Multiple Sclerosis for the Non-Specialist

Multiple Sclerosis for the Non-Specialist

Keith Cushing, M.D.Board Certified, Neurology

JWM Neurology

Disclosures:None

Topic Outline: Multiple Sclerosis

● Epidemiology and Demographics● Pathophysiology● Diagnosis and Differential● Treatment Options

MS: A brief historyfirst described by French neurologist Charcot in 1868: “la sclérose en plaques disséminées”named for the scattered, firm, sclerotic plaques seen post-mortem in the brain and spinal cord

Epidemiology and Demographicsmore common in women than menmean age of onset 30 yearspeak age of onset 5 years earlier in women than men

Source: Up-to-Date,” Epidemiology and clinical features of multiple sclerosis in adults”

Epidemiology and Demographicsincidence and prevalence varies geographically

● high prevalence areas○ all of Europe, including Russia○ southern Canada○ northern U.S.○ New Zealand○ southeast Australia

● lowest risk○ people of Asian, African, or American Indian origin

● supposed latitudinal gradient of MS incidence has been recently challenged


Epidemiology and Demographicsno association between vaccines and MS

though many viruses, including EBV, have been linked, there is no specific evidence linking them directly to the development of MS


Epidemiology and DemographicsGenetic factors appear to contribute to the pathogenesis of MS, particularly variation involving the HLA-DRB1 locus

Chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency has been reported in some patients with MS but its relationship to MS is controversial


Natural History● Progression of disability due to MS is highly variable,

but accumulating evidence suggests that progression in most patients with MS is slow.

● At the extreme ends of the severity spectrum, there are benign and malignant forms of MS.


Natural History● Benign MS refers to disease in which the patient

remains fully functional in all neurologic systems 15 years after the disease onset.

● Malignant MS refers to disease with a rapid progressive course, leading to significant disability in multiple neurologic systems or death in a relatively short time after disease onset


MS Pathophysiology

MS: Pathophysiologythe precise etiology of MS has not yet been determined

pathologic hallmark is multiple focal areas of myelin loss within the CNS

it is these areas that are referred to as plaques or lesions

Popescu, Bogdan F. Gh. MD, PhD; Pirko, Istvan MD, FAAN; Lucchinetti, Claudia F. MD, FAAN. Pathology of Multiple Sclerosis: Where Do We Stand?. CONTINUUM: Lifelong Learning in Neurology. 2013; 19: (4): 901-921.

Pathophysiologymyelin loss is typically accompanied by gliosis and inflammation and by relative preservation of the axons


Pathophysiologyactive MS lesions are infiltrated by macrophages containing myelin debris


Pathophysiologylymphocytic inflammatory infiltrates in MS are composed mainly of CD8+ cytotoxic T cells

less so, CD4+ helper T cells, B cells, and plasma cells


PathophysiologyGadolinium MRI enhancement characterizes lesions with a damaged blood-brain barrier, which enables the infiltration of inflammatory cells into the CNS


Pathophysiology: Heterogeneityactive lesions show a profound pathologic heterogeneity and can be classified into four immunopatterns, suggesting that the targets of injury and the mechanisms of demyelination are distinct in different disease subgroups


Pathophysiology: Axonal Injury● Although demyelination appears to be the dominant

process, axonal injury occurs in multiple sclerosis and is most pronounced during active inflammatory demyelination

● acute axonal injury occurring in early multiple sclerosis lesions likely contributes to the relapse-related disability observed predominantly during the inflammatory disease phases


Pathophysiology● neurodegeneration is present in demyelinated lesions

and is invariably associated with inflammation● in chronic inactive lesions from aged patients with long-

standing progressive multiple sclerosis where the inflammatory process has died out, the neurodegeneration is also reduced to levels seen in control patients.


PathophysiologyExtensive remyelination, illustrated by the presence of newly formed myelin sheaths and oligodendrocyte precursor cells, is frequently encountered within active plaques of early multiple sclerosis.


