MS Briefs

Key clinical point: The unified protocol (UP), a transdiagnostic skill-based therapy, is effective for the treatment of emotional disorders in multiple sclerosis (MS).

Major finding: Compared with treatment as usual (TAU), the UP intervention group significantly improved depression, anxiety, emotional dysregulation, positive and negative affects, and worry symptoms (P less than .001 for all).

Study details: Seventy adults with MS were randomly assigned to either UP or TAU group.

Disclosures: The authors received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of the study. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Nazari N et al. BMC Psychol. 2020 Oct 31. doi: 10.1186/s40359-020-00480-8.

Key clinical point: The unified protocol (UP), a transdiagnostic skill-based therapy, is effective for the treatment of emotional disorders in multiple sclerosis (MS).

Major finding: Compared with treatment as usual (TAU), the UP intervention group significantly improved depression, anxiety, emotional dysregulation, positive and negative affects, and worry symptoms (P less than .001 for all).

Study details: Seventy adults with MS were randomly assigned to either UP or TAU group.

Disclosures: The authors received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of the study. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Nazari N et al. BMC Psychol. 2020 Oct 31. doi: 10.1186/s40359-020-00480-8.

Key clinical point: The unified protocol (UP), a transdiagnostic skill-based therapy, is effective for the treatment of emotional disorders in multiple sclerosis (MS).

Major finding: Compared with treatment as usual (TAU), the UP intervention group significantly improved depression, anxiety, emotional dysregulation, positive and negative affects, and worry symptoms (P less than .001 for all).

Study details: Seventy adults with MS were randomly assigned to either UP or TAU group.

Disclosures: The authors received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of the study. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Nazari N et al. BMC Psychol. 2020 Oct 31. doi: 10.1186/s40359-020-00480-8.

Key clinical point: One year of natalizumab treatment in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) improved absenteeism and work productivity loss.

Major finding: One year of natalizumab exposure showed an early improvement in absenteeism scores (mean change, −4.2; P = .0190) and the work productivity loss scores (mean change, −7.2; P = .0456).

Study details: The data come from the WANT observational study of 91 Italian patients with RRMS.

Disclosures: The WANT study was funded by Biogen. The authors reported relationships with various pharmaceutical companies.

Source: Capra R et al. Neurol Sci. 2020 Nov 17. doi: 10.1007/s10072-020-04838-z.

Key clinical point: One year of natalizumab treatment in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) improved absenteeism and work productivity loss.

Major finding: One year of natalizumab exposure showed an early improvement in absenteeism scores (mean change, −4.2; P = .0190) and the work productivity loss scores (mean change, −7.2; P = .0456).

Study details: The data come from the WANT observational study of 91 Italian patients with RRMS.

Disclosures: The WANT study was funded by Biogen. The authors reported relationships with various pharmaceutical companies.

Source: Capra R et al. Neurol Sci. 2020 Nov 17. doi: 10.1007/s10072-020-04838-z.

Key clinical point: One year of natalizumab treatment in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) improved absenteeism and work productivity loss.

Major finding: One year of natalizumab exposure showed an early improvement in absenteeism scores (mean change, −4.2; P = .0190) and the work productivity loss scores (mean change, −7.2; P = .0456).

Study details: The data come from the WANT observational study of 91 Italian patients with RRMS.

Disclosures: The WANT study was funded by Biogen. The authors reported relationships with various pharmaceutical companies.

Source: Capra R et al. Neurol Sci. 2020 Nov 17. doi: 10.1007/s10072-020-04838-z.

Key clinical point: In patients with early multiple sclerosis (MS), depressive symptoms are linked to cognitive multitasking.

Major finding: Depressive symptoms in early MS cohort had a stronger association with cognitive multitasking (R² = 0.125) than with traditional monotasking procedures, including a SPEED composite variable (R² = 0.079; P less than .001).

Study details: RADIEMS was a cohort study on 185 patients with MS diagnosed in less than or equal to 5 years.

Disclosures: The study was funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, and Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Glukhovsky L et al. Mult Scler. 2020 Nov 16. doi: 10.1177/1352458520958359.

Key clinical point: In patients with early multiple sclerosis (MS), depressive symptoms are linked to cognitive multitasking.

