The Acute Optic Neuritis Network (ACON): Study protocol of a non-interventional prospective multicenter study on diagnosis and treatment of acute optic neuritis

Optic neuritis (ON) often occurs at the presentation of multiple sclerosis (MS), neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD), and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) antibody-associated disease (MOGAD). The recommended treatment of high-dose corticosteroids for ON is based on a North American study population, which did not address treatment timing or antibody serostatus. The Acute Optic Neuritis Network (ACON) presents a global, prospective, observational study protocol primarily designed to investigate the effect of time to high-dose corticosteroid treatment on 6-month visual outcomes in ON. Patients presenting within 30 days of the inaugural ON will be enrolled. For the primary analysis, patients will subsequently be assigned into the MS-ON group, the aquapotin-4-IgG positive ON (AQP4-IgG+ON) group or the MOG-IgG positive ON (MOG-IgG+ON) group and then further sub-stratified according to the number of days from the onset of visual loss to high-dose corticosteroids (days-to-Rx). The primary outcome measure will be high-contrast best-corrected visual acuity (HC-BCVA) at 6 months. In addition, multimodal data will be collected in subjects with any ON (CIS-ON, MS-ON, AQP4-IgG+ON or MOG-IgG+ON, and seronegative non-MS-ON), excluding infectious and granulomatous ON. Secondary outcomes include low-contrast best-corrected visual acuity (LC-BCVA), optical coherence tomography (OCT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measurements, serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers (AQP4-IgG and MOG-IgG levels, neurofilament, and glial fibrillary protein), and patient reported outcome measures (headache, visual function in daily routine, depression, and quality of life questionnaires) at presentation at 6-month and 12-month follow-up visits. Data will be collected from 28 academic hospitals from Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Europe, North America, South America, and Australia. Planned recruitment consists of 100 MS-ON, 50 AQP4-IgG+ON, and 50 MOG-IgG+ON. This prospective, multimodal data collection will assess the potential value of early high-dose corticosteroid treatment, investigate the interrelations between functional impairments and structural changes, and evaluate the diagnostic yield of laboratory biomarkers. This analysis has the ability to substantially improve treatment strategies and the accuracy of diagnostic stratification in acute demyelinating ON

The Acute Optic Neuritis Network (ACON): Study protocol of a non-interventional prospective multicenter study on diagnosis and treatment of acute optic neuritis

Optic neuritis (ON) often occurs at the presentation of multiple sclerosis (MS), neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD), and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) antibody-associated disease (MOGAD). The recommended treatment of high-dose corticosteroids for ON is based on a North American study population, which did not address treatment timing or antibody serostatus. The Acute Optic Neuritis Network (ACON) presents a global, prospective, observational study protocol primarily designed to investigate the effect of time to high-dose corticosteroid treatment on 6-month visual outcomes in ON. Patients presenting within 30 days of the inaugural ON will be enrolled. For the primary analysis, patients will subsequently be assigned into the MS-ON group, the aquapotin-4-IgG positive ON (AQP4-IgG+ON) group or the MOG-IgG positive ON (MOG-IgG+ON) group and then further sub-stratified according to the number of days from the onset of visual loss to high-dose corticosteroids (days-to-Rx). The primary outcome measure will be high-contrast best-corrected visual acuity (HC-BCVA) at 6 months. In addition, multimodal data will be collected in subjects with any ON (CIS-ON, MS-ON, AQP4-IgG+ON or MOG-IgG+ON, and seronegative non-MS-ON), excluding infectious and granulomatous ON. Secondary outcomes include low-contrast best-corrected visual acuity (LC-BCVA), optical coherence tomography (OCT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measurements, serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers (AQP4-IgG and MOG-IgG levels, neurofilament, and glial fibrillary protein), and patient reported outcome measures (headache, visual function in daily routine, depression, and quality of life questionnaires) at presentation at 6-month and 12-month follow-up visits. Data will be collected from 28 academic hospitals from Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Europe, North America, South America, and Australia. Planned recruitment consists of 100 MS-ON, 50 AQP4-IgG+ON, and 50 MOG-IgG+ON. This prospective, multimodal data collection will assess the potential value of early high-dose corticosteroid treatment, investigate the interrelations between functional impairments and structural changes, and evaluate the diagnostic yield of laboratory biomarkers. This analysis has the ability to substantially improve treatment strategies and the accuracy of diagnostic stratification in acute demyelinating ON. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT05605951

Do people with multiple sclerosis want to discuss their long-term prognosis? A nationwide study in Argentina

