Relapses matter- Don't have them and save brain


Contribution of different relapse phenotypes to disability in multiple sclerosis.Stewart T, Spelman T, Havrdova E, Horakova D, Trojano M, Izquierdo G, Duquette P, Girard M, Prat A, Lugaresi A, Grand'Maison F, Grammond P, Sola P, Shaygannejad V, Hupperts R, Alroughani R, Oreja-Guevara C, Pucci E, Boz C, Lechner-Scott J, Bergamaschi R, Van Pesch V, Iuliano G, Ramo C, Taylor B, Slee M, Spitaleri D, Granella F, Verheul F, McCombe P, Hodgkinson S, Amato MP, Vucic S, Gray O, Cristiano E, Barnett M, Sanchez Menoyo JL, van Munster E, Saladino ML, Olascoaga J, Prevost J, Deri N, Shaw C, Singhal B, Moore F, Rozsa C, Shuey N, Skibina O, Kister I, Petkovska-Boskova T, Ampapa R, Kermode A, Butzkueven H, Jokubaitis V, Kalincik T; MSBase Study Group.
Mult Scler. 2016. pii: 1352458516643392. [Epub ahead of print]

METHODS:Analysis of prospectively collected data was conducted in 19,504 patients with relapse-onset multiple sclerosis and minimum 1-year prospective follow-up from the MSBase cohort study. Multivariable linear regression models assessed associations between relapse incidence, phenotype and changes in disability (quantified with Expanded Disability Status Scale and its Functional System scores). Sensitivity analyses were conducted.
RESULTS: In 34,858 relapses recorded during 136,462 patient-years (median follow-up 5.9 years), higher relapse incidence was associated with greater disability accumulation (β = 0.16, p < 0.001). Relapses of all phenotypes promoted disability accumulation, with the most pronounced increase associated with pyramidal (β = 0.27 (0.25-0.29)), cerebellar (β = 0.35 (0.30-0.39)) and bowel/bladder (β = 0.42 (0.35-0.49)) phenotypes (mean (95% confidence interval)). Higher incidence of each relapse phenotype was associated with an increase in disability in the corresponding neurological domain, as well as anatomically related domains.
CONCLUSION: Relapses are associated with accumulation of neurological disability. Relapses in pyramidal, cerebellar and bowel/bladder systems have the greatest association with disability change. Therefore, prevention of these relapses is an important objective of disease-modifying therapy. The differential impact of relapse phenotypes on disability outcomes could influence management of treatment failure in multiple sclerosis.

There has been a view being cycled round the MS community, notably by the anti-drug lobby, that relapses don't matter. 

I say tell this to the person who has had a devastating attack and has been left with permanent disability. 

This study sows that relapses matter and you don't want them.

Yes I know there is data implying that relapses don't matter they do, because they cause damage.

In the beasties the first attack cause 10-15% of  the nerves to be destroyed. This is compensated forso we struggle to see the effect. The next attack gets another 5% or nerves, the next another 5% and the next another 5% by which time secondary progression has set in and each nerve lost is critical. This is why you and your neuros should not accept the occurance of relapses. Time is Brain!.

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