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76 results on '"Bonavita, Simona"'

1. Clinical effectiveness of different natalizumab interval dosing schedules in a large Italian population of patients with multiple sclerosis

Author

Chisari, CLARA GRAZIA, Grimaldi Luigi Maria, Salemi, Giuseppe, Ragonese, Paolo, Iaffaldano, Pietro, Bonavita, Simona, Sparaco, Maddalena, Rovaris, Marco, D'Arma, Alessia, Lugaresi, Alessandra, Ferrò Maria Teresa, Grossi, Paola, Di Sapio Alessia, Cocco, Eleonora, Granella, Franco, Curti, Erica, Lepore, Vito, Trojano, Maria, Patti, Francesco, on behalf of the Italian MS Register Study Group, Chisari, Clara Grazia, Grimaldi, Luigi Maria, Salemi, Giuseppe, Ragonese, Paolo, Iaffaldano, Pietro, Bonavita, Simona, Sparaco, Maddalena, Rovaris, Marco, D'Arma, Alessia, Lugaresi, Alessandra, Ferrò, Maria Teresa, Grossi, Paola, Di Sapio, Alessia, Cocco, Eleonora, Granella, Franco, Curti, Erica, Lepore, Vito, Trojano, Maria, Patti, Francesco, Chisari C.G., Grimaldi L.M., Salemi G., Ragonese P., Iaffaldano P., Bonavita S., Sparaco M., Rovaris M., D'Arma A., Lugaresi A., Ferro M.T., Grossi P., DI Sapio A., Cocco E., Granella F., Curti E., Lepore V., Trojano M., and Patti F.

Subjects
Adult, medicine.medical_specialty, Population, multiple sclerosis, Drug Administration Schedule, 03 medical and health sciences, Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting, natalizumab, 0302 clinical medicine, Natalizumab, Dosing schedules, Internal medicine, medicine, Humans, Immunologic Factors, natalizumab, risk stratification, multiple sclerosis, safety, effectiveness, Dosing, education, Proportional Hazards Models, Retrospective Studies, 030304 developmental biology, 0303 health sciences, education.field_of_study, Proportional hazards model, business.industry, Multiple sclerosis, Retrospective cohort study, Middle Aged, medicine.disease, Psychiatry and Mental health, Treatment Outcome, Italy, Tolerability, Settore MED/26 - Neurologia, Surgery, Neurology (clinical), business, 030217 neurology & neurosurgery, medicine.drug
Abstract

IntroductionNatalizumab (NTZ) is one of the most effective treatment options for multiple sclerosis (MS) treatment. Our study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of NTZ when administered according to the extended dosing strategy compared with standard 4-weekly administration in a large Italian MS population.Materials and methodsThis retrospective multicentre study included patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RR-MS) who received NTZ administrations between the 1 June 2012 and the 15 May 2018 and were followed by the ‘Italian MS Register’. All patients with MS were stratified into two groups based on NTZ administration schedule: standard interval dosing (SID) patients who received infusions on average from 28 to 32 days (median 30) and extended interval dosing (EID) including patients who have been infused with interval between 33 and 49 days (median 43). Clinical data were assessed at baseline (before starting NTZ), after 12 (T1) and 24 months (T2) of treatment.ResultsOut of 5231 patients with RR-MS screened, 2092 (mean age 43.2±12.0, 60.6% women) were enrolled. A total of 1254 (59.9%) received NTZ according to SID, and 838 (40.1%) according to EID. At 12 and 24 months, no differences in terms of annualised relapse rate and disability status were found between the two groups. Progression index and confirmed disability worsening were similar between the two groups.DiscussionThe use of NTZ with an extended interval schedule showed similar effectiveness compared with SID. Unchanged clinical efficacy of EID schedule may raise the question of a possible advantage in terms of tolerability and safety.

Published
2020

2. Telemedicine for management of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis through COVID-19 tail

Author

Bombaci, Alessandro, Abbadessa, Gianmarco, Trojsi, Francesca, Leocani, Letizia, Bonavita, Simona, Lavorgna, Luigi, Gioacchino Tedeschi, Giovanni Mancardi, Alessandro Padovani, Marinella Clerico, Francesco Brigo, Roberta Lanzillo, Antonio Russo, Bruno Giometto, Giulia Straccia, Rosa Iodice, Sebastiano Bucello, Pietro Annovazzi, Marcello Moccia, Luca Prosperini, Maria Laura Stromillo, Anna Maria Repice, Giuseppina Miele, Alberto Lerario, Antonio De Martino, Francesco Iodice, Francesco Di Lorenzo, Luca Cuffaro, Michele Romoli, Marcello Silvestro, Carlo Alberto Artusi, Bombaci, Alessandro, Abbadessa, Gianmarco, Trojsi, Francesca, Leocani, Letizia, Bonavita, Simona, Lavorgna, Luigi, Bombaci, A., Abbadessa, G., Trojsi, F., Leocani, L., Bonavita, S., Lavorgna, L., Tedeschi, G., Mancardi, G., Padovani, A., Clerico, M., Brigo, F., Lanzillo, R., Russo, A., Giometto, B., Straccia, G., Iodice, R., Bucello, S., Annovazzi, P., Moccia, M., Prosperini, L., Stromillo, M. L., Repice, A. M., Miele, G., Lerario, A., De Martino, A., Iodice, F., Di Lorenzo, F., Cuffaro, L., Romoli, M., Silvestro, M., Artusi, C. A., Bombaci, A, Abbadessa, G, Trojsi, F, Leocani, L, Bonavita, S, Lavorgna, L, Tedeschi, G, Mancardi, G, Padovani, A, Clerico, M, Brigo, F, Lanzillo, R, Russo, A, Giometto, B, Straccia, G, Iodice, R, Bucello, S, Annovazzi, P, Moccia, M, Prosperini, L, Stromillo, M, Repice, A, Miele, G, Lerario, A, De Martino, A, Iodice, F, Di Lorenzo, F, Cuffaro, L, Romoli, M, Silvestro, M, Artusi, C, Alessandro, Bombaci, Gianmarco, Abbadessa, Francesca, Trojsi, Letizia, Leocani, Simona, Bonavita, Luigi, Lavorgna, Tedeschi, Gioacchino, Mancardi, Giovanni, Padovani, Alessandro, Clerico, Marinella, Brigo, Francesco, Lanzillo, Roberta, Russo, Antonio, Giometto, Bruno, Straccia, Giulia, Iodice, Rosa, Bucello, Sebastiano, Annovazzi, Pietro, Moccia, Marcello, Prosperini, Luca, Laura Stromillo, Maria, Maria Repice, Anna, Miele, Giuseppina, Lerario, Alberto, De Martino, Antonio, Iodice, Francesco, Di Lorenzo, Francesco, Cuffaro, Luca, Romoli, Michele, Silvestro, Marcello, and Alberto Artusi, Carlo

Subjects
medicine.medical_specialty, Telemedicine, Neurology, Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), Clinical Neurology, Monitoring, Ambulatory, Context (language use), Disease, Review Article, Dermatology, Tele-health, Teleneurology, ALS patients, COVID-19, Remote monitoring, Severity of Illness Index, 03 medical and health sciences, 0302 clinical medicine, Pandemic, medicine, Humans, 030212 general & internal medicine, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Intensive care medicine, business.industry, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, General Medicine, medicine.disease, Psychiatry and Mental health, ALS patient, Neurology (clinical), Neurosurgery, business, 030217 neurology & neurosurgery
Abstract

Over the last months, due to coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, containment measures have led to important social restriction. Healthcare systems have faced a complete rearrangement of resources and spaces, with the creation of wards devoted to COVID-19 patients. In this context, patients affected by chronic neurological diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), are at risk to be lost at follow-up, leading to a higher risk of morbidity and mortality. Telemedicine may allow meet the needs of these patients. In this commentary, we briefly discuss the digital tools to remotely monitor and manage ALS patients. Focusing on detecting disease progression and preventing life-threatening conditions, we propose a toolset able to improve ALS management during this unprecedented situation.

Published
2020
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3. The effect of air pollution on COVID‐19 severity in a sample of patients with multiple sclerosis