Background: Demographics, clinical and imaging prognostic factors have been reported in large series of people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). However, personalized long-term prognosis (LTP) is varied and uncertain in each particular case. Currently, there is limited evidence on how PwMS feel about prognosis communication and their coping strategies. Therefore, we aimed to assess the prognosis communication experiences and preferences of PwMS. In addition, we investigated whether demographic, clinical and neuropsychological factors are associated with prognosis information preferences. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey that included 301 PwMS from Argentina was carried out. Data on self-administered surveys including prognosis in MS questionnaire (PIMS study, evaluating prognosis communication experiences, attitudes and preferences), MS impact scale (MSIS-29), Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (COPE-28) inventory, Fatigue Severity Scale and Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) were evaluated. A logistic regression model was performed. Results: 21.5% of responders never had discussed LTP with their neurologist and 47.1% lacked clarity about their LTP. PwMS had similar preference for LTP information at diagnosis, survey (current) or in the future (72.4%, 71.7%, 73.4%, respectively). Most participants (94.3%) wanted to be informed about LTP tool availability, and 61.7% wanted to know more about conversion to SPMS. Older age (p = 0.03) and lower fatigue (p = 0.04), and COPE denial (p &lt; 0.01), humour (p = 0.03), self-blame (p &lt; 0.01) and venting (p = 0.02) were associated with lower LTP information preference. Trends were observed for higher MS duration (p = 0.06), physical (p = 0.07) and psychological (p = 0.08) impact. Fatigue and COPE denial were predictors of higher LTP information preference in a multivariate model. Conclusion: PwMS from Argentina want more discussion and clarification about their LTP. Several physical and neuropsychological factors predict LTP information preference.</p

Aquaporin-4 Serostatus and Visual Outcomes in Clinically Isolated Acute Optic Neuritis

Background: Aquaporin-4 antibodies (AQP4-Ab) are associated with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) and typically this disorder has a poor visual prognosis as a result of optic neuritis (ON). Our aim was to report the clinical features at onset and final visual outcomes at 6 months of patients with ON who were positive for AQP4-Ab vs. those who were negative for AQP4-Ab. Methods: Retrospective cohort study. AQP4-Ab were tested by indirect immunofluorescence in 57 patients with a first episode of ON. All patients initially were referred for consideration of multiple sclerosis ON (MSON), NMOSD, or any other inflammatory central nervous system disorder during follow-up (41.31 ± 24.32 months). Our patients were diagnosed as having NMOSD, MSON, chronic relapsing inflammatory ON, and single isolated ON. Risk factors associated with visual outcomes of ON patients were assessed through an ordinal regression model. Results: Positive AQP4-Ab were associated with male sex (P = 0.02), earlier age of onset (P = 0.01), and myelitis relapses (P = 0.04). Seronegative group had fewer recurrences of ON than the seropositive group (35% vs 58%, P = 0.14). Patients that were positive for AQP4-Ab did not have worse visual acuity at baseline and after 6 months. However, poor visual acuity during first attack was associated with a worse visual acuity at 6 months (odds ratio = 2.28, 95% CI [1.58-3.28], P = 0.03). Conclusions: At 6 months, positive AQP4-Ab vs negative AQP4-Ab patients no evidence of poorer visual acuity. Lower visual acuity at baseline was associated with poor visual recovery at 6 months

sj-docx-2-msj-10.1177_13524585231219138 – Supplemental material for Clinical impact of gender and age at onset on disease trajectory in primary progressive multiple sclerosis patients

Supplemental material, sj-docx-2-msj-10.1177_13524585231219138 for Clinical impact of gender and age at onset on disease trajectory in primary progressive multiple sclerosis patients by Sebastian Camerlingo, Fernando Rubinstein, Maria Celia Ysrraelit, Jorge Correale, Edgar Carnero Contentti, Juan I Rojas, Liliana Patrucco, Felisa del Valle Leguizamon, Veronica Tkachuk, Nora Fernandez Liguori, Edgardo Cristiano, Carolina Mainella, Gisela Zanga, Adriana Carra, Mariano Marrodan, Alejandra Diana Martinez, Berenice Anabel Silva and Ricardo Alonso in Multiple Sclerosis Journal</p

sj-docx-1-msj-10.1177_13524585231219138 – Supplemental material for Clinical impact of gender and age at onset on disease trajectory in primary progressive multiple sclerosis patients

Supplemental material, sj-docx-1-msj-10.1177_13524585231219138 for Clinical impact of gender and age at onset on disease trajectory in primary progressive multiple sclerosis patients by Sebastian Camerlingo, Fernando Rubinstein, Maria Celia Ysrraelit, Jorge Correale, Edgar Carnero Contentti, Juan I Rojas, Liliana Patrucco, Felisa del Valle Leguizamon, Veronica Tkachuk, Nora Fernandez Liguori, Edgardo Cristiano, Carolina Mainella, Gisela Zanga, Adriana Carra, Mariano Marrodan, Alejandra Diana Martinez, Berenice Anabel Silva and Ricardo Alonso in Multiple Sclerosis Journal</p