| 1. |
- Alping, Peter, et al.
(author)
-
Cancer Risk for Fingolimod, Natalizumab, and Rituximab in Multiple Sclerosis Patients
- 2020
-
In: Annals of Neurology. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0364-5134 .- 1531-8249. ; 87:5, s. 688-699
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: Novel, highly effective disease-modifying therapies have revolutionized multiple sclerosis (MS) care. However, evidence from large comparative studies on important safety outcomes, such as cancer, is still lacking.METHODS: In this nationwide register-based cohort study, we linked data from the Swedish MS register to the Swedish Cancer Register and other national health care and census registers. We included 4,187 first-ever initiations of rituximab, 1,620 of fingolimod, and 1,670 of natalizumab in 6,136 MS patients matched for age, sex, and location to 37,801 non-MS general population subjects. Primary outcome was time to first invasive cancer.RESULTS: We identified 78 invasive cancers among treated patients: rituximab 33 (incidence rate [IR] per 10,000 person-years = 34.4, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 23.7-48.3), fingolimod 28 (IR = 44.0, 95% CI = 29.2-63.5), and natalizumab 17 (IR = 26.0, 95% CI = 15.1-41.6). The general population IR was 31.0 (95% CI = 27.8-34.4). Adjusting for baseline characteristics, we found no difference in risk of invasive cancer between rituximab, natalizumab, and the general population but a possibly higher risk with fingolimod compared to the general population (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.53, 95% CI = 0.98-2.38) and rituximab (HR = 1.68, 95% CI = 1.00-2.84).INTERPRETATION: In this first large comparative study of 3 highly effective MS disease-modifying therapies, no increased risk of invasive cancer was seen with rituximab and natalizumab, compared to the general population. However, there was a borderline-significant increased risk with fingolimod, compared to both the general population and rituximab. It was not possible to attribute this increased risk to any specific type of cancer, and further studies are warranted to validate these findings.
|
|
| 2. |
- Dahlqvist, Julia R., et al.
(author)
-
MRI in Neuromuscular Diseases: An Emerging Diagnostic Tool and Biomarker for Prognosis and Efficacy
- 2020
-
In: Annals of Neurology. - : WILEY. - 0364-5134 .- 1531-8249. ; 88:4, s. 669-681
-
Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- There is an unmet need to identify biomarkers sensitive to change in rare, slowly progressive neuromuscular diseases. Quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of muscle may offer this opportunity, as it is noninvasive and can be carried out almost independent of patient cooperation and disease severity. Muscle fat content correlates with muscle function in neuromuscular diseases, and changes in fat content precede changes in function, which suggests that muscle MRI is a strong biomarker candidate to predict prognosis and treatment efficacy. In this paper, we review the evidence suggesting that muscle MRI may be an important biomarker for diagnosis and to monitor change in disease severity. ANN NEUROL 2020
|
|
| 3. |
- Gunnarsson, Martin, et al.
(author)
-
Axonal damage in relapsing multiple sclerosis is markedly reduced by natalizumab.
- 2011
-
In: Annals of neurology. - : Wiley. - 1531-8249 .- 0364-5134. ; 69:1, s. 83-9
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The impact of present disease-modifying treatments (DMTs) in multiple sclerosis (MS) on nerve injury and reactive astrogliosis is still unclear. Therefore, we studied the effect of natalizumab treatment on the release of 2 brain-specific tissue damage markers into cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in MS patients.
|
|
| 4. |
- Gustavsson, Anna Märta, et al.