Author

Bergamaschi, Roberto, Ponzano, Marta, Schiavetti, Irene, Carmisciano, Luca, Cordioli, Cinzia, Filippi, Massimo, Radaelli, Marta, Immovilli, Paolo, Capobianco, Marco, De Rossi, Nicola, Brichetto, Giampaolo, Cocco, Eleonora, Scandellari, Cinzia, Cavalla, Paola, Pesci, Ilaria, Zito, Antonio, Confalonieri, Paolo, Marfia, Girolama Alessandra, Perini, Paola, Inglese, Matilde, Trojano, Maria, Brescia Morra, Vincenzo, Pisoni, Enrico, Tedeschi, Gioacchino, Comi, Giancarlo, Battaglia, Mario Alberto, Patti, Francesco, Salvetti, Marco, Sormani, Maria Pia, Gianmarco Abbadessa, Umberto Aguglia, Lia Allegorico, Rossi Beatrice Maria Allegri, Anastasia Alteno, Maria Pia Amato, Pietro Annovazzi, Carlo Antozzi, Lucia Appendino, Sebastiano Arena, Viola Baione, Roberto Balgera, Valeria Barcella, Damiano Baroncini, Caterina Barrilà, Mario A Battaglia, Alessandra Bellacosa, Gianmarco Bellucci, Roberto Bergamaschi, Valeria Bergamaschi, Daiana Bezzini, Beatrice Biolzi, Alvino Bisecco, Simona Bonavita, Giovanna Borriello, Chiara Bosa, Antonio Bosco, Francesca Bovis, Marco Bozzali, Laura Brambilla, Morra Vincenzo Brescia, Giampaolo Brichetto, Maria Buccafusca, Elisabetta Bucciantini, Sebastiano Bucello, Maria Chiara Buscarinu, Maria Paola Cabboi, Massimiliano Calabrese, Francesca Calabria, Francesca Caleri, Federico Camilli, Luisa Maria Caniatti, Roberto Cantello, Marco Capobianco, Ruggero Capra, Rocco Capuano, Luca Carmisciano, Patrizia Carta, Paola Cavalla, Maria Grazia Celani, Maria Cellerino, Raffaella Cerqua, Clara Chisari, Raffaella Clerici, Marinella Clerico, Eleonora Cocco, Gaia Cola, Giancarlo Comi, Paolo Confalonieri, Antonella Conte, Marta Zaffira Conti, Christian Cordano, Susanna Cordera, Cinzia Cordioli, Francesco Corea, Claudio Correale, Salvatore Cottone, Francesco Crescenzo, Erica Curti, Alessandro d'Ambrosio, Emanuele D'Amico, Maura Chiara Danni, Alessia d'Arma, Vincenzo Dattola, Stefano de Biase, Giovanna De Luca, Stefania Federica De Mercanti, Paolo De Mitri, Nicola De Rossi, Nicola De Stefano, Cava Marco Della, Mario di Napoli, Alessia Di Sapio, Renato Docimo, Anna Dutto, Luana Evangelista, Salvatore Fanara, Diana Ferraro, Maria Teresa Ferrò, Massimo Filippi, Cristina Fioretti, Mario Fratta, Jessica Frau, Marzia Fronza, Roberto Furlan, Alberto Gajofatto, Antonio Gallo, Paolo Gallo, Claudio Gasperini, Anna Ghazaryan, Bruno Giometto, Francesca Gobbin, Flora Govone, Franco Granella, Erica Grange, Maria Grazia Grasso, Angelica Guareschi, Clara Guaschino, Simone Guerrieri, Donata Guidetti, Pietro Iaffaldano, Antonio Ianniello, Luigi Iasevoli, Paolo Immovilli, Daniele Imperiale, Maria Teresa Infante, Matilde Inglese, Rosa Iodice, Aniello Iovino, Giovanna Konrad, Doriana Landi, Roberta Lanzillo, Caterina Lapucci, Luigi Lavorgna, Maria Rita L'Episcopo, Serena Leva, Giuseppe Liberatore, Re Marianna Lo, Marco Longoni, Leonardo Lopiano, Lorena Lorefice, Matteo Lucchini, Giacomo Lus, Davide Maimone, Maria Malentacchi, Giulia Mallucci, Simona Malucchi, Chiara Rosa Mancinelli, Luca Mancinelli, Paolo Manganotti, Giorgia Teresa Maniscalco, Vittorio Mantero, Sabrina Marangoni, Damiano Marastoni, Girolama Alessandra Marfia, Fabiana Marinelli, Alessandro Marti, Boneschi Filippo Martinelli, Zoli Federco Masserano, Francesca Matta, Laura Mendozzi, Giuseppe Meucci, Silvia Miante, Giuseppina Miele, Eva Milano, Massimiliano Mirabella, Rosanna Missione, Marcello Moccia, Lucia Moiola, Sara Montepietra, Margherita MontiBragadin, Federico Montini, Roberta Motta, Raffaele Nardone, Carolina Gabri Nicoletti, Eduardo Nobile-Orazio, Agostino Nozzolillo, Marco Onofrj, Riccardo Orlandi, Anna Palmieri, Damiano Paolicelli, Livia Pasquali, Luisa Pastò, Francesco Patti, Elisabetta Pedrazzoli, Paola Perini, Ilaria Pesci, Maria Petracca, Alfredo Petrone, Carlo Piantadosi, Anna M Pietroboni, Federica Pinardi, Marta Ponzano, Emilio Portaccio, Mattia Pozzato, Carlo Pozzilli, Luca Prosperini, Alessandra Protti, Marta Radaelli, Paolo Ragonese, Sarah Rasia, Sabrina Realmuto, Anna Repice, Eleonora Rigoni, Maria Teresa Rilla, Francesca Rinaldi, Calogero Marcello Romano, Marco Ronzoni, Marco Rovaris, Francesca Ruscica, Loredana Sabattini, Giuseppe Salemi, Marco Salvetti, Lorenzo Saraceno, Alessia Sartori, Arianna Sartori, Elvira Sbragia, Cinzia Scandellari, Giuditta Ilaria Scarano, Valentina Scarano, Irene Schiavetti, Maria Sessa, Caterina Sgarito, Grazia Sibilia, Gabriele Siciliano, Alessio Signori, Elisabetta Signoriello, Leonardo Sinisi, Francesca Sireci, Patrizia Sola, Claudio Solaro, Maria Pia Sormani, Stefano Sotgiu, Maddalena Sparaco, Maria Laura Stromillo, Silvia Strumia, Emanuela Laura Susani, Giulietta Tabiadon, Francesco Teatini, Gioacchino Tedeschi, Valentina Tomassini, Simone Tonietti, Clerici Valentina Torri, Carla Tortorella, Simona Toscano, Rocco Totaro, Maria Trojano, Maria Trotta, Gabriella Turano, Monica Ulivelli, Manzo Valentino, Giovanna Vaula, Domizia Vecchio, Marco Vercellino, Elena Pinuccia Verrengia, Marika Vianello, Eleonora Virgilio, Francesca Vitetta, Stefano Vollaro, Mauro Zaffaroni, Mauro Zampolini, Ignazio Roberto Zarbo, Antonio Zito, Luigi Zuliani, Bergamaschi, R, Ponzano, M, Schiavetti, I, Carmisciano, L, Cordioli, C, Filippi, M, Radaelli, M, Immovilli, P, Capobianco, M, De Rossi, N, Brichetto, G, Cocco, E, Scandellari, C, Cavalla, P, Pesci, I, Zito, A, Confalonieri, P, Marfia, Ga, Perini, P, Inglese, M, Trojano, M, Brescia Morra, V, Pisoni, E, Tedeschi, G, Comi, G, Battaglia, Ma, Patti, F, Salvetti, M, Sormani, Mp, Abbadessa, Gianmarco, Umberto, Aguglia, Lia, Allegorico, Rossi Beatrice Maria Allegri, Anastasia, Alteno, Maria Pia Amato, Pietro, Annovazzi, Carlo, Antozzi, Lucia, Appendino, Sebastiano, Arena, Viola, Baione, Roberto, Balgera, Valeria, Barcella, Damiano, Baroncini, Caterina, Barrilà, Mario, A Battaglia, Alessandra, Bellacosa, Gianmarco, Bellucci, Roberto, Bergamaschi, Valeria, Bergamaschi, Daiana, Bezzini, Beatrice, Biolzi, Bisecco, Alvino, Bonavita, Simona, Giovanna, Borriello, Chiara, Bosa, Bosco, Antonio, Francesca, Bovi, Marco, Bozzali, Laura, Brambilla, Morra Vincenzo Brescia, Giampaolo, Brichetto, Maria, Buccafusca, Elisabetta, Bucciantini, Sebastiano, Bucello, Maria Chiara Buscarinu, Maria Paola Cabboi, Massimiliano, Calabrese, Francesca, Calabria, Francesca, Caleri, Federico, Camilli, Luisa Maria Caniatti, Roberto, Cantello, Marco, Capobianco, Ruggero, Capra, Capuano, Rocco, Luca, Carmisciano, Patrizia, Carta, Paola, Cavalla, Maria Grazia Celani, Maria, Cellerino, Raffaella, Cerqua, Clara, Chisari, Raffaella, Clerici, Marinella, Clerico, Eleonora, Cocco, Gaia, Cola, Giancarlo, Comi, Paolo, Confalonieri, Antonella, Conte, Marta Zaffira Conti, Christian, Cordano, Susanna, Cordera, Cinzia, Cordioli, Corea, Francesco, Claudio, Correale, Salvatore, Cottone, Francesco, Crescenzo, Erica, Curti, Alessandro, D'Ambrosio, Emanuele, D'Amico, Maura Chiara Danni, Alessia, D'Arma, Vincenzo, Dattola, Stefano de Biase, Giovanna De Luca, Stefania Federica De Mercanti, Paolo De Mitri, Nicola De Rossi, Nicola De Stefano, Cava Marco Della, Mario di Napoli, Alessia Di Sapio, Docimo, Renato, Anna, Dutto, Luana, Evangelista, Salvatore, Fanara, Diana, Ferraro, Maria Teresa Ferrò, Massimo, Filippi, Cristina, Fioretti, Fratta, Mario, Jessica, Frau, Marzia, Fronza, Roberto, Furlan, Alberto, Gajofatto, Gallo, Antonio, Paolo, Gallo, Claudio, Gasperini, Anna, Ghazaryan, Bruno, Giometto, Francesca, Gobbin, Flora, Govone, Franco, Granella, Erica, Grange, Maria Grazia Grasso, Angelica, Guareschi, Clara, Guaschino, Simone, Guerrieri, Donata, Guidetti, Pietro, Iaffaldano, Antonio, Ianniello, Luigi, Iasevoli, Paolo, Immovilli, Daniele, Imperiale, Maria Teresa Infante, Matilde, Inglese, Rosa, Iodice, Aniello, Iovino, Giovanna, Konrad, Doriana, Landi, Roberta, Lanzillo, Caterina, Lapucci, Luigi, Lavorgna, Maria Rita L'Episcopo, Serena, Leva, Giuseppe, Liberatore, Re Marianna Lo, Marco, Longoni, Leonardo, Lopiano, Lorena, Lorefice, Matteo, Lucchini, Lus, Giacomo, Davide, Maimone, Maria, Malentacchi, Giulia, Mallucci, Simona, Malucchi, Chiara Rosa Mancinelli, Luca, Mancinelli, Paolo, Manganotti, Giorgia Teresa Maniscalco, Vittorio, Mantero, Sabrina, Marangoni, Damiano, Marastoni, Girolama Alessandra Marfia, Fabiana, Marinelli, Alessandro, Marti, Boneschi Filippo Martinelli, Zoli Federco Masserano, Francesca, Matta, Laura, Mendozzi, Giuseppe, Meucci, Silvia, Miante, Miele, Giuseppina, Eva, Milano, Massimiliano, Mirabella, Missione, Rosanna, Marcello, Moccia, Lucia, Moiola, Sara, Montepietra, Margherita, Montibragadin, Federico, Montini, Roberta, Motta, Raffaele, Nardone, Carolina Gabri Nicoletti, Eduardo, Nobile-Orazio, Agostino, Nozzolillo, Marco, Onofrj, Riccardo, Orlandi, Palmieri, Anna, Damiano, Paolicelli, Livia, Pasquali, Luisa, Pastò, Francesco, Patti, Elisabetta, Pedrazzoli, Paola, Perini, Ilaria, Pesci, Maria, Petracca, Alfredo, Petrone, Carlo, Piantadosi, Anna, M Pietroboni, Federica, Pinardi, Marta, Ponzano, Emilio, Portaccio, Mattia, Pozzato, Carlo, Pozzilli, Luca, Prosperini, Alessandra, Protti, Marta, Radaelli, Paolo, Ragonese, Sarah, Rasia, Sabrina, Realmuto, Anna, Repice, Eleonora, Rigoni, Maria Teresa Rilla, Francesca, Rinaldi, Calogero Marcello Romano, Marco, Ronzoni, Marco, Rovari, Francesca, Ruscica, Loredana, Sabattini, Giuseppe, Salemi, Marco, Salvetti, Lorenzo, Saraceno, Alessia, Sartori, Arianna, Sartori, Elvira, Sbragia, Cinzia, Scandellari, Giuditta Ilaria Scarano, Valentina, Scarano, Irene, Schiavetti, Maria, Sessa, Caterina, Sgarito, Grazia, Sibilia, Gabriele, Siciliano, Alessio, Signori, Signoriello, Elisabetta, Leonardo, Sinisi, Francesca, Sireci, Patrizia, Sola, Claudio, Solaro, Maria Pia Sormani, Stefano, Sotgiu, Sparaco, Maddalena, Maria Laura Stromillo, Silvia, Strumia, Emanuela Laura Susani, Giulietta, Tabiadon, Francesco, Teatini, Tedeschi, Gioacchino, Valentina, Tomassini, Simone, Tonietti, Clerici Valentina Torri, Carla, Tortorella, Simona, Toscano, Rocco, Totaro, Maria, Trojano, Trotta, Maria Consiglia, Gabriella, Turano, Monica, Ulivelli, Manzo, Valentino, Giovanna, Vaula, Domizia, Vecchio, Marco, Vercellino, Elena Pinuccia Verrengia, Marika, Vianello, Eleonora, Virgilio, Francesca, Vitetta, Stefano, Vollaro, Mauro, Zaffaroni, Mauro, Zampolini, Ignazio Roberto Zarbo, Zito, Guido Antonio, Bergamaschi, R., Ponzano, M., Schiavetti, I., Carmisciano, L., Cordioli, C., Filippi, M., Radaelli, M., Immovilli, P., Capobianco, M., De Rossi, N., Brichetto, G., Cocco, E., Scandellari, C., Cavalla, P., Pesci, I., Zito, A., Confalonieri, P., Marfia, G. A., Perini, P., Inglese, M., Trojano, M., Brescia Morra, V., Pisoni, E., Tedeschi, G., Comi, G., Battaglia, M. A., Patti, F., Salvetti, M., Sormani, M. P., Bergamaschi, Roberto, Ponzano, Marta, Schiavetti, Irene, Carmisciano, Luca, Cordioli, Cinzia, Filippi, Massimo, Radaelli, Marta, Immovilli, Paolo, Capobianco, Marco, De Rossi, Nicola, Brichetto, Giampaolo, Cocco, Eleonora, Scandellari, Cinzia, Cavalla, Paola, Pesci, Ilaria, Zito, Antonio, Confalonieri, Paolo, Marfia, Girolama Alessandra, Perini, Paola, Inglese, Matilde, Trojano, Maria, Brescia Morra, Vincenzo, Pisoni, Enrico, Comi, Giancarlo, Battaglia, Mario Alberto, Patti, Francesco, Salvetti, Marco, Sormani, Maria, Pia, Gianmarco, Abbadessa, Alvino, Bisecco, Simona, Bonavita, Antonio, Bosco, Rocco, Capuano, Francesco, Corea, Renato, Docimo, Mario, Fratta, Antonio, Gallo, Iodice, Rosa, Iovino, Aniello, Lanzillo, Roberta, Giacomo, Lu, Giuseppina, Miele, Rosanna, Missione, Moccia, Marcello, Anna, Palmieri, Elisabetta, Signoriello, Maddalena, Sparaco, Gioacchino, Tedeschi, Maria, Trotta, Antonio, Zito, and Luigi, Zuliani

