Latest Conference Coverage

Recapping Research From 2023 ACTRIMS

As a recap from ACTRIMS 2023, get caught up on some of the latest news in multiple sclerosis as the NeurologyLive® team shares some of our data updates.

Identifying Reasons, Barriers to Low Employment Rates in NMOSD: Farrah Mateen, MD, PhD

The associate director of the Multiple Sclerosis & Neuromyelitis Optica Unit at Massachusetts General Hospital provided perspective on a study that linked NMOSD to increased unemployment and decreased income. [WATCH TIME: 6 minutes]

Positive Response of Telehealth as Additional Option for Care in MS: Marisa McGinley, DO

The staff neurologist from the Mellen Center for MS Treatment and Research at the Cleveland Clinic discussed how patients with multiple sclerosis are more open to using telehealth for accessing their healthcare providers at the 2023 ACTRIMS Forum. [WATCH TIME: 4 minutes]

Differentiating Severe Multiple Sclerosis Through a Comprehensive Assessment: Robert Zivadinov, MD, PhD

The director of the Buffalo Neuroimaging Analysis Center provided context on the CASA-MS study, and the key differences in why certain patients with multiple sclerosis experience more rapid disability progression. [WATCH TIME: 4 minutes]

Metabolic Changes, Cognitive Improvements in Multiple Sclerosis Observed Through Intermittent Calorie Restriction

Compared with those on an unrestricted diet, patients with MS on intermittent calorie restriction showed greater cognitive performance, as assessed by SDMT, after 12 weeks dieting.

Building Trust and Increasing Patient Engagement With MS Communities: Marisa McGinley, DO

At the 2023 ACTRIMS Forum, the staff neurologist from the Mellen Center for MS Treatment and Research at the Cleveland Clinic talked about the lack of trust and engaging more with the MS community. [WATCH TIME: 5 minutes]

Favorable Safety Outcomes Observed in Ozanimod Over Diroximel Fumarate

The ozanimod group demonstrated significantly lower odds of safety outcomes such as nasopharyngitis, diarrhea, and urinary tract infection relative to diroximel fumarate.

Access to MS Care in Underserved and Diverse Populations: Marisa McGinley, DO

The staff neurologist at the Mellen Center for MS Treatment and Research at Cleveland Clinic, spoke at the 2023 ACTRIMS Forum about disparities in care access for patients with MS. [WATCH TIME: 5 minutes]

Long-term Ozanimod Treatment in Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis Associated With Stable or Improved Disease Activity and Safety

An ad hoc analysis of patients from a pair of phase 3 clinical trials and an open-label extension suggest that more than 5 years of treatment with ozanimod (Zeposia; BMS) was safe, without differences in age groups.

Satralizumab Shows Long-term Efficacy and Safety in AQP4-IgG-Seropositive NMOSD

Results from the open-label SAkuraMoon study show consistent relapse freedom in satralizumab-treated patients with aquaporin-4-IgG-seropositive NMOSD.

Ocrelizumab and Rituximab Demonstrate Similar Safety, Efficacy in Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis

Treatment with either rituximab and ocrelizumab, 2 FDA-approved therapies that target CD20, resulted in similar odds of experiencing a clinical disease activity in both unadjusted and adjusted analyses.

BTK Inhibitor Evobrutinib Displays Superior Efficacy Compared With Anti-CD20 Treatment for MS

A preclinical assessment of evobrutinib showed it demonstrated superior efficacy in targeting compartmentalized neuroinflammation in multiple sclerosis compared with anti-CD20 treatment.

Majority of Long-Term Immunotherapy-Treated Patients With MOGAD Sustain Relapses

An analysis of patients with MOGAD showed that only 50% of those treated with various immunotherapies over a long-term period maintained relapse-free status.

Cognition Stabilized in Highly Active Relapsing MS on Cladribine

Between pretreatment naïve patients and those previously on disease-modifying therapies, treatment with cladribine resulted in stable scores on Symbols Digit Modalities Test and other cognitive assessments.