Major finding: Depressive symptoms in early MS cohort had a stronger association with cognitive multitasking (R² = 0.125) than with traditional monotasking procedures, including a SPEED composite variable (R² = 0.079; P less than .001).

Study details: RADIEMS was a cohort study on 185 patients with MS diagnosed in less than or equal to 5 years.

Disclosures: The study was funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, and Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Glukhovsky L et al. Mult Scler. 2020 Nov 16. doi: 10.1177/1352458520958359.

Key clinical point: In patients with early multiple sclerosis (MS), depressive symptoms are linked to cognitive multitasking.

Major finding: Depressive symptoms in early MS cohort had a stronger association with cognitive multitasking (R² = 0.125) than with traditional monotasking procedures, including a SPEED composite variable (R² = 0.079; P less than .001).

Study details: RADIEMS was a cohort study on 185 patients with MS diagnosed in less than or equal to 5 years.

Disclosures: The study was funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, and Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Glukhovsky L et al. Mult Scler. 2020 Nov 16. doi: 10.1177/1352458520958359.

Key clinical point: This meta-analysis found no significant association between multiple sclerosis and vitiligo.

Major finding: No significant association of multiple sclerosis with prevalent vitiligo was found (pooled odds ratio, 1.33; 95% confidence interval, 0.80-2.22).

Study details: A meta-analysis of 6 case-control studies including 12,930 participants.

Disclosures: No study sponsor was identified. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Shen MH et al. Sci Rep. 2020 Oct 20. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-74298-0.

Key clinical point: This meta-analysis found no significant association between multiple sclerosis and vitiligo.

Major finding: No significant association of multiple sclerosis with prevalent vitiligo was found (pooled odds ratio, 1.33; 95% confidence interval, 0.80-2.22).

Study details: A meta-analysis of 6 case-control studies including 12,930 participants.

Disclosures: No study sponsor was identified. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Shen MH et al. Sci Rep. 2020 Oct 20. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-74298-0.

Key clinical point: This meta-analysis found no significant association between multiple sclerosis and vitiligo.

Major finding: No significant association of multiple sclerosis with prevalent vitiligo was found (pooled odds ratio, 1.33; 95% confidence interval, 0.80-2.22).

Study details: A meta-analysis of 6 case-control studies including 12,930 participants.

Disclosures: No study sponsor was identified. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Shen MH et al. Sci Rep. 2020 Oct 20. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-74298-0.

Key clinical point: This study found significant increases in blood pressure (BP) during alemtuzumab infusions in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Major finding: For cycle 1, systolic BP (SBP) increased by 19.2 ± 9.4 mmHg during first infusion, with comparable percentage over the next 5 infusions (16%, 22%, 17%, 11%, and 13%), respectively. Diastolic BP (DBP) increased by 6.2 ± 3.8 mmHg with similar percentage increase as well (8.4%, 11.5%, 5.5%, 7%, and 3%). Second cycle (12 months later) showed similar increases in SBP and DBP as the first cycle. Third cycle (at variable follow-up times) showed similar trends with increased SBP and DBP. Overall, 54.8% of patients had increasing BP reading by 20% or more from baseline, while 29% had increased by at least 20 mmHg from baseline.

Study details: The data come from a retrospective study of SBP and DBP in MS patients treated with alemtuzumab at the London MS Clinic (n = 31; 64.5% females; mean age, 35.2 years).

Disclosures: No study sponsor was identified. Eslam Shosha and Christine Tomkinson reported no disclosures. Sarah Morrow and Courtney Casserly reported relationships with multiple pharmaceutical companies.

Source: Shosha E et al. Eur J Neurol. 2020 Nov 11. doi: 10.1111/ene.14633.

Key clinical point: This study found significant increases in blood pressure (BP) during alemtuzumab infusions in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Major finding: For cycle 1, systolic BP (SBP) increased by 19.2 ± 9.4 mmHg during first infusion, with comparable percentage over the next 5 infusions (16%, 22%, 17%, 11%, and 13%), respectively. Diastolic BP (DBP) increased by 6.2 ± 3.8 mmHg with similar percentage increase as well (8.4%, 11.5%, 5.5%, 7%, and 3%). Second cycle (12 months later) showed similar increases in SBP and DBP as the first cycle. Third cycle (at variable follow-up times) showed similar trends with increased SBP and DBP. Overall, 54.8% of patients had increasing BP reading by 20% or more from baseline, while 29% had increased by at least 20 mmHg from baseline.