Subjects
air pollution, coronavirus, multiple sclerosis, medicine.medical_specialty, Multivariate analysis, Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), Clinical Sciences, Air pollution, Sample (statistics), Neurodegenerative, Settore MED/26, medicine.disease_cause, Autoimmune Disease, law.invention, Sustainable Cities and Communities, Clinical Research, law, Humans, Medicine, Climate-Related Exposures and Conditions, Neurology & Neurosurgery, MuSC-19 study group, SARS-CoV-2, business.industry, Multiple sclerosis, Neurosciences, COVID-19, Retrospective cohort study, Original Articles, medicine.disease, Intensive care unit, Particulate Matter, Air Pollution, Multiple Sclerosis, Brain Disorders, coronaviru, Settore MED/26 - NEUROLOGIA, Good Health and Well Being, Neurology, multiple sclerosi, Emergency medicine, Original Article, Neurology (clinical), Ordered logit, business, Human
Abstract

Background and purpose Some studies have shown that air pollution, often assessed by thin particulate matter with diameter below 2.5 µg/m3 (PM2.5), may contribute to severe COVID‐19 courses, as well as play a role in the onset and evolution of multiple sclerosis (MS). However, the impact of air pollution on COVID‐19 has never been explored specifically amongst patients with MS (PwMS). This retrospective observational study aims to explore associations between PM2.5 and COVID‐19 severity amongst PwMS. Methods Data were retrieved from an Italian web‐based platform (MuSC‐19) which includes PwMS with COVID‐19. PM2.5 2016–2018 average concentrations were provided by the Copernicus Atmospheric Monitoring Service. Italian patients inserted in the platform from 15 January 2020 to 9 April 2021 with a COVID‐19 positive test were included. Ordered logistic regression models were used to study associations between PM2.5 and COVID‐19 severity. Results In all, 1087 patients, of whom 13% required hospitalization and 2% were admitted to an intensive care unit or died, were included. Based on the multivariate analysis, higher concentrations of PM2.5 increased the risk of worse COVID‐19 course (odds ratio 1.90; p = 0.009). Conclusions Even if several other factors explain the unfavourable course of COVID‐19 in PwMS, the role of air pollutants must be considered and further investigated., Air pollution, often assessed by particulate matter with diameter below 2.5 µg/m3, may contribute to severe COVID‐19 courses. 1087 patients were included, of whom 13% required hospitalization and 2% were admitted to an intensive care unit or died. Even if several other factors explain the unfavourable course of COVID‐19 in patients with multiple sclerosis, the role of air pollutants must be considered and further investigated.

Published
2021

4. A real‐world study of alemtuzumab in a cohort of Italian patients

Author

Paola Cavalla, Laura Brambilla, Roberta Grasso, Cinzia Cordioli, Alice Laroni, Alessia Giugno, Valentina Torri Clerici, Maria Pia Sormani, Pietro Annovazzi, Francesco Saccà, Eleonora Cocco, Jessica Frau, Elisabetta Signoriello, Antonio Gallo, Marinella Clerico, Stefania Federica De Mercanti, Antonio Carotenuto, Simona Bonavita, Cinzia Valeria Russo, Giuseppe Fenu, Caterina Lapucci, Giorgia Teresa Maniscalco, Arianna Sartori, Francesca Caleri, Marco Capobianco, Alessio Signori, Rosa Iodice, Sara La Gioia, Giacomo Lus, Mauro Zaffaroni, Damiano Baroncini, Valeria Di Francescantonio, Russo, C. V., Sacca, F., Frau, J., Annovazzi, P., Signoriello, E., Bonavita, S., Grasso, R., Clerico, M., Cordioli, C., Laroni, A., Capobianco, M., Torri Clerici, V., Sartori, A., Cavalla, P., Maniscalco, G. T., La Gioia, S., Caleri, F., Giugno, A., Iodice, R., Carotenuto, A., Cocco, E., Fenu, G., Zaffaroni, M., Baroncini, D., Lus, G., Gallo, A., De Mercanti, S. F., Lapucci, C., Di Francescantonio, V., Brambilla, L., Sormani, M. P., Signori, A., Russo, CINZIA VALERIA, Sacca', Francesco, Frau, Jessica, Annovazzi, Pietro, Signoriello, Elisabetta, Bonavita, Simona, Grasso, Roberta, Clerico, Marinella, Cordioli, Cinzia, Laroni, Alice, Capobianco, Marco, Torri Clerici, Valentina, Sartori, Arianna, Cavalla, Paola, Teresa Maniscalco, Giorgia, La Gioia, Sara, Caleri, Francesca, Giugno, Alessia, Iodice, Rosa, Carotenuto, Antonio, Cocco, Eleonora, Fenu, Giuseppe, Zaffaroni, Mauro, Baroncini, Damiano, Lus, Giacomo, Gallo, Antonio, Federica De Mercanti, Stefania, Lapucci, Caterina, Di Francescantonio, Valeria, Brambilla, Laura, Pia Sormani, Maria, and Signori, Alessio

Subjects
Adult, safety, medicine.medical_specialty, efficacy, Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting, Natalizumab, Internal medicine, alemtuzumab, medicine, Humans, Glatiramer acetate, real-world evidence, Retrospective Studies, Expanded Disability Status Scale, Fingolimod Hydrochloride, business.industry, Multiple sclerosis, Glatiramer Acetate, cohort, medicine.disease, Fingolimod, Neurology, Relative risk, Cohort, Alemtuzumab, Neurology (clinical), business, medicine.drug
Abstract

Background and purpose: Real-world data on alemtuzumab are limited and do not provide evidence of its effectiveness after various disease-modifying therapies (DMTs). Our aim was to provide real-world data on the impact of clinical variables and previous DMTs on clinical response to alemtuzumab. Methods: Sixteen Italian multiple sclerosis centers retrospectively included patients who started alemtuzumab from January 2015 to December 2018, and recorded demographics, previous therapies, washout duration, relapses, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score, and magnetic resonance imaging data. Negative binomial regression models were used to assess the effect of factors on annualized relapse (ARR) after alemtuzumab initiation. Results: We studied 322 patients (mean age 36.8years, median EDSS score 3, median follow-up 1.94years). Previous treatments were: fingolimod (106), natalizumab (80), first-line oral agents (56), first-line injectables (interferon/glatiramer acetate; 30), and other drugs (15). Thirty-five patients were treatment-naïve. The pre-alemtuzumab ARR was 0.99 and decreased to 0.13 during alemtuzumab treatment (p&nbsp

Published
2021

5. Perceived stress and social support in a large population of people with multiple sclerosis recruited online through the COVID‐19 pandemic

Author

Simona Bonavita, Maddalena Sparaco, Giovanna Borriello, Antonio Russo, Luigi Lavorgna, Bonavita, Simona, Sparaco, Maddalena, Russo, Antonio, Borriello, Giovanna, and Lavorgna, Luigi