Pathophysiology

• Cortical demyelinated lesions are present and common in early multiple sclerosis

• these lesions are highly inflammatory• they may represent the pathologic substrate of cognitive

impairment and epilepsy in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.


Pathophysiology

• The presence of inflammatory cortical demyelination in early multiple sclerosis argues against a primary neurodegenerative process at this stage of disease

• this process suggests that neuronal and axonal injury in early cortical demyelination occur on a background of inflammation.


Pathophysiology● Meningeal inflammation is present in early multiple

sclerosis and topographically associated with cortical lesions

● it may drive the cortical demyelination but also set the stage for subsequent subcortical white matter inflammation and demyelination.


MS: Diagnostic Subtypes

● relapsing-remitting● primary progressive● secondary progressive

Diagnosis and DifferentialThe majority of patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) (80% to 85%) follow an initial relapsing-remitting course characterized by episodes with fairly rapid onset of new or recurrent neurologic deficits followed by partial or complete recovery.

Katz Sand, Ilana B. MD; Lublin, Fred D. MD, FAAN, FANA. Diagnosis and Differential Diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis. CONTINUUM: Lifelong Learning in Neurology. 2013; 19:(4): 922-943.

Diagnosis and Differential: The Bible

McDonald Criteria● first published in 2001● 2005 revision● 2010 revision


Diagnosis and Differential● All recent formulations of the diagnostic criteria begin

with an initial clinical presentation that includes symptoms typical for a multiple sclerosis attack (also called a relapse or exacerbation)

● This initial presentation has been termed the “clinically isolated syndrome” (CIS)


Diagnosis and DifferentialThe McDonald 2010 panel defined an attack as:

● patient-reported symptoms or objectively observed signs typical of an acute inflammatory demyelinating event in the CNS

● current or historical● with duration of at least 24 hours● in the absence of fever or infection


Diagnosis and DifferentialFor paroxysmal symptoms (such as paroxysmal dysarthria, tonic spasms, or paroxysmal sensory symptoms) to be considered an attack, symptoms must be recurrent over at least 24 hours.


Diagnosis and DifferentialOnce multiple sclerosis has been established as the most likely etiology of the symptoms, the clinician must evaluate for evidence of:

● dissemination in space, which requires involvement of multiple areas of the CNS

● dissemination in time, which requires ongoing disease activity over time.


Diagnosis and DifferentialDIS criteria may be satisfied on clinical grounds alone if the patient has:

● objective clinical evidence of involvement of at least two CNS sites

● or objective clinical evidence of one lesion with reasonable historical evidence of another site being affected.


Diagnosis and DifferentialObjective clinical evidence may include:

● findings on neurologic examination● abnormal visual evoked potentials in a

patient with a history of visual loss● evidence of a demyelinating lesion on MRI

that would explain prior symptoms.Katz Sand, Ilana B. MD; Lublin, Fred D. MD, FAAN, FANA. Diagnosis and Differential Diagnosis of Multiple

Sclerosis. CONTINUUM: Lifelong Learning in Neurology. 2013; 19:(4): 922-943.

Diagnosis and Differential● If there is only objective clinical evidence of one lesion, DIS may be

established by applying the MRI criteria. ● The revised McDonald 2010 DIS MRI criteria are based on

recommendations from the European multicenter collaborative research network that studies MRI in MS (MAGNetic Resonance In Multiple Sclerosis, or MAGNIMS)


Diagnosis and DifferentialDissemination-in-space MRI criteria now require at minimum only two

lesions: at least one T2 lesion in at least two of the four sites typically affected by multiple sclerosis (periventricular, juxtacortical, infratentorial, or spinal cord).

Diagnosis and Differential● DIT criteria may be satisfied on clinical

grounds alone if the patient has a history of at least two attacks

● If the patient has a history of one attack, MRI criteria may be applied to establish DIT.


