State of the Science Summit: Evidence-Based Care for Multiple Sclerosis

Earlier in 2022, a study conducted by Alberto Ascherio, MD, DrPH, and colleagues that included data on more than 10 million young adults on active duty in the US military, suggested that those participants who were infected with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) had a 32-fold increased risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS), with no increase observed after infection from other viruses, including the similarly transmitted cytomegalovirus.¹ Since, the findings have reignited the debate around the root cause of MS, and the NIH has launched a clinical trial to assess a possible vaccine for EBV.²

In addition to this possible game-changing finding, the field of MS care has advanced in both its therapeutic offerings and imaging capabilities. The progress that has been made has drastically improved the prognostic outlook for patients but has also somewhat complicated conversations with patients.

Improving communication about these advances and findings has been achieved with education and peer-to-peer information sharing. NeurologyLive^® State of the Science Summit events are short meetings aiming to provide these opportunities. Designed to educate neurologists and advanced practice clinicians on the clinical benefits associated with the new science driving new thinking, our renowned faculty focuses on the most relevant topics to ultimately improve patient care, including overcoming disparities and caring for specific patient populations.

This event, chaired by Robert T. Naismith, MD, professor of neurology at Washington University in St. Louis, takes place virtually from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM CST on Thursday, November 3, 2022. Register today at no cost to get access to the program, featuring various presentations on the key aspects of treatment and advances in the understanding of MS, including insight from other experts from Washington University in St. Louis: Salim Chahin, MD, MSCE; Anne H. Cross, MD; Gregory F. Wu, MD, PhD; and Matthew R. Brier, MD, PhD.

Additionally, the event will feature a pair of Q&A sessions for open forum discussion about the presentation topics. Registration for this virtual event is complimentary, and neurologists and advanced practice clinicians are encouraged to share their feedback in our post-event survey.

Presentation topics include the following:

• Case Presentation: Evidence-Based MS Care — Robert T. Naismith, MD
• Choosing a DMT — Salim Chahin, MD, MSCE
• Pro: Epstein-Barr Virus Causes Multiple Sclerosis — Anne H. Cross, MD
• Con: Epstein-Barr Virus Causes Multiple Sclerosis — Gregory F. Wu, MD, PhD
• Clinical Neuroimaging in MS: More Than Counting Lesions — Matthew R. Brier, MD, PhD.

For more information about other events, check out our Institutional Perspectives in Neurology: Multiple Sclerosis page.

REFERENCES
1. Bjornevik K, Cortese M, Healy BC, et al. Longitudinal analysis reveals high prevalence of Epstein-Barr virus associated with multiple sclerosis. Science. Published online January 13, 2022. doi:10.1126/science.abj8222
2. NIH launches clinical trial of Epstein-Barr virus vaccine. News release. National Institutes of Health. May 6, 2022. Accessed October 14, 2022. https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/nih-launches-clinical-trial-epstein-barr-virus-vaccine