(author)
-
Midlife Atherosclerosis and Development of Alzheimer or Vascular Dementia
- 2020
-
In: Annals of Neurology. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0364-5134 .- 1531-8249. ; 87:1, s. 52-62
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether midlife atherosclerosis is associated with different dementia subtypes and related underlying pathologies.METHODS: Participants comprised the cardiovascular cohort of the Swedish prospective population-based Malmö Diet and Cancer Study (N = 6,103). Carotid plaques and intima media thickness (IMT) were measured at baseline (1991-1994). Dementia incidence until 2014 was obtained from national registers. Diagnoses were reviewed and validated in medical records. In a cognitively unimpaired subcohort (n = 330), β-amyloid42 and tau were quantified in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and white matter hyperintensity volume, lacunar infarcts, and cerebral microbleeds were estimated on magnetic resonance imaging (2009-2015).RESULTS: During 20 years of follow-up, 462 individuals developed dementia (mean age at baseline = 57.5 ± 5.9 years, 58% women). Higher IMT in midlife was associated with an increased hazard ratio (HR) of all-cause dementia (adjusted HR = 1.14 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.03-1.26]) and vascular dementia (adjusted HR = 1.32 [95% CI = 1.10-1.57]) but not Alzheimer disease (AD) dementia (adjusted HR = 0.95 [95% CI = 0.77-1.17]). Carotid plaques were associated with vascular dementia when assessed as a 3-graded score (adjusted HR = 1.90 [95% CI = 1.07-3.38]). In the cognitively unimpaired subcohort (53.8 ± 4.6 years at baseline, 60% women), higher IMT in midlife was associated with development of small vessel disease (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 1.47 [95% CI = 1.05-2.06]) but not significantly with abnormal CSF AD biomarkers (adjusted OR = 1.28 [95% CI = 0.87-1.90] for Aβ42 and 1.35 [95% CI = 0.86-2.13] for Aβ42 /p-tau). Carotid plaques revealed no significant association with any of the underlying brain pathologies.INTERPRETATION: Our findings support an association between midlife atherosclerosis and development of vascular dementia and cerebral small vessel disease but not between atherosclerosis and subsequent AD dementia or AD pathology. ANN NEUROL 2019.
|
|
| 5. |
- Killestein, Joep, et al.
(author)
-
Antibody-Mediated suppression of Vbeta5.2/5.3+ T Cells in Multiple Sclerosis : Results from an MRI-Monitored Phase II Clinical Trial
- 2002
-
In: Annals of Neurology. - : Wiley. - 0364-5134 .- 1531-8249. ; 51, s. 467-
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the humanized antibody ATM-027 in a baseline versus treatment magnetic resonance imaging-monitored study. Expansion of Vß5.2/5.3+ T cells has been demonstrated in the peripheral blood, cerebrospinal fluid, and brain lesions of MS patients. In a phase I study, ATM-027 depleted these cells in peripheral blood and, in parallel, T-cell MBP reactivity and IFN-? expression were reduced. We studied 59 patients with relapsing-remitting MS (47 on ATM-027 and 12 on placebo) stratified for HLA-DR2 status. Monthly intravenous injections were given for 6 months. Individual dose titration was employed to obtain depletion of the target T-cell level and downregulation of antigen receptor density as monitored by flow cytometry. Five monthly magnetic resonance imaging scans were performed before treatment to establish baseline activity, six during treatment, and three during follow-up. Additional immunological assessments were performed to elucidate the mechanism of action of ATM-027. The treatment was safe and well tolerated, inducing consistent suppression of the target cell population. During run-in, active lesions were found in 78.7% (37/47) of patients treated with ATM-027. During treatment, the median number of lesions was reduced by 33% (p = 0.13) independent of DR2 status. The corresponding volume of enhancement was 221 mm3 at baseline, with a reduction of 10% during treatment. Decreased numbers of cells expressing interferon-? messenger RNA, and decreased T-cell reactivity to several myelin antigens were found in ATM-027 treated patients. In conclusion, consistent suppression of Vß 5.2/5.3+ T cells was achieved. However, the effect size on magnetic resonance imaging was considerably less than the targeted 60%.
|
|
| 6. |
- Morbelli, Silvia, et al.