Subjects
medicine.medical_specialty, Stress management, Multiple Sclerosis, stress management, Clinical Neurology, Perceived Stress Scale, Social group, 03 medical and health sciences, Social support, 0302 clinical medicine, stre, Multiple Sclerosi, Humans, Medicine, 030212 general & internal medicine, Pandemics, Depression (differential diagnoses), SARS-CoV-2, business.industry, Multiple sclerosis, COVID-19, social support, medicine.disease, Patient Health Questionnaire, Neurology, Migraine, Physical therapy, Neurology (clinical), Neoplasm Recurrence, Local, business, COVID 19, Stress, Psychological, 030217 neurology & neurosurgery
Abstract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The COVID-19 emergency may cause post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and with regard to people with MS (pwMS) chronic exposure to a wide range of challenging life events has been shown to be correlated with worsening of neurological symptoms, increased lesion burden on brain magnetic resonance imaging and relapses. The aim was to investigate perceived stress, depression, perceived social support, habits and behaviour changes in pwMS through COVID-19 in comparison to a control group. METHODS: A web-based survey was posted on SMsocialnetwork.com to investigate perceived stress (using the Perceived Stress Scale), depression (with Patient Health Questionnaire 2) and perceived social support (using Social Provision Scale 10 item) in pwMS and a control group through the COVID-19 pandemic. A secondary group of people with migraine was investigated. RESULTS: In all, 1286 answers from 612 pwMS and 674 control people were included in the final analysis. The answers from 318 people with migraine were included for a secondary analysis. A higher proportion of pwMS were depressed (43.1% vs. 23.1%; p

Published
2021

6. Coping strategies in relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis non-depressed patients and their associations with disease activity

Author

Marida Della Corte, Gioacchino Tedeschi, Antonio Gallo, Luigi Lavorgna, Sabrina Esposito, Maria Cropano, Simona Bonavita, Maddalena Sparaco, Gabriella Santangelo, Giuseppina Miele, Federica Garramone, Santangelo, Gabriella, Corte, Marida Della, Sparaco, Maddalena, Miele, Giuseppina, Garramone, Federica, Cropano, Maria, Esposito, Sabrina, Lavorgna, Luigi, Gallo, Antonio, Tedeschi, Gioacchino, and Bonavita, Simona

Subjects
Adult, Male, medicine.medical_specialty, Coping (psychology), Neurology, Physical disability, Neuropsychological Tests, Correlation, Disease activity, Coping strategie, 03 medical and health sciences, Social support, Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting, 0302 clinical medicine, Clinical activity, Adaptation, Psychological, medicine, Humans, Multiple sclerosi, Prospective Studies, 030212 general & internal medicine, Depression, business.industry, Multiple sclerosis, Cognition, General Medicine, Middle Aged, medicine.disease, Cognitive impairment, Disease Progression, Female, Neurology (clinical), business, 030217 neurology & neurosurgery, Relapses, Clinical psychology
Abstract

Few studies evaluated coping strategies in people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) in relation to annualized relapse rate (ARR) and lesion load (LL). Overall, results might have been influenced by the inclusion of depressed patients. To investigate the coping strategies and their association to disease activity, we studied relapsing-remitting pwMS accurately selected to avoid the confounding effect of depression. Sixty-seven relapsing-remitting pwMS and 67 healthy subjects (HS) underwent to Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (I-COPE) and Coping Inventory for Stressful Situation (CISS) and Beck Depression Inventory-II. Cognitive performances, ARR, physical disability and magnetic resonance imaging T2-LL were assessed for correlation with coping and depression scores. pwMS showed lower scores than HSs on social support and turning to religion subscales of I-COPE and on emotion dimension of CISS. In pwMS, higher ARR was related to higher positive attitude and lower score on the turning to religion subscale of I-COPE. The present study revealed a less employment of emotion-based coping strategies in pwMS. A scarce use of faith for support and a frequent adoption of a positive attitude were associated with an increase of MS activity in terms of ARR.

Published
2019

7. PML risk is the main factor driving the choice of discontinuing natalizumab in a large multiple sclerosis population: results from an Italian multicenter retrospective study

Author

Clara G, Chisari, Giancarlo, Comi, Massimo, Filippi, Damiano, Paolicelli, Pietro, Iaffaldano, Mauro, Zaffaroni, Vincenzo, Brescia Morra, Eleonora, Cocco, Girolama Alessandra, Marfia, Luigi Maria, Grimaldi, Matilde, Inglese, Simona, Bonavita, Alessandra, Lugaresi, Giuseppe, Salemi, Giovanna, De Luca, Salvatore, Cottone, Antonella, Conte, Patrizia, Sola, Umberto, Aguglia, Giorgia Teresa, Maniscalco, Claudio, Gasperini, Maria Teresa, Ferrò, Ilaria, Pesci, Maria Pia, Amato, Marco, Rovaris, Claudio, Solaro, Giacomo, Lus, Davide, Maimone, Roberto, Bergamaschi, Franco, Granella, Alessia, Di Sapio, Antonio, Bertolotto, Rocco, Totaro, Marika, Vianello, Paola, Cavalla, Paolo, Bellantonio, Vito, Lepore, Francesco, Patti, Simonetta, Venturi, Chisari, Clara G, Comi, Giancarlo, Filippi, Massimo, Paolicelli, Damiano, Iaffaldano, Pietro, Zaffaroni, Mauro, Brescia Morra, Vincenzo, Cocco, Eleonora, Marfia, Girolama Alessandra, Grimaldi, Luigi Maria, Inglese, Matilde, Bonavita, Simona, Lugaresi, Alessandra, Salemi, Giuseppe, De Luca, Giovanna, Cottone, Salvatore, Conte, Antonella, Sola, Patrizia, Aguglia, Umberto, Maniscalco, Giorgia Teresa, Gasperini, Claudio, Ferrò, Maria Teresa, Pesci, Ilaria, Amato, Maria Pia, Rovaris, Marco, Solaro, Claudio, Lus, Giacomo, Maimone, Davide, Bergamaschi, Roberto, Granella, Franco, Di Sapio, Alessia, Bertolotto, Antonio, Totaro, Rocco, Vianello, Marika, Cavalla, Paola, Bellantonio, Paolo, Lepore, Vito, Patti, Francesco, and DIPARTIMENTO DI SCIENZE BIOMEDICHE E NEUROMOTORIE

Subjects
Adult, medicine.medical_specialty, Discontinuation rate, Neurology, Reasons for discontinuation, Population, Progressive Multifocal, Relapsing-Remitting, Settore MED/26, Multiple sclerosis, 03 medical and health sciences, 0302 clinical medicine, Natalizumab, Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting, Leukoencephalopathy, Internal medicine, parasitic diseases, medicine, Effective treatment, Humans, Immunologic Factors, Multiple sclerosi, 030212 general & internal medicine, education, Retrospective Studies, education.field_of_study, Female, Middle Aged, Leukoencephalopathy, Progressive Multifocal, Multiple Sclerosis, business.industry, Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, Retrospective cohort study, medicine.disease, Discontinuation, Settore MED/26 - Neurologia, Neurology (clinical), business, 030217 neurology & neurosurgery, medicine.drug
Abstract

none 38 no BACKGROUND: Natalizumab (NTZ) is an effective treatment for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). However, patients and physicians may consider discontinuing NTZ therapy due to safety or efficacy issues. The aim of our study was to evaluate the NTZ discontinuation rate and reasons of discontinuation in a large Italian population of RRMS patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The data were extracted from the Italian MS registry in May 2018 and were collected from 51,845 patients in 69 Italian multiple sclerosis centers. MS patients with at least one NTZ infusion in the period between June 1st 2012 to May 15th 2018 were included. Discontinuation rates at each time point were calculated. Reasons for NTZ discontinuation were classified as "lack of efficacy", "progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) risk" or "other". RESULTS: Out of 51,845, 5151 patients, 3019 (58.6%) females, with a mean age of 43.6 ± 10.1years (median 40), were analyzed. Out of 2037 (39.5%) who discontinued NTZ, a significantly higher percentage suspended NTZ because of PML risk compared to lack of efficacy [1682 (32.7% of 5151) vs 221 (4.3%), p

Published
2021

8. How to manage with telemedicine people with neuromuscular diseases?

Author

Francesca Trojsi, Gianmarco Abbadessa, Fiore Manganelli, Rosa Iodice, Emanuele Spina, Aniello Iovino, Carla Passaniti, Simona Bonavita, Luigi Lavorgna, Letizia Leocani, Gioacchino Tedeschi, Stefano Tozza, Spina, Emanuele, Trojsi, Francesca, Tozza, Stefano, Iovino, Aniello, Iodice, Rosa, Passaniti, Carla, Abbadessa, Gianmarco, Bonavita, Simona, Leocani, Letizia, Tedeschi, Gioacchino, Manganelli, Fiore, Lavorgna, Luigi, Spina, E., Trojsi, F., Tozza, S., Iovino, A., Iodice, R., Passaniti, C., Abbadessa, G., Bonavita, S., Leocani, L., Tedeschi, G., Manganelli, F., and Lavorgna, L.

Subjects
Telemedicine, medicine.medical_specialty, Neuromuscular disease, business.product_category, Neurology, Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), TeleRehabilitation, Dermatology, Review Article, Tele-health, 03 medical and health sciences, 0302 clinical medicine, Telerehabilitation, Pandemic, Internet access, Medicine, Humans, Social media, 030212 general & internal medicine, Pandemics, business.industry, SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, Correction, General Medicine, Neuromuscular Diseases, medicine.disease, Neuromuscular Disease, Psychiatry and Mental health, Neurology (clinical), Medical emergency, business, 030217 neurology & neurosurgery, Human
Abstract

Introduction COVID-19 pandemic radically transformed our daily clinical practice, raising the need not to lose close contact with patients without being able to see them face-to-face. These issues are even more felt and evident in fragile patients, as those affected by neuromuscular disease. An important help came from new digital technologies that allow clinicians to remotely monitor health status and any deterioration of chronically ill patients. Methods In this mini-review, an initiative of the “Digital Technologies, Web and Social Media Study Group” of the Italian Society of Neurology, we propose to analyze the approach to neuromuscular patients by looking over raising evidence on the main cornerstones of Telemedicine (TM): clinician-patient interaction, remote clinical assessment, remote monitoring, and digital therapeutics. In particular, we explored the strategies developed by researchers and their impact on the physical and emotional status of the patients, with particular focusing on their adherence to the program of virtual monitoring. Results TM plays an important role in each of four stages of approach to neuromuscular disease, having demonstrated validity in keep close clinical patient interaction, clinical assessment, remote monitoring, and telerehabilitation. Nevertheless, there is no remote alternative to electrophysiological testing neither validate tools to assess disability. Conclusion The role of TM in neuromuscular care is yet underestimated but is crucial, beyond the pandemic era. Further development of TM is advisable, through making specific apps, remotely controlled by clinicians, and making more engaging clinicians-patients interaction. Last, it is necessary to ensure adequate internet access to everyone.