Study details: The data come from a retrospective study of SBP and DBP in MS patients treated with alemtuzumab at the London MS Clinic (n = 31; 64.5% females; mean age, 35.2 years).

Disclosures: No study sponsor was identified. Eslam Shosha and Christine Tomkinson reported no disclosures. Sarah Morrow and Courtney Casserly reported relationships with multiple pharmaceutical companies.

Source: Shosha E et al. Eur J Neurol. 2020 Nov 11. doi: 10.1111/ene.14633.

Key clinical point: This study found significant increases in blood pressure (BP) during alemtuzumab infusions in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Major finding: For cycle 1, systolic BP (SBP) increased by 19.2 ± 9.4 mmHg during first infusion, with comparable percentage over the next 5 infusions (16%, 22%, 17%, 11%, and 13%), respectively. Diastolic BP (DBP) increased by 6.2 ± 3.8 mmHg with similar percentage increase as well (8.4%, 11.5%, 5.5%, 7%, and 3%). Second cycle (12 months later) showed similar increases in SBP and DBP as the first cycle. Third cycle (at variable follow-up times) showed similar trends with increased SBP and DBP. Overall, 54.8% of patients had increasing BP reading by 20% or more from baseline, while 29% had increased by at least 20 mmHg from baseline.

Study details: The data come from a retrospective study of SBP and DBP in MS patients treated with alemtuzumab at the London MS Clinic (n = 31; 64.5% females; mean age, 35.2 years).

Disclosures: No study sponsor was identified. Eslam Shosha and Christine Tomkinson reported no disclosures. Sarah Morrow and Courtney Casserly reported relationships with multiple pharmaceutical companies.

Source: Shosha E et al. Eur J Neurol. 2020 Nov 11. doi: 10.1111/ene.14633.

Key clinical point: The proportion of patients with active relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) reaching “no evidence of disease activity” (NEDA) was greater with natalizumab (NTZ) vs. fingolimod (FTY) after a year of treatment.

Major finding: At 12 months, 47.8% of NTZ-treated patients reached NEDA vs. 30.4% of FTY-treated patients. The risk of relapse was lower with NTZ vs. FTY after 6 months of treatment (annualized relapse rate, 0.02 vs. 0.09; P = .05). MRI outcomes revealed a higher NTZ effectiveness regarding the number of new T2 (0.44 vs. 1.14; P = .03) and gadolinium-enhancing (0.03 vs. 0.48; P = .03) lesions.

Study details: BEST-MS was a multicentric, prospective study with a 12-month follow-up period that compared the efficacy of NTZ and FTY in active relapsing-remitting MS. A total of 223 patients were included (109 patients were treated with NTZ and 114 with FTY).

Disclosures: The study has received funding from FP7 Health Innovation-1 in 2012. Pierre Labauge received grants from Biogen and Novartis. Kevin Bigaut received grant travel by Biogen Idec and Sanofi-Genzyme. No other disclosures were reported.

Source: Cohen M et al. Mult Scler. 2020 Oct 30. doi: 10.1177/1352458520969145.

Key clinical point: The proportion of patients with active relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) reaching “no evidence of disease activity” (NEDA) was greater with natalizumab (NTZ) vs. fingolimod (FTY) after a year of treatment.

Major finding: At 12 months, 47.8% of NTZ-treated patients reached NEDA vs. 30.4% of FTY-treated patients. The risk of relapse was lower with NTZ vs. FTY after 6 months of treatment (annualized relapse rate, 0.02 vs. 0.09; P = .05). MRI outcomes revealed a higher NTZ effectiveness regarding the number of new T2 (0.44 vs. 1.14; P = .03) and gadolinium-enhancing (0.03 vs. 0.48; P = .03) lesions.

Study details: BEST-MS was a multicentric, prospective study with a 12-month follow-up period that compared the efficacy of NTZ and FTY in active relapsing-remitting MS. A total of 223 patients were included (109 patients were treated with NTZ and 114 with FTY).

