Diagnosis and Management of Multiple Sclerosis in Pediatric Patients

Tanuja Chitnis, MD provides an overview of genetic, environmental, and hormonal risk factors for pediatric multiple sclerosis and discusses its prevalence based on age, sex, and geographic location.

Thought leaders in neurology discuss the results of the phase 3 PARADIGMS trial as well as the safety and efficacy of fingolimod for use in pediatric patients with multiple sclerosis.

Lauren B. Krupp, MD provides insight into the signs and symptoms of multiple sclerosis and emphasizes differences in clinical presentation between adult and pediatric patients.

Key opinion leaders in the management of MS comment on the current diagnostic criteria and discuss the importance of ruling out other common mimics in pediatric patients.

Expert neurologist Lauren B. Krupp, MD provides insight into the use of diagnostic tools for pediatric multiple sclerosis such as MRI imaging, laboratory blood tests, and lumbar punctures.

Experts in multiple sclerosis discuss the importance of a multidisciplinary approach for pediatric patients and emphasize the role of social workers, psychologists, and support groups for patients and families.  

Tanuja Chitnis, MD reviews the 2018 AAN guidelines on disease-modifying therapies and discusses goals of therapy when selecting first-line treatments and monitoring response in pediatric multiple sclerosis.

Leaders in neurology provide insight into first-line disease-modifying therapies for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, such as interferon or glatiramer acetate, and glucocorticoids for acute events.

Lauren B. Krupp, MD considers how treatment failure in pediatric multiple sclerosis may be defined as disease relapse, new or enlarging legions, inability to tolerate treatment, or lack of adherence.

Expert neurologists discuss drugs in development for pediatric multiple sclerosis and consider the potential for biomarkers to monitor treatment response or new disease activity in the future.

Tanuja Chitnis, MD and Lauren B. Krupp, MD give insight into the future of pediatric multiple sclerosis by discussing unmet needs and advice for community neurologists.