(author)
-
Metabolic patterns across core features in dementia with lewy bodies
- 2019
-
In: Annals of Neurology. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0364-5134 .- 1531-8249. ; 85:5, s. 715-725
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- ObjectiveTo identify brain regions whose metabolic impairment contributes to dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) clinical core features expression and to assess the influence of severity of global cognitive impairment on the DLB hypometabolic pattern.MethodsBrain fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography and information on core features were available in 171 patients belonging to the imaging repository of the European DLB Consortium. Principal component analysis was applied to identify brain regions relevant to the local data variance. A linear regression model was applied to generate core‐feature–specific patterns controlling for the main confounding variables (Mini‐Mental State Examination [MMSE], age, education, gender, and center). Regression analysis to the locally normalized intensities was performed to generate an MMSE‐sensitive map.ResultsParkinsonism negatively covaried with bilateral parietal, precuneus, and anterior cingulate metabolism; visual hallucinations (VH) with bilateral dorsolateral–frontal cortex, posterior cingulate, and parietal metabolism; and rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD) with bilateral parieto‐occipital cortex, precuneus, and ventrolateral–frontal metabolism. VH and RBD shared a positive covariance with metabolism in the medial temporal lobe, cerebellum, brainstem, basal ganglia, thalami, and orbitofrontal and sensorimotor cortex. Cognitive fluctuations negatively covaried with occipital metabolism and positively with parietal lobe metabolism. MMSE positively covaried with metabolism in the left superior frontal gyrus, bilateral–parietal cortex, and left precuneus, and negatively with metabolism in the insula, medial frontal gyrus, hippocampus in the left hemisphere, and right cerebellum.InterpretationRegions of more preserved metabolism are relatively consistent across the variegate DLB spectrum. By contrast, core features were associated with more prominent hypometabolism in specific regions, thus suggesting a close clinical–imaging correlation, reflecting the interplay between topography of neurodegeneration and clinical presentation in DLB patients. Ann Neurol 2019;85:715–725
|
|
| 7. |
- Ouellette, R., et al.
(author)
-
Validation of Rapid Magnetic Resonance Myelin Imaging in Multiple Sclerosis
- 2020
-
In: Annals of Neurology. - : Wiley. - 0364-5134 .- 1531-8249. ; 87:5, s. 710-724
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is essential for multiple sclerosis diagnostics but is conventionally not specific to demyelination. Myelin imaging is often hampered by long scanning times, complex postprocessing, or lack of clinical approval. This study aimed to assess the specificity, robustness, and clinical value of Rapid Estimation of Myelin for Diagnostic Imaging, a new myelin imaging technique based on time-efficient simultaneous T1/T2 relaxometry and proton density mapping in multiple sclerosis. Methods: Rapid myelin imaging was applied using 3T MRI ex vivo in 3 multiple sclerosis brain samples and in vivo in a prospective cohort of 71 multiple sclerosis patients and 21 age/sex-matched healthy controls, with scan–rescan repeatability in a subcohort. Disability in patients was assessed by the Expanded Disability Status Scale and the Symbol Digit Modalities Test at baseline and 2-year follow-up. Results: Rapid myelin imaging correlated with myelin-related stains (proteolipid protein immunostaining and Luxol fast blue) and demonstrated good precision. Multiple sclerosis patients had, relative to controls, lower normalized whole-brain and normal-appearing white matter myelin fractions, which correlated with baseline cognitive and physical disability. Longitudinally, these myelin fractions correlated with follow-up physical disability, even with correction for baseline disability. Interpretation: Rapid Estimation of Myelin for Diagnostic Imaging provides robust myelin quantification that detects diffuse demyelination in normal-appearing tissue in multiple sclerosis, which is associated with both cognitive and clinical disability. Because the technique is fast, with automatic postprocessing and US Food and Drug Administration/CE clinical approval, it can be a clinically feasible biomarker that may be suitable to monitor myelin dynamics and evaluate treatments aiming at remyelination.
|
|
| 8. |
- Piehl, Fredrik, et al.
(author)
-
COMBAT-MS : A Population-Based Observational Cohort Study Addressing the Benefit-Risk Balance of Multiple Sclerosis Therapies Compared with Rituximab
- 2024
-
In: Annals of Neurology. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0364-5134 .- 1531-8249.