Diagnosis and Differential● Under the 2010 criteria, DIT can be

established with the development of a new T2 lesion at any time, compared to a baseline scan performed at any time

● In certain cases, DIT can actually be established with a single MRI scan


Diagnosis and Differential

• Dissemination in time can be demonstrated with a single MRI if simultaneous asymptomatic gadolinium-enhancing and nonenhancing lesions are present.

Diagnosis and DifferentialPrimary progressive multiple sclerosis:

● characterized by the insidious onset of symptoms followed by gradual deterioration over time

● Clinical disease in these patients typically presents as a progressive myelopathy, and less frequently as a brainstem or cerebellar syndrome.



Secondary progressive multiple sclerosis:● diagnosed when, after an initial relapsing-

remitting course, a patient demonstrates disease progression independent of relapses for at least 6 months.



Radiologically isolated syndrome:diagnosed when a patient is incidentally found to have imaging findings suggestive of multiple sclerosis, which are not better explained by another medical condition, in the absence of clinical symptoms.

Diagnosis and Differentialif any element of the:

● clinical history● examination● imaging

is atypical, additional testing to exclude other etiologies is warranted.


There are no clinical findings that are unique to MS, but some are highly characteristic of the disease


A classic presentation of a brainstem syndrome suggestive of clinically isolated syndrome is diplopia due to internuclear ophthalmoplegia, which is often bilateral.


Diagnosis and DifferentialPatients with optic neuritis related to underlying multiple sclerosis typically present with painful, subacute, unilateral visual loss that manifests as visual blurring or a scotoma.


Patients with a spinal cord syndrome suggestive of clinically isolated syndrome characteristically present with a partial transverse myelitis, which is usually dominated by sensory symptoms.


Diagnosis and DifferentialOn MRI, spinal cord lesions due to multiple sclerosis are typically peripheral, with the dorsolateral cord being the most common plaque location. Multiple sclerosis lesions are usually less than two vertebral segments in length and occupy less than half of the cross-sectional cord area.


Lhermitte signelectric shock-like sensations that run down the back and/or limbs upon flexion of the neck

Uhthoff phenomenon● small increases in the body temperature can

temporarily worsen current or preexisting signs and symptoms

● This phenomenon is presumably the result of conduction block developing in central pathways as the body temperature increases

MS Therapies: Interferon beta● available since 1993● four preparations now available

○ Rebif (subcutaneous interferon beta 1a, 3x/week)○ Betaseron (subcutaneous interferon beta 1b, every other

day)○ Avonex (intramuscular interferon beta 1a, once a week)○ Extavia (subcutaneous interferon beta 1b, every other

day)

Freedman, Mark S. MSc, MD, FAAN, FANA, FRCP(C). Present and Emerging Therapies for Multiple Sclerosis. CONTINUUM: Lifelong Learning in Neurology. 2013; 19:(4): 968-991.

http://journals.lww.com/continuum/toc/2013/08000

MS Therapies: Interferon betaMechanism of Action:

● modulates T-cell and B-cell function● decreases expression of matrix

metalloproteinases● reverses blood-brain barrier disruption● alters expression of a number of cytokines





MS Therapies: Interferon betaEvidence:A series of phase 3 studies in relapsing MS support the benefit of IFN-β in

● reducing relapses (by approximately 30%)● disability progression● MRI lesion activity and accrual



MS Therapies: Interferon betaSide Effects:

● flulike symptoms (eg, fever, chills, malaise, myalgia) after injection

● sometimes with concomitant worsening of preexisting neurologic symptoms

● These symptoms usually last from several to 24 hours after injection and are worse with the initiation of therapy

● In most cases they attenuate over timeFreedman, Mark S. MSc, MD, FAAN, FANA, FRCP(C). Present and Emerging Therapies for Multiple Sclerosis.

CONTINUUM: Lifelong Learning in Neurology. 2013; 19:(4): 968-991.


