State of the Art and Future Challenges in Multiple Sclerosis Research and Medical Management: An Insight into the 5th International Porto Congress of Multiple Sclerosis

The 5th International Porto Congress of Multiple Sclerosis took place between the 14th and 16th of February 2019 in Porto, Portugal. Its intensive programme covered a wide-range of themes—including many of the hot topics, challenges, pitfalls and yet unmet needs in the field of multiple sclerosis (MS)—led by a number of well-acknowledged world experts. This meeting review summarizes the talks that took place during the congress, which focussed on issues in MS as diverse as the development and challenges of progressive MS, epidemiology, differential diagnosis, medical management, molecular research and imaging tools

Ocrelizumab versus Interferon Beta-1a in Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis

Supported by F. Hoffmann–La Roche

Intrathecal IGM synthesis in multiple sclerosis and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders: clinical and laboratory analysis

sem informação381S219979079023rd World Congress of Neurology (WCN)2017-09JapãoKyot

Optic neuromyelitis syndrome in Brazilian patients

Objectives: To report the clinical features and outcome of 24 Brazilian patients with optic neuromyelitis syndrome (ONM); discuss the underlying pathological events associated with the ONM syndrome; review the nosological situation of ONM in the group of inflammatory and demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system. Patients and Methods: Patients with ONM treated at the Hospital da Lagoa, Rio de Janeiro were studied. Demographic, clinical, magnetic resonance imaging, cerebrospinal fluid, and pathological data were analysed. Results: The study consisted of 20 women, four men of whom 10 were white and 14 Afro-Brazilians. Clinical course was recurrent in 22 cases and monophasic in two. Neurological manifestations at inclusion were: sensory impairment (66%), bilateral (41.6%) or unilateral blindness (20.8%), paraplegia or quadriplegia (37.5%). The EDSS was moderate/severe in 70.8%. The underlying pathological events were respectively pulmonary tuberculosis and upper respiratory infection in the two monophasic cases; in the 22 recurrent ONM patients: pulmonary tuberculosis (3), neurocysticercosis (1), polyarteritis nodosa (1), antinuclear antibody and rheumatoid factor (1), antiphospholipid antibody primary syndrome (1), diabetes mellitus (1), hypothyroidism (1), and amenorrhea-galactorrhea (4). Normal cerebrospinal fluid was found in 52% and an inflammatory profile in 48%. Only four recurrent ONM white patients had brain and spinal cord magnetic resonance imaging and cerebrospinal fluid findings compatible with the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. Large lesions were seen in 62% of spinal magnetic resonance images. Six of 12 recurrent ONM Afro-Brazilian died. There were no statistical differences in the demographic data of the two ethnic groups. Afro-Brazilians were significantly more severely impaired and had a higher mortality rate than the white patients. Conclusion: These cases were classified as follows: two monophasic acute disseminated encephalomyelitis; one recurrent disseminated encephalomyelitis; three recurrent ONM associated with Hughes syndrome, autoantibodies and polyarteritis nodosa; six recurrent ONM with endocrinopathies; and finally, four muliple sclerosis cases. The remaining cases were not associated with any other condition. It would seem clear that ONM is a syndrome rather than a single disease

Multiple sclerosis: report on 200 cases from Curitiba, Southern Brazil and comparison with other Brazilian series Esclerose múltipla: descrição de 200 casos de Curitiba, Paraná e comparação com outras séries brasileiras

We reviewed the clinical and laboratorial findings of 200 patients in Curitiba, Southern Brazil (25°25'40" S; 49°16'23" W-GR), with multiple sclerosis (MS)according to Poser's criteria. The patients were classified as: clinically definite (A1 and A2) - 142 patients (71%); laboratory-supported definite - 42 patients (21%); and clinically probable - 16 patients (8%). Relapsing-remitting (RR) form was the most common clinical presentation, with 182 (91%), followed by primary progressive (PP)(16 cases, 8%), and only 2 cases with secondarily progressive form (SP). Nine women and 7 men totalized the 16 PP cases. The mean age of onset was 32.0±9.9 (median 32 years). The gender ratio was female 1.8:1 male. All patients, except 3 African-Brazilian, were white. Seven (3.5%) patients developed a clinical history of Devic's syndrome. The initial clinical picture included brainstem/cerebellar syndrome in 126 (63%) cases, sensorial findings in 106 (53%)patients, motor (pyramidal) syndrome in 102 (49.5%), and optic neuritis in 79 (39.5%) cases. 122 (61%) patients had a final EDSS score < 3.5; 45 (22.5%) a score between 3.5 and 5.5, and 33 (16.5%) a score > or = 6.0. There was no significant correlation between the number of relapses or duration of disease with EDSS scores (Spearman's test). Only 14 (7%) of the total number presented the benign form (EDSS< 3.5 after 10 years of disease). We observed a later age of onset and initial clinical findings with higher frequency of brainstem/cerebellar syndrome and optic neuritis, when compared to other Brazilian and Western series<br>Os autores analisaram retrospectivamente 200 pacientes portadores de esclerose múltipla de acordo com os critérios de Poser (1983). Cento e quarenta e dois (71%) dos casos possuíam a forma clinicamente definida, 42 (21%) a forma definida laboratorialmente e 16 (8%) a forma clinicamente provável. A forma recorrente-remitente (RR) foi a mais comumente observada (182 casos, 91%), seguida pela forma progressiva primária (PP)(16 casos, 8%), e somente 2 pacientes com a forma secundariamente progressiva. A idade média de início da doença foi 32,0±9,9 anos (mediana 32 anos).A relação entre os gêneros foi mulheres 1,8:1 homens. Todos os pacientes eram da raça branca, com exceção de 3 pacientes afro-brasileiros. Síndrome de Devic ou neuromielite óptica foi observada em 7 (3,5%) pacientes. Síndrome de tronco cerebral/cerebelar foi a forma mais comum de apresentação inicial da doença, com 126 casos (63%), seguido por achados sensoriais (106 casos, 53%), síndrome motora/piramidal (102 casos, 49,5%), e neurite óptica (79 casos, 39,5%). Nesta série, 122 pacientes (61%) possuíam um EDSS final < 3,5; 45 (22,5%) escore entre 3,5 e 5,5 e 33 (16,5%) um escore > ou = 6.0. Não se observou uma correlação entre o número de surtos ou os anos de doença com o escore EDSS (teste de Spearman). Somente 14 pacientes (7%) possuíam a forma benigna de esclerose múltipla (escore EDSS < 3,5 após 10 anos de doença).Comparada com outras séries brasileiras, a nossa série diferenciou-se em alguns aspectos como idade mais tardia de início da doença e forma clínica de apresentação inicial com maior frequência de envolvimento de nervo óptico e tronco cerebral/cerebelo. Estas observações devem-se provavelmente a fatores locais de seleção dos pacientes encaminhados ao Hospital Universitário de Curitiba, assim como possivelmente à diferente constituição étnica-racial da população local, quando comparada com populações de São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro e Minas Gerais