using-optical-coherence-tomography-optokinetic-response-as-structural

Using Optical Coherence Tomography and Optokinetic Response As Structural and Functional Visual System Readouts in Mice and Rats

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a fast, non-invasive, interferometric technique allowing high-resolution retinal imaging. It is an ideal tool for ...

Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf

Fingolimod is a potent drug in relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis. Visual impairment due to fingolimod-associated macular edema (FAME) usually leads to discontinuation of fingolimod therapy.

Acetazolamide therapy in a case of fingolimod-associated macular edema: early benefits and long-term limitations.

Since the introduction of the interferons in the 1990s, a multitude of different immunomodulatory and immunosuppressant disease-modifying therapies for multiple sclerosis (MS) have been developed. They have all shown positive effects on clinical endpoints such as relapse rate and disease progression and are a heterogeneous group of therapeutics comprising recombinant pegylated and non-pegylated interferon-β variants, peptide combinations, monoclonal antibodies, and small molecules. However, they have relevant side effect profiles, which necessitate thorough monitoring and straightforward patient education. In individual cases, side effects can be severe and potentially life-threatening, which is why knowledge about (neurological and non-neurological) adverse drug reactions is essential for prescribing neurologists as well as general practitioners. This paper aims to provide an overview of currently available MS therapies, their modes of action and safety profiles, and the necessary therapy monitoring.

Managing Risks with Immune Therapies in Multiple Sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS) with a diverse disease course involving inflammation and degeneration of neurons and axons. Multiple sclerosis results from a complex interaction of genetic and environmental factors and clinically several disease subtypes with marked variation in symptoms can be discerned. Disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) impact disease activity and outcome. Long-term follow-up studies of DMTs in MS have generally shown that the short-term effects in clinical trials are maintained for up to 21 years, e.g. in the case of interferon beta-1b. However, attainment can be a problem in these studies. On the one hand, so-called real-world studies can augment clinical trials by providing data on the long-term effectiveness and safety of DMTs but lack, on the other hand, randomization and may, in addition, also yield biased findings as a result of compliance issues. Long-term data from clinical trials in clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) patients have been limited but in the case of interferon beta-1b this aspect has been addressed over 11 years in the BENEFIT 11 trial. The results suggest that early treatment results in persistent long-term benefits including conversion to clinically definite MS (CDMS) as well as time to and risk of a first relapse. Here we primarily review the findings of the BENEFIT 11 trial in the context of long-term studies.

Hans-Peter Hartung

Department of Neurology

Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf

Using Optical Coherence Tomography and Optokinetic Response As Structural and Functional Visual System Readouts in Mice and Rats

Hans-Peter Hartung

.css-o250i3{font-size:18px;font-family:Open Sans,sans-serif;line-height:21.6px;}Department of Neurology

Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf

Using Optical Coherence Tomography and Optokinetic Response As Structural and Functional Visual System Readouts in Mice and Rats

Department of Neurology