Disclosures: The study has received funding from FP7 Health Innovation-1 in 2012. Pierre Labauge received grants from Biogen and Novartis. Kevin Bigaut received grant travel by Biogen Idec and Sanofi-Genzyme. No other disclosures were reported.

Source: Cohen M et al. Mult Scler. 2020 Oct 30. doi: 10.1177/1352458520969145.

Key clinical point: The proportion of patients with active relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) reaching “no evidence of disease activity” (NEDA) was greater with natalizumab (NTZ) vs. fingolimod (FTY) after a year of treatment.

Major finding: At 12 months, 47.8% of NTZ-treated patients reached NEDA vs. 30.4% of FTY-treated patients. The risk of relapse was lower with NTZ vs. FTY after 6 months of treatment (annualized relapse rate, 0.02 vs. 0.09; P = .05). MRI outcomes revealed a higher NTZ effectiveness regarding the number of new T2 (0.44 vs. 1.14; P = .03) and gadolinium-enhancing (0.03 vs. 0.48; P = .03) lesions.

Study details: BEST-MS was a multicentric, prospective study with a 12-month follow-up period that compared the efficacy of NTZ and FTY in active relapsing-remitting MS. A total of 223 patients were included (109 patients were treated with NTZ and 114 with FTY).

Disclosures: The study has received funding from FP7 Health Innovation-1 in 2012. Pierre Labauge received grants from Biogen and Novartis. Kevin Bigaut received grant travel by Biogen Idec and Sanofi-Genzyme. No other disclosures were reported.

Source: Cohen M et al. Mult Scler. 2020 Oct 30. doi: 10.1177/1352458520969145.

Key clinical point: Earlier and continuous ocrelizumab treatment provided sustained benefits on measures of disease progression in patients with primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS).

Major finding: Over a period of 6.5 study years, the proportion of patients with progression on disability measures at 24 weeks was lower in those who started ocrelizumab early vs. those who started with placebo: Expanded Disability Status Scale Score (51.7% vs. 64.8%; P = .0018), 9-Hole Peg Test (30.6% vs. 43.1%; P = .0035), Timed 25-Foot Walk (63.2% vs. 70.7%; P = .058), and composite progression (73.2% vs. 83.3%; P = .0023). No new safety signals emerged compared with the double-blind phase of ORATORIO.

Study details: The findings are based on a long-term follow-up from the phase 3 ORATORIO extension study. 732 patients with PPMS were randomly assigned (2:1) to receive ocrelizumab or placebo every 24 weeks for at least 120 weeks. Overall, 544 participants completed the double-blind period and 527 people entered the open-label extension phase, during which they continued ocrelizumab or switched from placebo to ocrelizumab.

Disclosures: The study was funded by F Hoffmann-La Roche. The presenting author received personal fees for consulting, serving on a scientific advisory board, speaking, or other activities with AbbVie, Actelion, Alkermes, Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics, Celgene, EMD Serono, GeNeuro, GW Pharma, MedDay Pharmaceuticals, NervGen Pharma, Novartis, Otsuka, PTC Therapeutics, Roche/Genentech, and Sanofi Genzyme; and royalties for out licensed monoclonal antibodies through UTHealth from Millipore Corporation.

Source: Wolinsky JS et al. Lancet Neurol. 2020 Oct 29. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(20)30342-2.

Key clinical point: Earlier and continuous ocrelizumab treatment provided sustained benefits on measures of disease progression in patients with primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS).

Major finding: Over a period of 6.5 study years, the proportion of patients with progression on disability measures at 24 weeks was lower in those who started ocrelizumab early vs. those who started with placebo: Expanded Disability Status Scale Score (51.7% vs. 64.8%; P = .0018), 9-Hole Peg Test (30.6% vs. 43.1%; P = .0035), Timed 25-Foot Walk (63.2% vs. 70.7%; P = .058), and composite progression (73.2% vs. 83.3%; P = .0023). No new safety signals emerged compared with the double-blind phase of ORATORIO.