Published
2021

9. Assessment of Multiple Sclerosis Disability Progression Using a Wearable Biosensor: A Pilot Study

Author

Giacomo Lus, Luigi Lavorgna, Gianmarco Abbadessa, Marinella Clerico, Elisabetta Signoriello, Giuseppina Miele, Maddalena Sparaco, Alfredo Mignone, Simona Bonavita, Abbadessa, Gianmarco, Lavorgna, Luigi, Miele, Giuseppina, Mignone, Alfredo, Signoriello, Elisabetta, Lus, Giacomo, Clerico, Marinella, Sparaco, Maddalena, and Bonavita, Simona

Subjects
medicine.medical_specialty, digital health, lcsh:Medicine, Article, Correlation, 03 medical and health sciences, 0302 clinical medicine, Physical medicine and rehabilitation, Quality of life, medicine, Disability progression, 030212 general & internal medicine, Depression (differential diagnoses), Rank correlation, Expanded Disability Status Scale, business.industry, Multiple sclerosis, lcsh:R, disability assessment, General Medicine, medicine.disease, accelerometer, Ambulatory, business, human activities, 030217 neurology & neurosurgery
Abstract

Background: The evaluation of walking activity of people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) is desirable. We evaluate the power of the correlation of motor parameters detected by the accelerometer in the Samsung Gear S2 smartwatch with multiple sclerosis (MS) disability measures and patient reported outcomes (PROs). Methods: We enrolled 25 relapsing remitting MS patients. We assessed disability with the expanded disability status scale, two-minute walking test (2MWT), timed 25-foot walk test (T25FWT), and nine-hole peg test. We collected PROs measuring fatigue, ambulatory ability, depression, quality of life, and bladder/bowel function. Participants were asked to wear the accelerometer for a period of 30 days. Results: The Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient showed a moderate negative correlation between the patient-determined disease steps (PDDS) score with the mean steps/day, a strong negative correlation between the PDDS score with the maximum number of daily steps (MNDS) and a moderate negative correlation between the fatigue severity scale score and MNDS. A moderate negative correlation between MNDS and the 2MWT and a moderate negative correlation between MNDS and the T25FW was found. Conclusion: Our results suggest that motor parameters derived from the accelerometer could be a reliable measure of motor disability in pwMS.

Published
2021

10. COVID-19 Severity in Multiple Sclerosis: Putting Data Into Context

Author

Maria Pia Sormani, Irene Schiavetti, Luca Carmisciano, Cinzia Cordioli, Massimo Filippi, Marta Radaelli, Paolo Immovilli, Marco Capobianco, Nicola De Rossi, Giampaolo Brichetto, Eleonora Cocco, Cinzia Scandellari, Paola Cavalla, Ilaria Pesci, Antonio Zito, Paolo Confalonieri, Girolama Alessandra Marfia, Paola Perini, Matilde Inglese, Maria Trojano, Vincenzo Brescia Morra, Gioacchino Tedeschi, Giancarlo Comi, Mario Alberto Battaglia, Francesco Patti, Marco Salvetti, Gianmarco Abbadessa, Umberto Aguglia, Lia Allegorico, Beatrice Maria Allegri Rossi, Maria Pia Amato, Pietro Annovazzi, Carlo Antozzi, Lucia Appendino, Sebastiano Arena, Viola Baione, Roberto Balgera, Valeria Barcella, Damiano Baroncini, Caterina Barrilà, Alessandra Bellacosa, Gianmarco Bellucci, Roberto Bergamaschi, Valeria Bergamaschi, Daiana Bezzini, Beatrice Biolzi, Alvino Bisecco, Simona Bonavita, Giovanna Borriello, Chiara Bosa, Antonio Bosco, Francesca Bovis, Marco Bozzali, Laura Brambilla, Maria Buccafusca, Elisabetta Bucciantini, Sebastiano Bucello, Maria Chiara Buscarinu, Maria Paola Cabboi, Massimiliano Calabrese, Francesca Calabria, Francesca Caleri, Federico Camilli, Luisa Maria Caniatti, Roberto Cantello, Ruggero Capra, Rocco Capuano, Patrizia Carta, Maria Grazia Celani, Maria Cellerino, Raffaella Cerqua, Clara Chisari, Raffaella Clerici, Marinella Clerico, Gaia Cola, Antonella Conte, Marta Zaffira Conti, Christian Cordano, Susanna Cordera, Francesco Corea, Claudio Correale, Salvatore Cottone, Francesco Crescenzo, Erica Curti, Alessandro d'Ambrosio, Emanuele D'Amico, Maura Chiara Danni, Alessia d'Arma, Vincenzo Dattola, Stefano de Biase, Giovanna De Luca, Stefania Federica De Mercanti, Paolo De Mitri, Nicola De Stefano, Marco Della Cava, Mario di Napoli, Alessia Di Sapio, Renato Docimo, Anna Dutto, Luana Evangelista, Salvatore Fanara, Ferraro Diana, Maria Teresa Ferrò, Cristina Fioretti, Mario Fratta, Jessica Frau, Marzia Fronza, Roberto Furlan, Alberto Gajofatto, Antonio Gallo, Paolo Gallo, Claudio Gasperini, Anna Ghazaryan, Bruno Giometto, Francesca Gobbin, Flora Govone, Franco Granella, Erica Grange, Maria Grazia Grasso, Angelica Guareschi, Clara Guaschino, Simone Guerrieri, Donata Guidetti, Pietro Iaffaldano, Antonio Ianniello, Luigi Iasevoli, Daniele Imperiale, Maria Teresa Infante, Rosa Iodice, Aniello Iovino, Giovanna Konrad, Doriana Landi, Roberta Lanzillo, Caterina Lapucci, Luigi Lavorgna, Maria Rita L'Episcopo, Serena Leva, Giuseppe Liberatore, Marianna Lo Re, Marco Longoni, Leonardo Lopiano, Lorena Lorefice, Matteo Lucchini, Giacomo Lus, Davide Maimone, Maria Malentacchi, Giulia Mallucci, Simona Malucchi, Chiara Rosa Mancinelli, Luca Mancinelli, Paolo Manganotti, Giorgia Teresa Maniscalco, Vittorio Mantero, Sabrina Marangoni, Damiano Marastoni, Fabiana Marinelli, Alessandro Marti, Filippo Martinelli Boneschi, Federco Masserano Zoli, Francesca Matta, Laura Mendozzi, Giuseppe Meucci, Silvia Miante, Giuseppina Miele, Eva Milano, Massimiliano Mirabella, Rosanna Missione, Marcello Moccia, Lucia Moiola, Sara Montepietra, Margherita MontiBragadin, Federico Montini, Roberta Motta, Raffaele Nardone, Carolina Gabri Nicoletti, Eduardo Nobile-Orazio, Agostino Nozzolillo, Marco Onofrj, Riccardo Orlandi, Anna Palmieri, Damiano Paolicelli, Livia Pasquali, Luisa Pastò, Elisabetta Pedrazzoli, Maria Petracca, Alfredo Petrone, Carlo Piantadosi, Anna M Pietroboni, Federica Pinardi, Marta Ponzano, Emilio Portaccio, Mattia Pozzato, Carlo Pozzilli, Luca Prosperini, Alessandra Protti, Paolo Ragonese, Sarah Rasia, Sabrina Realmuto, Anna Repice, Eleonora Rigoni, Maria Teresa Rilla, Francesca Rinaldi, Calogero Marcello Romano, Marco Ronzoni, Marco Rovaris, Francesca Ruscica, Loredana Sabattini, Giuseppe Salemi, Lorenzo Saraceno, Alessia Sartori, Arianna Sartori, Elvira Sbragia, Giuditta Ilaria Scarano, Valentina Scarano, Valentina Schillaci, Maria Sessa, Caterina Sgarito, Grazia Sibilia, Gabriele Siciliano, Alessio Signori, Elisabetta Signoriello, Leonardo Sinisi, Francesca Sireci, Patrizia Sola, Claudio Solaro, Stefano Sotgiu, Maddalena Sparaco, Maria Laura Stromillo, Silvia Strumia, Emanuela Laura Susani, Giulietta Tabiadon, Francesco Teatini, Valentina Tomassini, Simone Tonietti, Clerici Valentina Torri, Carla Tortorella, Simona Toscano, Rocco Totaro, Maria Trotta, Gabriella Turano, Monica Ulivelli, Manzo Valentino, Giovanna Vaula, Domizia Vecchio, Marco Vercellino, Elena Pinuccia Verrengia, Marika Vianello, Eleonora Virgilio, Francesca Vitetta, Stefano Vollaro, Mauro Zaffaroni, Mauro Zampolini, Ignazio Roberto Zarbo, Luigi Zuliani, Pia Sormani, Maria, Schiavetti, Irene, Carmisciano, Luca, Cordioli, Cinzia, Filippi, Massimo, Radaelli, Marta, Immovilli, Paolo, Capobianco, Marco, De Rossi, Nicola, Brichetto, Giampaolo, Cocco, Eleonora, Scandellari, Cinzia, Cavalla, Paola, Pesci, Ilaria, Zito, Guido Antonio, Confalonieri, Paolo, Alessandra Marfia, Girolama, Perini, Paola, Inglese, Matilde, Trojano, Maria, Brescia Morra, Vincenzo, Tedeschi, Gioacchino, Comi, Giancarlo, Alberto Battaglia, Mario, Patti, Francesco, Salvetti, Marco, Abbadessa, Gianmarco, Aguglia, Umberto, Allegorico, Lia, Maria Allegri Rossi, Beatrice, Pia Amato, Maria, Annovazzi, Pietro, Antozzi, Carlo, Appendino, Lucia, Arena, Sebastiano, Baione, Viola, Balgera, Roberto, Barcella, Valeria, Baroncini, Damiano, Barrilà, Caterina, Bellacosa, Alessandra, Bellucci, Gianmarco, Bergamaschi, Roberto, Bergamaschi, Valeria, Bezzini, Daiana, Biolzi, Beatrice, Bisecco, Alvino, Bonavita, Simona, Borriello, Giovanna, Bosa, Chiara, Bosco, Antonio, Bovis, Francesca, Bozzali, Marco, Brambilla, Laura, Buccafusca, Maria, Bucciantini, Elisabetta, Bucello, Sebastiano, Chiara Buscarinu, Maria, Paola Cabboi, Maria, Calabrese, Massimiliano, Calabria, Francesca, Caleri, Francesca, Camilli, Federico, Maria Caniatti, Luisa, Cantello, Roberto, Capra, Ruggero, Capuano, Rocco, Carta, Patrizia, Grazia Celani, Maria, Cellerino, Maria, Cerqua, Raffaella, Chisari, Clara, Clerici, Raffaella, Clerico, Marinella, Cola, Gaia, Conte, Antonella, Zaffira Conti, Marta, Cordano, Christian, Cordera, Susanna, Corea, Francesco, Correale, Claudio, Cottone, Salvatore, Crescenzo, Francesco, Curti, Erica, D'Ambrosio, Alessandro, D'Amico, Emanuele, Chiara Danni, Maura, D'Arma, Alessia, Dattola, Vincenzo, de Biase, Stefano, De Luca, Giovanna, Federica De Mercanti, Stefania, De Mitri, Paolo, De Stefano, Nicola, Della Cava, Marco, di Napoli, Mario, Di Sapio, Alessia, Docimo, Renato, Dutto, Anna, Evangelista, Luana, Fanara, Salvatore, Diana, Ferraro, Teresa Ferrò, Maria, Fioretti, Cristina, Fratta, Mario, Frau, Jessica, Fronza, Marzia, Furlan, Roberto, Gajofatto, Alberto, Gallo, Antonio, Gallo, Paolo, Gasperini, Claudio, Ghazaryan, Anna, Giometto, Bruno, Gobbin, Francesca, Govone, Flora, Granella, Franco, Grange, Erica, Grazia Grasso, Maria, Guareschi, Angelica, Guaschino, Clara, Guerrieri, Simone, Guidetti, Donata, Iaffaldano, Pietro, Ianniello, Antonio, Iasevoli, Luigi, Imperiale, Daniele, Teresa Infante, Maria, Iodice, Rosa, Iovino, Aniello, Konrad, Giovanna, Landi, Doriana, Lanzillo, Roberta, Lapucci, Caterina, Lavorgna, Luigi, Rita L'Episcopo, Maria, Leva, Serena, Liberatore, Giuseppe, Lo Re, Marianna, Longoni, Marco, Lopiano, Leonardo, Lorefice, Lorena, Lucchini, Matteo, Lus, Giacomo, Maimone, Davide, Malentacchi, Maria, Mallucci, Giulia, Malucchi, Simona, Rosa Mancinelli, Chiara, Mancinelli, Luca, Manganotti, Paolo, Teresa Maniscalco, Giorgia, Mantero, Vittorio, Marangoni, Sabrina, Marastoni, Damiano, Marinelli, Fabiana, Marti, Alessandro, Martinelli Boneschi, Filippo, Masserano Zoli, Federco, Matta, Francesca, Mendozzi, Laura, Meucci, Giuseppe, Miante, Silvia, Miele, Giuseppina, Milano, Eva, Mirabella, Massimiliano, Missione, Rosanna, Moccia, Marcello, Moiola, Lucia, Montepietra, Sara, Montibragadin, Margherita, Montini, Federico, Motta, Roberta, Nardone, Raffaele, Gabri Nicoletti, Carolina, Nobile-Orazio, Eduardo, Nozzolillo, Agostino, Onofrj, Marco, Orlandi, Riccardo, Palmieri, Anna, Paolicelli, Damiano, Pasquali, Livia, Pastò, Luisa, Pedrazzoli, Elisabetta, Petracca, Maria, Petrone, Alfredo, Piantadosi, Carlo, M Pietroboni, Anna, Pinardi, Federica, Ponzano, Marta, Portaccio, Emilio, Pozzato, Mattia, Pozzilli, Carlo, Prosperini, Luca, Protti, Alessandra, Ragonese, Paolo, Rasia, Sarah, Realmuto, Sabrina, Repice, Anna, Rigoni, Eleonora, Teresa Rilla, Maria, Rinaldi, Francesca, Marcello Romano, Calogero, Ronzoni, Marco, Rovaris, Marco, Ruscica, Francesca, Sabattini, Loredana, Salemi, Giuseppe, Saraceno, Lorenzo, Sartori, Alessia, Sartori, Arianna, Sbragia, Elvira, Ilaria Scarano, Giuditta, Scarano, Valentina, Schillaci, Valentina, Sessa, Maria, Sgarito, Caterina, Sibilia, Grazia, Siciliano, Gabriele, Signori, Alessio, Signoriello, Elisabetta, Sinisi, Leonardo, Sireci, Francesca, Sola, Patrizia, Solaro, Claudio, Sotgiu, Stefano, Sparaco, Maddalena, Laura Stromillo, Maria, Strumia, Silvia, Laura Susani, Emanuela, Tabiadon, Giulietta, Teatini, Francesco, Tomassini, Valentina, Tonietti, Simone, Valentina Torri, Clerici, Tortorella, Carla, Toscano, Simona, Totaro, Rocco, Trotta, Maria Consiglia, Turano, Gabriella, Ulivelli, Monica, Valentino, Manzo, Vaula, Giovanna, Vecchio, Domizia, Vercellino, Marco, Pinuccia Verrengia, Elena, Vianello, Marika, Virgilio, Eleonora, Vitetta, Francesca, Vollaro, Stefano, Zaffaroni, Mauro, Zampolini, Mauro, Roberto Zarbo, Ignazio, Zuliani, Luigi, Sormani, M. P., Schiavetti, I., Carmisciano, L., Cordioli, C., Filippi, M., Radaelli, M., Immovilli, P., Capobianco, M., De Rossi, N., Brichetto, G., Cocco, E., Scandellari, C., Cavalla, P., Pesci, I., Zito, A., Confalonieri, P., Marfia, G. A., Perini, P., Inglese, M., Trojano, M., Brescia Morra, V., Tedeschi, G., Comi, G., Battaglia, M. A., Patti, F., Salvetti, M., Zito, Antonio, BRESCIA MORRA, Vincenzo, Trotta, Maria, Sormani, Maria Pia, Marfia, Girolama Alessandra, and Battaglia, Mario Alberto