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: To assess comparative effectiveness, safety, and tolerability of off-label rituximab, compared with frequently used therapies approved for multiple sclerosis (MS).METHODS: A Swedish cohort study of persons with relapsing-remitting MS, age 18 to 75 years at inclusion and with a first therapy start or a first therapy switch between 2011 and 2018. Low-dose rituximab was compared with MS-approved therapies. Primary outcomes were proportions with 12 months confirmed disability worsening and change in MS Impact Scale-29 (MSIS-29) scores, respectively. Secondary endpoints included relapses, therapy discontinuation, and serious adverse events. Analyses used an intention-to-treat approach and were adjusted for demographics, MS features, and health characteristics.RESULTS: We included 2,449 participants as first therapy start and 2,463 as first therapy switch. Proportions with disability worsening at 3 years were 9.1% for rituximab as first therapy and 5.1% after therapy switch, with no differences to MS-approved comparators. Worsening on rituximab was mostly independent of relapses. MSIS-29 with rituximab at 3 years improved by 1.3/8.4 points (physical/psychological) for first disease-modifying therapy (DMT) and 0.4/3.6 for DMT switch, and was mostly similar across therapies. Rituximab had lower relapse rates and higher therapy persistence in both groups. The rate of hospital-treated infections was higher with rituximab after a therapy switch, but not as a first therapy.INTERPRETATION: This population-based real-world cohort study found low rates of disability progression, mostly independent of relapses, and without significant differences between rituximab and MS-approved comparators. Rituximab led to lower rates of inflammatory activity and higher treatment persistence, but was associated with an increased rate of serious infections. ANN NEUROL 2024.
|
|
| 9. |
- Sunebo, Sofie, et al.
(author)
-
Multiple Acyl-Coenzyme A Dehydrogenase Deficiency Is Associated with Sertraline Use - Is There an Acquired Form?
- 2024
-
In: Annals of Neurology. - : WILEY. - 0364-5134 .- 1531-8249.
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- ObjectiveMultiple acyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase deficiency (MADD) is a disorder of fatty acid oxidation and considered an inborn error of metabolism. In recent years, we have diagnosed an increasing number of patients where, despite extensive investigation, no disease-causing mutations have been found. We therefore investigated a cohort of consecutive patients, with the objective to detect possible non-genetic causes.MethodsWe searched the patient records and the registry of muscle biopsies, for patients with MADD, diagnosed within the past 10 years. The patient records were reviewed regarding symptoms, clinical findings, comorbidities, drugs, diagnostic investigations, and response to treatment. In addition, complementary investigations of muscle tissue were performed.ResultsWe identified 9 patients diagnosed with late-onset MADD. All presented with muscle weakness and elevated levels of creatine kinase. A lipid storage myopathy was evident in the muscle biopsies, as was elevated acylcarnitines in blood. Despite thorough genetic investigations, a probable genetic cause was found in only 2 patients. Remarkably, all 7 patients without disease-causing mutations were treated with sertraline. In some cases, a deterioration of symptoms closely followed dose increase, and discontinuation resulted in an improved acylcarnitine profile. All 9 patients responded to riboflavin treatment with normalization of creatine kinase and muscle biopsy findings, and in 8 patients the clinical symptoms clearly improved.InterpretationOur findings strongly suggest that sertraline may induce an acquired form of MADD in some patients. Importantly, riboflavin treatment seems to be similarly effective as in genetic MADD, but discontinuation of sertraline is reasonably warranted. ANN NEUROL 2024
|
|
| 10. |
- Tajsharghi, Homa, 1968, et al.
(author)
-
Myosin storage myopathy associated with a heterozygous missense mutation in MYH7.
- 2003
-
In: Annals of neurology. - : Wiley. - 0364-5134 .- 1531-8249. ; 54:4, s. 494-500
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Myosin constitutes the major part of the thick filaments in the contractile apparatus of striated muscle. MYH7 encodes the slow/beta-cardiac myosin heavy chain (MyHC), which is the main MyHC isoform in slow, oxidative, type 1 muscle fibers of skeletal muscle. It is also the major MyHC isoform of cardiac ventricles. Numerous missense mutations in the globular head of slow/beta-cardiac MyHC are associated with familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. We identified a missense mutation, Arg1845Trp, in the rod region of slow/beta-cardiac MyHC in patients with a skeletal myopathy from two different families. The myopathy was characterized by muscle weakness and wasting with onset in childhood and slow progression, but no overt cardiomyopathy. Slow, oxidative, type 1 muscle fibers showed large inclusions consisting of slow/beta-cardiac MyHC. The features were similar to a previously described entity: hyaline body myopathy. Our findings indicate that the mutated residue of slow/beta-cardiac MyHC is essential for the assembly of thick filaments in skeletal muscle. We propose the term myosin storage myopathy for this disease.
|
|