Gauging MS Disease Activity Through Octave’s MSDA Test: Taylor Gonyou, DO

The multiple sclerosis fellow at Michigan Institute for Neurologic Disorders provided perspective on the clinical utility and advantages of a multi-protein test that assesses multiple sclerosis disease activity. [WATCH TIME: 3 minutes]

Glatiramer Acetate Depot Injection Shows T1 and T2 Lesion Reduction in Relapsing MS

Secondary findings from a phase 3 study demonstrate a significant decrease in new T1 enhancing lesions and new enlarging hyperintense T2 lesions in patients with multiple sclerosis undergoing glatiramer acetate depot treatment.

Combination Treatment Approach to Fatigue in MS Nets Benefits

Study results suggest that selected interventions should be based on phenotypic differences and treatment goals.

Disability Progression Risk Lowered in Diverse Patients With Relapsing MS on Ocrelizumab

Non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic or Latino individuals on ocrelizumab did not demonstrate significantly greater risk on 24-week confirmed disability progression relative to non-Hispanic Whites.

High Proportion of Patients Maintained No Evidence of Disease Activity With Ublituximab

Majority of patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis demonstrated achieving and maintaining no evidence disease activity after being treated with ublituximab.

NeuroVoices: Shazam Hussain, MD, FRCP, FAHA, on Weighing Direct to Angio Approaches for Mobile Stroke Units

The director of Cleveland Clinic’s Cerebrovascular Center provided clinical perspective on the treatment decisions mobile stroke units face, and whether directly transferring patients to angiography suite is necessary.

ACTRIMS 2023: What to Expect From the Annual Forum

Daniel Ontaneda, MD, program committee vice-chair of ACTRIMS, provided insight on the notable sessions and themes clinicians should pay attention to at this year’s forum, which takes place February 23-25, in San Diego, California.

Recapping Research From 2023 International Stroke Conference

As a recap from ISC 2023, get caught up on some of the latest news in stroke as the NeurologyLive® team shares some of our data updates and expert insights.

Expanding the Window to Use Mechanical Thrombectomy, Treat Ischemic Stroke: Gabor Toth, MD

The vascular and interventional neurologist at Cleveland Clinic provided insight on a study presented at the 2023 International Stroke Conference that observed the clinical effectiveness of mechanical thrombectomy beyond 24 hours. [WATCH TIME: 6 minutes]

Closing Remarks, Research Themes in Stroke From ISC 2023: Tudor Jovin, MD

The medical director of the Cooper Neurological Institute spoke at the 2023 International Stroke Conference about notable research themes from the meeting. [WATCH TIME: 10 minutes]

Advantages to Directly Transferring Stroke Treatment to Angiography: Shazam Hussain, MD, FRCP, FAHA

The director of Cleveland Clinic’s Cerebrovascular Center discussed the decisions mobile stroke units face and why opting for direct transfer to angiography is meant for certain scenarios. [WATCH TIME: 3 minutes]

Understanding Nuances of Mobile Stroke Units and When to Transfer Directly to Angiography: Shazam Hussain, MD, FRCP, FAHA

The director of Cleveland Clinic’s Cerebrovascular Center provided perspective on a new study presented at the International Stroke Conference on experiences of poststroke patients taken directly to angiography suite. [WATCH TIME: 3 minutes]

Neuroprotective Effects of ApTOLL, TLR4 Receptor Angatonists to Treat Ischemic Stroke

Investigators Macarena Hernandez, PhD, and Marc Ribo, MD, provided commentary on positive phase 2a findings assessing ApTOLL in combination with EVT in patients with ischemic stroke.

Blood Pressure Medications Not Safe or Effective in Lowering Top Number of BP Reading After Endovascular Stroke Treatment

Blood pressure medications may not be safe or effective to use for lowering systolic blood pressure following endovascular treatment for acute ischemic stroke.

Stroke Prevention and Atrial Fibrillation Management, Thoughts From STROKE-AF Study: Lee Shwamm, MD

The professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School spoke at the 2023 ISC Conference about highlights from the STROKE-AF study after a 3-year follow-up. [WATCH TIME: 5 minutes]

Direct Transfer to Angiography Following Mobile Stroke Unit Leads to Less Successful Recanalization, Increased Mortality

In comparison with those who underwent additional imaging, patients with large vessel occlusion who directly went to angiography suite had higher mortality, but with no difference in functional outcome.