Subjects
Adult, Male, medicine.medical_specialty, Multiple Sclerosis, Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), Population, Intensive Care Unit, COVID-19, Cohort Studies, Comorbidity, Female, Hospitalization, Humans, Intensive Care Units, Italy, Middle Aged, Retrospective Studies, Risk Factors, Severity of Illness Index, Context (language use), Settore MED/26, Lower risk, Retrospective Studie, Internal medicine, Multiple Sclerosi, Medicine, In patient, National level, education, education.field_of_study, Expanded Disability Status Scale, business.industry, Risk Factor, Ethics committee, medicine.disease, Icu admission, Settore MED/26 - NEUROLOGIA, Neurology, Relative risk, Family medicine, Cohort, Honorarium, Observational study, Neurology (clinical), Cohort Studie, business, Human
Abstract

Background: It is unclear how multiple sclerosis (MS) affects the severity of Covid-19. Methods: Hospitalization, Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission and death after Covid-19 diagnosis of 1362 MS patients were compared to the age and sex-matched Italian population in a retrospective observational case-cohort study with population-based control. The observed vs the expected events were compared in the whole MS cohort and in different subgroups (higher-risk: EDSS>3 or at least one comorbidity, lower-risk: EDSS

Published
2021

11. Exit Strategies in Natalizumab-Treated RRMS at High Risk of Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy: a Multicentre Comparison Study

Author

Gianmarco Abbadessa, Carlo Avolio, Patrizia Sola, Franco Granella, Graziella Callari, Stefania Barone, Elisabetta Signoriello, Simona Bonavita, Francesco Patti, Aurora Zanghì, Maria Buccafusca, Valeria Di Francescantonio, Antonio Gallo, Rocco Capuano, Diana Ferraro, Roberta Lanzillo, Paola Valentino, Matteo Lucchini, Erica Curti, Giuseppe Pontillo, Massimiliano Mirabella, Emanuele D'Amico, Maria Petracca, Giacomo Lus, Zanghì, Aurora, Gallo, Antonio, Avolio, Carlo, Capuano, Rocco, Lucchini, Matteo, Petracca, Maria, Bonavita, Simona, Lanzillo, Roberta, Ferraro, Diana, Curti, Erica, Buccafusca, Maria, Callari, Graziella, Barone, Stefania, Pontillo, Giuseppe, Abbadessa, Gianmarco, Di Francescantonio, Valeria, Signoriello, Elisabetta, Lus, Giacomo, Sola, Patrizia, Granella, Franco, Valentino, Paola, Mirabella, Massimiliano, Patti, Francesco, D'Amico, Emanuele, Zanghi, A., Gallo, A., Avolio, C., Capuano, R., Lucchini, M., Petracca, M., Bonavita, S., Lanzillo, R., Ferraro, D., Curti, E., Buccafusca, M., Callari, G., Barone, S., Pontillo, G., Abbadessa, G., Di Francescantonio, V., Signoriello, E., Lus, G., Sola, P., Granella, F., Valentino, P., Mirabella, M., Patti, F., and D'Amico, E.

Subjects
0301 basic medicine, Male, Immunosuppressive Agent, 0302 clinical medicine, Natalizumab, Immunologic Factor, Risk Factors, Retrospective Studie, Pharmacology (medical), Prospective Studies, Disease activity, Ocrelizumab, Drug Substitution, Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, Leukoencephalopathy, Progressive Multifocal, Settore MED/26 - NEUROLOGIA, Original Article, Rituximab, Female, Immunosuppressive Agents, medicine.drug, Human, Adult, medicine.medical_specialty, Adolescent, Lower risk, Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized, Cladribine, Exit strategy, Follow-Up Studie, 03 medical and health sciences, Young Adult, Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting, Internal medicine, Post-hoc analysis, medicine, Humans, Immunologic Factors, Retrospective Studies, Pharmacology, Expanded Disability Status Scale, business.industry, Multiple sclerosis, Risk Factor, medicine.disease, Prospective Studie, 030104 developmental biology, Neurology (clinical), business, 030217 neurology & neurosurgery, Follow-Up Studies
Abstract

The main aim of the study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety profile of ocrelizumab (OCR), rituximab (RTX), and cladribine (CLA), employed as natalizumab (NTZ) exit strategies in relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients at high-risk for progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). This is a multicentre, retrospective, real-world study on consecutive RRMS patients from eleven tertiary Italian MS centres, who switched from NTZ to OCR, RTX, and CLA from January 1st, 2019, to December 31st, 2019. The primary study outcomes were the annualized relapse rate (ARR) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) outcome. Treatment effects were estimated by the inverse probability treatment weighting (IPTW), based on propensity-score (PS) approach. Additional endpoint included confirmed disability progression (CDP) as measured by Expanded Disability Status Scale and adverse events (AEs). Patients satisfying predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria were 120; 64 switched to OCR, 36 to RTX, and 20 to CLA. Patients from the 3 groups did not show differences for baseline characteristics, also after post hoc analysis. The IPTW PS-adjusted models revealed that patients on OCR had a lower risk for ARR than patients on CLA (ExpBOCR0.485, CI 95% 0.264–0.893,p = 0.020). This result was confirmed also for 12-month MRI activity (ExpBOCR0.248 CI 95% 0.065–0.948,p = 0.042). No differences were found in other pairwise comparisons (OCR vs RTX and RTX vs CLA) for the investigated outcomes. AEs were similar among the 3 groups. Anti-CD20 drugs were revealed to be effective and safe options as NTZ exit strategies. All investigated DMTs showed a good safety profile.