Study details: The findings are based on a long-term follow-up from the phase 3 ORATORIO extension study. 732 patients with PPMS were randomly assigned (2:1) to receive ocrelizumab or placebo every 24 weeks for at least 120 weeks. Overall, 544 participants completed the double-blind period and 527 people entered the open-label extension phase, during which they continued ocrelizumab or switched from placebo to ocrelizumab.

Disclosures: The study was funded by F Hoffmann-La Roche. The presenting author received personal fees for consulting, serving on a scientific advisory board, speaking, or other activities with AbbVie, Actelion, Alkermes, Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics, Celgene, EMD Serono, GeNeuro, GW Pharma, MedDay Pharmaceuticals, NervGen Pharma, Novartis, Otsuka, PTC Therapeutics, Roche/Genentech, and Sanofi Genzyme; and royalties for out licensed monoclonal antibodies through UTHealth from Millipore Corporation.

Source: Wolinsky JS et al. Lancet Neurol. 2020 Oct 29. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(20)30342-2.

Key clinical point: Earlier and continuous ocrelizumab treatment provided sustained benefits on measures of disease progression in patients with primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS).

Major finding: Over a period of 6.5 study years, the proportion of patients with progression on disability measures at 24 weeks was lower in those who started ocrelizumab early vs. those who started with placebo: Expanded Disability Status Scale Score (51.7% vs. 64.8%; P = .0018), 9-Hole Peg Test (30.6% vs. 43.1%; P = .0035), Timed 25-Foot Walk (63.2% vs. 70.7%; P = .058), and composite progression (73.2% vs. 83.3%; P = .0023). No new safety signals emerged compared with the double-blind phase of ORATORIO.

Study details: The findings are based on a long-term follow-up from the phase 3 ORATORIO extension study. 732 patients with PPMS were randomly assigned (2:1) to receive ocrelizumab or placebo every 24 weeks for at least 120 weeks. Overall, 544 participants completed the double-blind period and 527 people entered the open-label extension phase, during which they continued ocrelizumab or switched from placebo to ocrelizumab.

Disclosures: The study was funded by F Hoffmann-La Roche. The presenting author received personal fees for consulting, serving on a scientific advisory board, speaking, or other activities with AbbVie, Actelion, Alkermes, Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics, Celgene, EMD Serono, GeNeuro, GW Pharma, MedDay Pharmaceuticals, NervGen Pharma, Novartis, Otsuka, PTC Therapeutics, Roche/Genentech, and Sanofi Genzyme; and royalties for out licensed monoclonal antibodies through UTHealth from Millipore Corporation.

Source: Wolinsky JS et al. Lancet Neurol. 2020 Oct 29. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(20)30342-2.

Key clinical point: Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is negatively associated with multiple sclerosis (MS), suggesting a possible protective role of the parasite in MS.

Major finding: Anti-T. gondii antibodies were detected in 38 MS patients (29.5%) and 130 healthy controls (45.4%). After adjustment, T. gondii seropositivity was significantly associated with a reduced risk of MS (adjusted odds ratio, 0.56; P = .02).

Study details: The data come from an Italian population‑based case-control study of 129 patients with MS and 287 age- and sex-matched controls.

Disclosures: This research was funded by the Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “G.F. Ingrassia,” University of Catania, Italy. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Nicoletti A et al. Sci Rep. 2020 Nov 2. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-75830-y.

Key clinical point: Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is negatively associated with multiple sclerosis (MS), suggesting a possible protective role of the parasite in MS.

Major finding: Anti-T. gondii antibodies were detected in 38 MS patients (29.5%) and 130 healthy controls (45.4%). After adjustment, T. gondii seropositivity was significantly associated with a reduced risk of MS (adjusted odds ratio, 0.56; P = .02).

Study details: The data come from an Italian population‑based case-control study of 129 patients with MS and 287 age- and sex-matched controls.

Disclosures: This research was funded by the Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “G.F. Ingrassia,” University of Catania, Italy. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Nicoletti A et al. Sci Rep. 2020 Nov 2. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-75830-y.

Key clinical point: Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is negatively associated with multiple sclerosis (MS), suggesting a possible protective role of the parasite in MS.

Major finding: Anti-T. gondii antibodies were detected in 38 MS patients (29.5%) and 130 healthy controls (45.4%). After adjustment, T. gondii seropositivity was significantly associated with a reduced risk of MS (adjusted odds ratio, 0.56; P = .02).