MS Therapies: Interferon betaSide Effects (continued):

● injection-site reactions● rare skin necrosis● depression● leukopenia● liver abnormalities● thyroid disorders● patients with preexisting headache syndromes or spasticity may

experience a worsening of these symptoms with IFN-β therapy



MS Therapies: Glatiramer AcetateMechanism of Action:

● complex mixture of random synthetic polypeptides● probably functions as an altered peptide ligand for the

major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules

● may also stimulate neuroprotective or repair mechanisms



MS Therapies: Glatiramer AcetateEvidence:

● Two phase 3 studies demonstrated that GA 20 mg/d administered by subcutaneous injection reduced annualized relapse rate (ARR) with a reduction of approximately 30% in the second study

● A separate randomized controlled trial demonstrated a benefit in MRI measures, including gadolinium-enhancing lesions, new T2 lesions, and the proportion of lesions evolving into T1-hypointense “black holes.”



MS Therapies: Glatiramer AcetateSide Effects:

● injection-site tenderness● pruritus● erythema● induration● Lipoatrophy (loss of subcutaneous fat with scarring)



MS Therapies: Glatiramer AcetateSide Effects:

● occasionally causes a postinjection systemic reaction comprising various combinations of flushing, diaphoresis, chest tightness, dyspnea, palpitations, and anxiety

● begins within minutes of injection and resolves spontaneously in 1 to 30 minutes

● reaction typically occurs once or at most a few times in a given patient and does not recur with continued dosing

MS Therapies: Glatiramer AcetateIn contrast to IFN-β, GA is not associated with

● constitutional side effects● depression● liver enzyme abnormalities● low blood counts● worsening headaches● spasticity● neutralizing antibodies



MS Therapies: NatalizumabMechanism of Action:

● a humanized monoclonal antibody● binds α4-integrin and blocks interaction of α4β1-integrin

on leukocytes with vascular cell adhesion molecules and connecting segment-1 (CS-1) on fibronectin sites on vascular endothelial cells

● As a result, migration of leukocytes from the blood into the CNS is inhibited



MS Therapies: NatalizumabEvidence:phase 3 trial showed that monthly IV infusions of 300 mg natalizumab

● reduced ARR by 68% over 2 years● disability progression by 42%● MRI gadolinium-enhancing lesion number by 92%,

relative to the study placebo group



MS Therapies: NatalizumabA second phase 3 study supported these results, showing that natalizumab combined with IFN-β-1a IM was more effective than IFN-β-1a IM plus placebo infusions



MS Therapies: NatalizumabNatalizumab is generally considered for:

● patients who have relapsing MS and continued disease activity despite use of one or more of the standard disease therapies or who are intolerant of the standard agents

● It also can be considered for patients with disease characteristics that suggest high risk of disability and for whom a more potent although potentially more risky agent is felt to be appropriate

MS Therapies: NatalizumabSide Effects:

● anxiety● fatigue● pharyngitis● sinus congestion● peripheral edema● infusion-related symptoms (headache, flushing,

erythema, nausea, fatigue, and dizziness).

MS Therapies: NatalizumabAllergic hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis, urticaria, pruritus, and anaphylactoid syndromes, occurred in 4% of natalizumab-treated patients and were serious in 1%.



MS Therapies: Natalizumab● key safety concern is an increased risk for PML, a concern that did not surface during the course of the original trials

● This is a serious, often fatal opportunistic infection of oligodendrocytes caused by reactivation of latent John Cunningham (JC) polyomavirus

MS Therapies: Natalizumab● MRI is performed before treatment and intermittently

during natalizumab therapy● Manifestations that suggest PML include subacutely

worsening visual, motor, or cognitive changes and/or gradually enlarging T2 hyperintensities with minimal or no gadolinium enhancement

● If PML is suspected, natalizumab treatment should be suspended, MRI obtained, and CSF examination performed, including PCR for JC virus.

Recently Introduced Oral Therapies

● Fingolimod (Gilenya)● Teriflunomide (Aubagio)● Dimethyl Fumarate (Tecfidera)

MS Therapies: Fingolimodthe first oral drug to receive North American and European regulatory approval to reduce relapses in patients with relapsing MS.