Published
2021

12. Disease-Modifying Therapies and Coronavirus Disease 2019 Severity in Multiple Sclerosis

Author

Sormani, Maria P., Nicola De Rossi, Irene, Schiavetti, Luca, Carmisciano, Cinzia, Cordioli, Lucia, Moiola, Marta, Radaelli, Paolo, Immovilli, Marco, Capobianco, Maria, Trojano, Paola, Zaratin, Gioacchino, Tedeschi, Giancarlo, Comi, Battaglia, Mario A., Francesco, Patti, Marco, Salvetti, Agostino, Nozzolillo, Alessandra, Bellacosa, Alessandra, Protti, Alessia Di Sapio, Alessio, Signori, Alfredo, Petrone, Alvino, Bisecco, Aniello, Iovino, Anna, Dutto, Anna Maria Repice, Antonella, Conte, Antonio, Bertolotto, Antonio, Bosco, Antonio, Gallo, Antonio, Zito, Arianna, Sartori, Bruno, Giometto, Carla, Tortorella, Carlo, Antozzi, Carlo, Pozzilli, Chiara Rosa Mancinelli, Chiara, Zanetta, Christian, Cordano, Cinzia, Scandellari, Clara, Guaschino, Claudio, Gasperini, Claudio, Solaro, Cristina, Fioretti, Daiana, Bezzini, Damiano, Marastoni, Damiano, Paolicelli, Domizia, Vecchio, Doriana, Landi, Elisabetta, Bucciantini, Elisabetta, Pedrazzoli, Elisabetta, Signoriello, Elvira, Sbragia, Emanuela Laura Susani, Erica, Curti, Eva, Milano, Fabiana, Marinelli, Federico, Camilli, Filippo Martinelli Boneschi, Flora, Govone, Francesca, Bovis, Francesca, Calabria, Francesca, Caleri, Francesca, Rinaldi, Francesca, Vitetta, Francesco, Corea, Francesco, Crescenzo, Francesco, Teatini, Giulietta, Tabiadon, Franco, Granella, Giacomo, Boffa, Giacomo, Lus, Giampaolo, Brichetto, Giorgia Teresa Maniscalco, Giovanna, Borriello, Giovanna De Luca, Giovanna, Konrad, Giovanna, Vaula, Girolama Alessandra Marfia, Giulia, Mallucci, Giuseppe, Liberatore, Giuseppe, Salemi, Giuseppina, Miele, Grazia, Sibilia, Ilaria, Pesci, Laura, Brambilla, Leonardo, Lopiano, Leonardo, Sinisi, Pasquali, Livia, Lorenzo, Saraceno, Luca, Chiveri, Luca, Mancinelli, Grimaldi, Luigi M. E., Luisa Maria Caniatti, Marco Della Cava, Marco, Onofrj, Marco, Rovaris, Marco, Vercellino, Margherita Monti Bragadin, Maria, Buccafusca, Maria Chiara Buscarinu, Maria Grazia Celani, Maria Grazia Grasso, Maria Laura Stromillo, Maria, Petracca, Maria Pia Amato, Maria Pia Sormani, Maria Rita L'Episcopo, Maria, Sessa, Maria Teresa Ferrò, Maria Vittoria Ercolani, Mariangela, Bianco, Marianna Lo Re, Marika, Vianello, Marinella, Clerico, Mario Alberto Battaglia, Mario di Napoli, Marta, Ponzano, Marta Zaffira Conti, Massimiliano, Calabrese, Massimiliano, Mirabella, Massimo, Filippi, Matilde, Inglese, Matteo, Lucchini, Matteo, Pozzato, Maura Chiara Danni, Mauro, Zaffaroni, Mauro, Zampolini, Michela, Ponzio, Milena De Riz, Nicola De Stefano, Paola, Cavalla, Paola De Mitri, Paola, Grossi, Paolo, Confalonieri, Paolo, Gallo, Paolo, Ragonese, Patrizia, Sola, Pietro, Annovazzi, Pietro, Iaffaldano, Raffaele, Nardone, Raffaella, Cerqua, Raffaella, Clerici, Roberta, Lanzillo, Roberta, Motta, Roberto, Balgera, Roberto, Bergamaschi, Rocco, Totaro, Rosa, Iodice, Ruggero, Capra, Sabrina, Marangoni, Sabrina, Realmuto, Salvatore, Cottone, Sara, Montepietra, Sarah, Rasia, Sebastiano, Arena, Sebastiano, Bucello, Silvia, Banfi, Simona, Bonavita, Simona, Malucchi, Simone, Tonietti, Stefano, Vollaro, Susanna, Cordera, Umberto, Aguglia, Valentina Torri Clerici, Valeria, Barcella, Valeria, Bergamaschi, Vincenzo Brescia Morra, Vincenzo, Dattola, and Vittorio Mantero, Sormani, M. P., De Rossi, N., Schiavetti, I., Carmisciano, L., Cordioli, C., Moiola, L., Radaelli, M., Immovilli, P., Capobianco, M., Trojano, M., Zaratin, P., Tedeschi, G., Comi, G., Battaglia, M. A., Patti, F., Salvetti, M., P Sormani, Maria, De Rossi, Nicola, Schiavetti, Irene, Carmisciano, Luca, Cordioli, Cinzia, Moiola, Lucia, Radaelli, Marta, Immovilli, Paolo, Capobianco, Marco, Trojano, Maria, Zaratin, Paola, Tedeschi, Gioacchino, Comi, Giancarlo, A Battaglia, Mario, Patti, Francesco, Salvetti, Marco, Nozzolillo, Agostino, Bellacosa, Alessandra, Protti, Alessandra, Di Sapio, Alessia, Signori, Alessio, Petrone, Alfredo, Bisecco, Alvino, Iovino, Aniello, Dutto, Anna, Maria Repice, Anna, Conte, Antonella, Bertolotto, Antonio, Bosco, Antonio, Gallo, Antonio, Zito, Antonio, Sartori, Arianna, Giometto, Bruno, Tortorella, Carla, Antozzi, Carlo, Pozzilli, Carlo, Rosa Mancinelli, Chiara, Zanetta, Chiara, Cordano, Christian, Scandellari, Cinzia, Guaschino, Clara, Gasperini, Claudio, Solaro, Claudio, Fioretti, Cristina, Bezzini, Daiana, Marastoni, Damiano, Paolicelli, Damiano, Vecchio, Domizia, Landi, Doriana, Bucciantini, Elisabetta, Pedrazzoli, Elisabetta, Signoriello, Elisabetta, Sbragia, Elvira, Laura Susani, Emanuela, Curti, Erica, Milano, Eva, Marinelli, Fabiana, Camilli, Federico, Martinelli Boneschi, Filippo, Govone, Flora, Bovis, Francesca, Calabria, Francesca, Caleri, Francesca, Rinaldi, Francesca, Vitetta, Francesca, Corea, Francesco, Crescenzo, Francesco, Teatini, Francesco, Tabiadon, Giulietta, Granella, Franco, Boffa, Giacomo, Lus, Giacomo, Brichetto, Giampaolo, Teresa Maniscalco, Giorgia, Borriello, Giovanna, De Luca, Giovanna, Konrad, Giovanna, Vaula, Giovanna, Alessandra Marfia, Girolama, Mallucci, Giulia, Liberatore, Giuseppe, Salemi, Giuseppe, Miele, Giuseppina, Sibilia, Grazia, Pesci, Ilaria, Brambilla, Laura, Lopiano, Leonardo, Sinisi, Leonardo, Pasquali, Livia, Saraceno, Lorenzo, Chiveri, Luca, Mancinelli, Luca, E Grimaldi, Luigi M, Maria Caniatti, Luisa, Della Cava, Marco, Onofrj, Marco, Rovaris, Marco, Vercellino, Marco, Monti Bragadin, Margherita, Buccafusca, Maria, Chiara Buscarinu, Maria, Grazia Celani, Maria, Grazia Grasso, Maria, Laura Stromillo, Maria, Petracca, Maria, Pia Amato, Maria, Pia Sormani, Maria, Rita L'Episcopo, Maria, Sessa, Maria, Teresa Ferrò, Maria, Vittoria Ercolani, Maria, Bianco, Mariangela, Lo Re, Marianna, Vianello, Marika, Clerico, Marinella, Alberto Battaglia, Mario, di Napoli, Mario, Ponzano, Marta, Zaffira Conti, Marta, Calabrese, Massimiliano, Mirabella, Massimiliano, Filippi, Massimo, Inglese, Matilde, Lucchini, Matteo, Pozzato, Matteo, Chiara Danni, Maura, Zaffaroni, Mauro, Zampolini, Mauro, Ponzio, Michela, De Riz, Milena, De Stefano, Nicola, Cavalla, Paola, De Mitri, Paola, Grossi, Paola, Confalonieri, Paolo, Gallo, Paolo, Ragonese, Paolo, Sola, Patrizia, Annovazzi, Pietro, Iaffaldano, Pietro, Nardone, Raffaele, Cerqua, Raffaella, Clerici, Raffaella, Lanzillo, Roberta, Motta, Roberta, Balgera, Roberto, Bergamaschi, Roberto, Totaro, Rocco, Iodice, Rosa, Capra, Ruggero, Marangoni, Sabrina, Realmuto, Sabrina, Cottone, Salvatore, Montepietra, Sara, Rasia, Sarah, Arena, Sebastiano, Bucello, Sebastiano, Banfi, Silvia, Bonavita, Simona, Malucchi, Simona, Tonietti, Simone, Vollaro, Stefano, Cordera, Susanna, Aguglia, Umberto, Torri Clerici, Valentina, Barcella, Valeria, Bergamaschi, Valeria, Brescia Morra, Vincenzo, Dattola, Vincenzo, Mantero, Vittorio, Mp, Sormani, N, De Rossi, I, Schiavetti, L, Carmisciano, C, Cordioli, L, Moiola, M, Radaelli, P, Immovilli, M, Capobianco, M, Trojano, P, Zaratin, G, Tedeschi, G, Comi, Ma, Battaglia, F, Patti, M, Salvetti, Study Group Agostino Nozzolillo, Musc-19, Grimaldi, Luigi M. E., Vittorio Mantero, And, Nozzolillo, A., Bellacosa, A., Protti, A., Di Sapio, A., Signori, A., Petrone, A., Bisecco, A., Iovino, A., Dutto, A., Repice, A. M., Conte, A., Bertolotto, A., Bosco, A., Gallo, A., Zito, A., Sartori, A., Giometto, B., Tortorella, C., Antozzi, C., Pozzilli, C., Mancinelli, C. R., Zanetta, C., Cordano, C., Scandellari, C., Guaschino, C., Gasperini, C., Solaro, C., Fioretti, C., Bezzini, D., Marastoni, D., Paolicelli, D., Vecchio, D., Landi, D., Bucciantini, E., Pedrazzoli, E., Signoriello, E., Sbragia, E., Susani, E. L., Curti, E., Milano, E., Marinelli, F., Camilli, F., Boneschi, F. M., Govone, F., Bovis, F., Calabria, F., Caleri, F., Rinaldi, F., Vitetta, F., Corea, F., Crescenzo, F., Teatini, F., Tabiadon, G., Granella, F., Boffa, G., Lus, G., Brichetto, G., Maniscalco, G. T., Borriello, G., De Luca, G., Konrad, G., Vaula, G., Marfia, G. A., Mallucci, G., Liberatore, G., Salemi, G., Miele, G., Sibilia, G., Pesci, I., Brambilla, L., Lopiano, L., Sinisi, L., Pasquali, L., Saraceno, L., Chiveri, L., Mancinelli, L., Grimaldi, L. M. E., Caniatti, L. M., Cava, M. D., Onofrj, M., Rovaris, M., Vercellino, M., Bragadin, M. M., Buccafusca, M., Buscarinu, M. C., Celani, M. G., Grasso, M. G., Stromillo, M. L., Petracca, M., Amato, M. P., L'Episcopo, M. R., Sessa, M., Ferro, M. T., Ercolani, M. V., Bianco, M., Re, M. L., Vianello, M., Clerico, M., di Napoli, M., Ponzano, M., Conti, M. Z., Calabrese, M., Mirabella, M., Filippi, M., Inglese, M., Lucchini, M., Pozzato, M., Danni, M. C., Zaffaroni, M., Zampolini, M., Ponzio, M., De Riz, M., De Stefano, N., Cavalla, P., De Mitri, P., Grossi, P., Confalonieri, P., Gallo, P., Ragonese, P., Sola, P., Annovazzi, P., Iaffaldano, P., Nardone, R., Cerqua, R., Clerici, R., Lanzillo, R., Motta, R., Balgera, R., Bergamaschi, R., Totaro, R., Iodice, R., Capra, R., Marangoni, S., Realmuto, S., Cottone, S., Montepietra, S., Rasia, S., Arena, S., Bucello, S., Banfi, S., Bonavita, S., Malucchi, S., Tonietti, S., Vollaro, S., Cordera, S., Aguglia, U., Clerici, V. T., Barcella, V., Bergamaschi, V., Morra, V. B., Dattola, V., Mantero, V., Sormani M.P., De Rossi N., Schiavetti I., Carmisciano L., Cordioli C., Moiola L., Radaelli M., Immovilli P., Capobianco M., Trojano M., Zaratin P., Tedeschi G., Comi G., Battaglia M.A., Patti F., Salvetti M., Nozzolillo A., Bellacosa A., Protti A., Di Sapio A., Signori A., Petrone A., Bisecco A., Iovino A., Dutto A., Repice A.M., Conte A., Bertolotto A., Bosco A., Gallo A., Zito A., Sartori A., Giometto B., Tortorella C., Antozzi C., Pozzilli C., Mancinelli C.R., Zanetta C., Cordano C., Scandellari C., Guaschino C., Gasperini C., Solaro C., Fioretti C., Bezzini D., Marastoni D., Paolicelli D., Vecchio D., Landi D., Bucciantini E., Pedrazzoli E., Signoriello E., Sbragia E., Susani E.L., Curti E., Milano E., Marinelli F., Camilli F., Boneschi F.M., Govone F., Bovis F., Calabria F., Caleri F., Rinaldi F., Vitetta F., Corea F., Crescenzo F., Teatini F., Tabiadon G., Granella F., Boffa G., Lus G., Brichetto G., Maniscalco G.T., Borriello G., De Luca G., Konrad G., Vaula G., Marfia G.A., Mallucci G., Liberatore G., Salemi G., Miele G., Sibilia G., Pesci I., Brambilla L., Lopiano L., Sinisi L., Pasquali L., Saraceno L., Chiveri L., Mancinelli L., Grimaldi L.M.E., Caniatti L.M., Cava M.D., Onofrj M., Rovaris M., Vercellino M., Bragadin M.M., Buccafusca M., Buscarinu M.C., Celani M.G., Grasso M.G., Stromillo M.L., Petracca M., Amato M.P., L'Episcopo M.R., Sessa M., Ferro M.T., Ercolani M.V., Bianco M., Re M.L., Vianello M., Clerico M., di Napoli M., Ponzano M., Conti M.Z., Calabrese M., Mirabella M., Filippi M., Inglese M., Lucchini M., Pozzato M., Danni M.C., Zaffaroni M., Zampolini M., Ponzio M., De Riz M., De Stefano N., Cavalla P., De Mitri P., Grossi P., Confalonieri P., Gallo P., Ragonese P., Sola P., Annovazzi P., Iaffaldano P., Nardone R., Cerqua R., Clerici R., Lanzillo R., Motta R., Balgera R., Bergamaschi R., Totaro R., Iodice R., Capra R., Marangoni S., Realmuto S., Cottone S., Montepietra S., Rasia S., Arena S., Bucello S., Banfi S., Bonavita S., Malucchi S., Tonietti S., Vollaro S., Cordera S., Aguglia U., Clerici V.T., Barcella V., Bergamaschi V., Morra V.B., Dattola V., and Mantero V.