Study details: The data come from an Italian population‑based case-control study of 129 patients with MS and 287 age- and sex-matched controls.

Disclosures: This research was funded by the Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “G.F. Ingrassia,” University of Catania, Italy. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Nicoletti A et al. Sci Rep. 2020 Nov 2. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-75830-y.

Key clinical point: Nearly one third of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience migraine.

Major finding: The pooled prevalence rate of migraine was 31% (P less than .001), which significantly varied across the continents (P less than .001).

Study details: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 11 articles and 12 conference abstracts including a total of 11,372 MS cases.

Disclosures: No funding source was identified. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Citation: Mirmosayyeb O et al. J Clin Neuroscience. 2020 Aug 4. doi: 10.1016/j.jocn.2020.06.021.

Key clinical point: Nearly one third of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience migraine.

Major finding: The pooled prevalence rate of migraine was 31% (P less than .001), which significantly varied across the continents (P less than .001).

Study details: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 11 articles and 12 conference abstracts including a total of 11,372 MS cases.

Disclosures: No funding source was identified. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Citation: Mirmosayyeb O et al. J Clin Neuroscience. 2020 Aug 4. doi: 10.1016/j.jocn.2020.06.021.

Key clinical point: Nearly one third of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience migraine.

Major finding: The pooled prevalence rate of migraine was 31% (P less than .001), which significantly varied across the continents (P less than .001).

Study details: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 11 articles and 12 conference abstracts including a total of 11,372 MS cases.

Disclosures: No funding source was identified. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Citation: Mirmosayyeb O et al. J Clin Neuroscience. 2020 Aug 4. doi: 10.1016/j.jocn.2020.06.021.

Key clinical point: In patients with progressive multiple sclerosis (MS), impaired odor identification is associated with a greater clinical decline and higher risk for death.

Major finding: Impaired Brief-Smell Identification (B-SIT) was associated with higher risk for death (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 14.9; P less than .001). Among patients with progressive MS, impaired B-SIT vs normal B-SIT showed greater clinical change per month in terms of Multiple Sclerosis Severity scores (median, 0.62 vs. –0.08; P =.004) and Age-Related Multiple Sclerosis Severity scores (median, 0.54 vs. –0.07; P =.004).

Study details: Findings from a retrospective review on 149 patients with MS during a median follow-up of 121 months.

Disclosures: No funding source was identified. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Citation: da Silva AM et al. Mult Scler Relat Disord. 2020 Sep 3. doi: 10.1016/j.msard.2020.102486.

Key clinical point: In patients with progressive multiple sclerosis (MS), impaired odor identification is associated with a greater clinical decline and higher risk for death.

Major finding: Impaired Brief-Smell Identification (B-SIT) was associated with higher risk for death (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 14.9; P less than .001). Among patients with progressive MS, impaired B-SIT vs normal B-SIT showed greater clinical change per month in terms of Multiple Sclerosis Severity scores (median, 0.62 vs. –0.08; P =.004) and Age-Related Multiple Sclerosis Severity scores (median, 0.54 vs. –0.07; P =.004).

Study details: Findings from a retrospective review on 149 patients with MS during a median follow-up of 121 months.

Disclosures: No funding source was identified. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Citation: da Silva AM et al. Mult Scler Relat Disord. 2020 Sep 3. doi: 10.1016/j.msard.2020.102486.

Key clinical point: In patients with progressive multiple sclerosis (MS), impaired odor identification is associated with a greater clinical decline and higher risk for death.

Major finding: Impaired Brief-Smell Identification (B-SIT) was associated with higher risk for death (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 14.9; P less than .001). Among patients with progressive MS, impaired B-SIT vs normal B-SIT showed greater clinical change per month in terms of Multiple Sclerosis Severity scores (median, 0.62 vs. –0.08; P =.004) and Age-Related Multiple Sclerosis Severity scores (median, 0.54 vs. –0.07; P =.004).

Study details: Findings from a retrospective review on 149 patients with MS during a median follow-up of 121 months.

Disclosures: No funding source was identified. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Citation: da Silva AM et al. Mult Scler Relat Disord. 2020 Sep 3. doi: 10.1016/j.msard.2020.102486.