MS Therapies: FingolimodMechanism of Action:

● sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor (S1P1) modulator that has immunoregulatory features

● inhibits the migration of T cells from lymphoid tissue into the peripheral circulation and target organs, including the CNS



MS Therapies: FingolimodEvidence:

● (FTY720 Research Evaluating Effects of Daily Oral Therapy in Multiple Sclerosis [FREEDOMS], a placebo-controlled 24-month trial

● Trial Assessing Injectable Interferon versus FTY720 Oral in Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis [TRANSFORMS]○ a 12-month head-to-head trial with comparator IFN-β-1a IM)

demonstrated that orally administered fingolimod (0.5 mg/d) was effective and superior to IFN-β-1a IM at reducing ARR and MRI activity in patients with relapsing MS

MS Therapies: FingolimodAlthough fingolimod is generally well tolerated, specific safety issues have been identified:

● first-dose bradycardia● the possible risk of herpes virus dissemination● macular edema● long-term consequences of elevated blood pressure)



MS Therapies: Fingolimod● Further long-term data are needed to assess the safety

profile of fingolimod● Of clinical concern is a patient started on fingolimod

who died on the second day of treatment● Further analysis of this and other cases led to a more

stringent set of criteria for fingolimod therapy and more careful first-dose observation



MS Therapies: TeriflunomideMechanism of Action:

● Derived directly from leflunomide● an antimetabolite that interferes with the de novo synthesis of

pyrimidines, sparing the salvage pathway, by inhibiting the mitochondrial enzyme dihydro-orotate dehydrogenase

● This has the effect of blocking cell replication in rapidly dividing cells, but the exact mechanism by which this translates into efficacy for MS is unknown

● Typically, the cells that are more involved in mediating autoimmune processes will be more susceptible to the antimetabolite effects of teriflunomide.

MS Therapies: TeriflunomideEvidence:

● (the Teriflunomide Multiple Sclerosis Oral [TEMSO] trial)● showed a significant effect on the primary outcome of

relapse rate● secondary outcomes on MRI and disability (Expanded

Disability Status Scale [EDSS] progression) also reached statistical significance over placebo



MS Therapies: TeriflunomideOther Teriflunomide Studies:

● The Teriflunomide Oral in People with Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (TOWER)

● A Study Comparing the Effectiveness and Safety of Teriflunomide and Interferon-β-1a in Patients with Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis (TENERE)



MS Therapies: TeriflunomideSide Effects and Safety:

● Hair thinning● gastrointestinal upset● The potential for teratogenicity has come from preclinical studies,

which is of particular concern in women of childbearing potential● A specific washout program using cholestyramine or activated

charcoal can be used to remove teriflunomide from the system; however, without this washout, teriflunomide may remain in the system for months after the last dose

● Careful counseling is therefore recommended in women of childbearing age contemplating teriflunomide.

MS Therapies: Dimethyl Fumarate● fumaric acid ester that can be taken orally and is immediately

hydrolyzed by esterases to its metabolite monomethyl fumarate (MMF)

● DMF is better tolerated than MMF, as it is associated with lower gastrointestinal side effects

● BG-12 is a formulation of DMF manufactured as an enteric-coated microtablet to improve gastrointestinal tolerability



MS Therapies: Dimethyl Fumarate● The exact mechanism by which it exerts its positive anti-inflammatory

effects is unknow● It may act on the major transcription factor known as nuclear factor

erythroid 2–related factor 2 (Nrf-2), which is released from binding to kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap-1) via the activity of DMF

● In turn, Nrf-2 upregulates an array of antioxidative pathways, such as increased glutathione levels

● Nrf-2 pathway activation also leads to an inhibition of the translocation of nuclear factor-κB into the nucleus, which would normally turn on the expression of a cascade of inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and adhesion molecules

