Idec, Genentech, EMD Serono and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries.

View on the news

MRI Variation Is a Concern

Evidence for environmental factors in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis has accumulated ever since Dr. John F. Kurtzke's pioneering epidemiological work in the 1960s. Epstein-Barr virus infection, smoking, and vitamin D status have all been shown to exert effects on MS risk. There also have been reports of seasonal variations in disease activity measured as relapse rate and occurrence of optic neuritis, with higher incidence of both in spring and summer. Several studies have shown a correlation between month of birth and MS risk, again with the highest risk in spring and summer.

Dr. Meier and colleagues report further evidence for a seasonal effect on disease activity and MS using serial MRI examinations. They elegantly show that disease activity, measured as new T2 lesions over time, varies over the year with a peak in spring and summer. They also show strong associations with solar radiation and daily temperature, but not precipitation. The levels of vitamin D in serum might be the causal link between season and disease activity, but this assumption remains to be proven.

What is of great concern, however, is that MRI variables, a common measure of disease activity and thus treatment efficacy, seem to be influenced by season. This could bias trials aimed at assessing the effect of drugs on disease activity and need to be considered when designing future studies.

JONATAN SALZER, M.D., is a doctoral student in the department of pharmacology and clinical neuroscience at Umeå (Sweden) University. He has no relevant disclosures.

Vitals