MS Therapies: Dimethyl Fumarate● Determination of the Efficacy and Safety of Oral Fumarate in

Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (DEFINE)31 was one of two large phase 3 studies comparing two doses of BG-12 to placebo

● 1234 patients with relapsing MS and EDSS scores of 5.0 or lower were randomized to receive placebo (n = 408) or 240 mg of BG-12 twice a day (n = 410) or 3 times a day (n = 416)

● clinic visits were every 12 weeks● MRI studies were performed at baseline, 24, 48, and 96 weeks in a

subgroup of patients (n = 540).

http://journals.lww.com/continuum/Fulltext/2013/08000/Present_and_Emerging_Therapies_for_Multiple.12.aspx

MS Therapies: Dimethyl Fumarate● The primary outcome was the proportion of patients relapsing at 2

years● the difference in ARR and the risk for disability progression

(measured by EDSS scores) were considered secondary outcome measures in this study

● Both doses of BG-12 reduced the proportion of patients relapsing by nearly 50% (P<.001)

● Whereas 46% of placebo patients relapsed, only 27% of the patients dosed with BG-12 twice a day and 26% of those dosed 3 times a day had at least one relapse by 2 years (P<.001 for both comparisons).

MS Therapies: Dimethyl Fumarate● BG-12 twice a day reduced the ARR relative to the placebo population by

53% and BG-12 3 times a day by 48% (P<.001 for both comparisons)● EDSS progression confirmed at 12 weeks was also reduced by both

dosing regimens: whereas 27% of patients treated with placebo progressed, only 16% of those treated twice a day with BG-12 and 18% of those treated 3 times a day with BG-12 did so, a relative reduction of 38% and 34%, respectively

● New or newly enlarging MRI lesions were also substantially reduced by both doses: 85% and 74% for BG-12 twice a day and 3 times a day, respectively, versus placebo (P<.001 for both comparisons).

MS Therapies: Dimethyl FumaratePotential negative aspects include

● the twice a day dosing● initial gastrointestinal and flushing symptoms● Fumaderm or its generic equivalent, a combination of

fumaric acid esters, has been available in Germany and Europe but only recently was associated with a few cases of PML in patients treated mainly for psoriasis.33 Whether BG-12 will turn out to have similar problems remains to be determined.

http://journals.lww.com/continuum/Fulltext/2013/08000/Present_and_Emerging_Therapies_for_Multiple.12.aspx

MS Therapies: Other Therapies

● Laquinimod

● Alemtuzumab

● Daclizumab

● Ocrelizumab

MS Therapies: Caveats ● Experience with interferon-β and glatiramer acetate

over several decades has assured us of their relative safety in the general public of unselected patients with multiple sclerosis

● The same cannot be said of all of the newer agents



MS Therapies: Caveats

Safety in a carefully selected study set of patients cannot predict how a disease-modifying drug will do when given more generally to unselected patients



MS Therapies: Caveats

Although all agents are tested primarily for their ability to reduce relapses, in populations with low relapse rates, supportive effects are also sought from efficacy on other metrics such as MRI and Expanded Disability Status Scale progression



MS Therapies: Caveats Given how few head-to-head trials have been conducted, comparing efficacy among disease-modifying drugs is difficult, so the indication (first- or second-line) comes from the risk profile, with riskier agents relegated to a higher tier



MS Therapies: Caveats ● Although newer agents appeal because of convenience

(eg, oral dosing) or the perception that they demonstrate superior efficacy to long-standing interferon-β or glatiramer acetate, few data support this

● Recent studies show annualized relapse rates for interferon-β or glatiramer acetate in the same range as some of the newer agents.

MS Therapies: Caveats ● Not all patients present with the same amount of

disease or carry the same risk of progression● Risk factors such as disease course, type of relapse

and residual disability, MRI burden of disease, or even response to previous disease-modifying drugs must be taken into account when considering a choice for therapy.

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Multiple Sclerosis for the Non-Specialist