Subjects
Male, 0301 basic medicine, Dimethyl Fumarate, Neurodegenerative, multiple sclerosis, coronavirus, pneumonia, Severity of Illness Index, law.invention, Immunosuppressive Agent, Immunologic Factor, 0302 clinical medicine, Natalizumab, law, Monoclonal, Multiple Sclerosi, 80 and over, Lung, Humanized, Research Articles, Aged, 80 and over, Middle Aged, Intensive care unit, Hospitalization, Settore MED/26 - NEUROLOGIA, Intensive Care Units, Neurology, Methylprednisolone, Neurological, Pneumonia & Influenza, Interferon, Female, Immunosuppressive Agents, Research Article, Human, medicine.drug, Adult, medicine.medical_specialty, Musc-19 Study Group, Multiple Sclerosis, Adolescent, Clinical Sciences, Intensive Care Unit, Clinical Neurology, Settore MED/26, Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized, Autoimmune Disease, Antibodies, Young Adult, 03 medical and health sciences, Clinical Research, Internal medicine, Severity of illness, medicine, Humans, Immunologic Factors, Mortality, Aged, COVID-19, Fingolimod Hydrochloride, Interferons, SARS-CoV-2, Neurology & Neurosurgery, Expanded Disability Status Scale, business.industry, Multiple sclerosis, Neurosciences, Pneumonia, Odds ratio, medicine.disease, Brain Disorders, Good Health and Well Being, 030104 developmental biology, Ocrelizumab, Neurology (clinical), business, 030217 neurology & neurosurgery
Abstract

Objective: This study was undertaken to assess the impact of immunosuppressive and immunomodulatory therapies on the severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). Methods: We retrospectively collected data of PwMS with suspected or confirmed COVID-19. All the patients had complete follow-up to death or recovery. Severe COVID-19 was defined by a 3-level variable: mild disease not requiring hospitalization versus pneumonia or hospitalization versus intensive care unit (ICU) admission or death. We evaluated baseline characteristics and MS therapies associated with severe COVID-19 by multivariate and propensity score (PS)-weighted ordinal logistic models. Sensitivity analyses were run to confirm the results. Results: Of 844 PwMS with suspected (n = 565) or confirmed (n = 279) COVID-19, 13 (1.54%) died; 11 of them were in a progressive MS phase, and 8 were without any therapy. Thirty-eight (4.5%) were admitted to an ICU; 99 (11.7%) had radiologically documented pneumonia; 96 (11.4%) were hospitalized. After adjusting for region, age, sex, progressive MS course, Expanded Disability Status Scale, disease duration, body mass index, comorbidities, and recent methylprednisolone use, therapy with an anti-CD20 agent (ocrelizumab or rituximab) was significantly associated (odds ratio [OR] = 2.37, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.18–4.74, p = 0.015) with increased risk of severe COVID-19. Recent use (

Published
2021

13. Myasthenia gravis and telemedicine: a lesson from COVID-19 pandemic

Author

Gianmarco Abbadessa, Francesco Iodice, Bianca Orlando, Giovanni Cirillo, Simona Bonavita, Giuseppina Miele, Marinella Clerico, Francesca Trojsi, Luigi Lavorgna, Marco Bozzali, Silvia Casagrande, Letizia Leocani, Gioacchino Tedeschi, Dario Ricciardi, Ricciardi, Dario, Casagrande, Silvia, Iodice, Francesco, Orlando, Bianca, Trojsi, Francesca, Cirillo, Giovanni, Clerico, Marinella, Bozzali, Marco, Leocani, Letizia, Abbadessa, Gianmarco, Miele, Giuseppina, Tedeschi, Gioacchino, Bonavita, Simona, Lavorgna, Luigi, Ricciardi, D., Casagrande, S., Iodice, F., Orlando, B., Trojsi, F., Cirillo, G., Clerico, M., Bozzali, M., Leocani, L., Abbadessa, G., Miele, G., Tedeschi, G., Bonavita, S., and Lavorgna, L.

Subjects
medicine.medical_specialty, Telemedicine, Neurology, Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), Myasthenia gravi, Dermatology, Disease, Tele-health, Pandemic, Myasthenia Gravis, medicine, Humans, Intensive care medicine, Adverse effect, Myasthenia gravis, Pandemics, business.industry, SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, General Medicine, medicine.disease, Psychiatry and Mental health, Neurology (clinical), Neurosurgery, Tele-neurology, business
Abstract

COVID-19 pandemic has induced an urgent reorganization of the healthcare system to ensure continuity of care for patients affected by chronic neurological diseases including myasthenia gravis (MG). Due to the fluctuating nature of the disease, early detection of disease worsening, adverse events, and possibly life-threatening complications is mandatory. This work analyzes the main unresolved issues in the management of the myasthenic patient, the possibilities offered so far by digital technologies, and proposes an online evaluation protocol based on 4 simple tests to improve MG management. Telemedicine and Digital Technology might help neurologists in the clinical decision-making process of MG management, avoiding unnecessary in presence consultations and allowing a rational use of the time and space reduced by the pandemic.

Published
2021

14. Stroke and digital technology: a wake-up call from COVID-19 pandemic

Author

Marinella Clerico, Michele Romoli, Simona Bonavita, Francesco Iodice, Letizia Leocani, Gioacchino Tedeschi, Bruno Giometto, Luigi Lavorgna, Iodice, Francesco, Romoli, Michele, Giometto, Bruno, Clerico, Marinella, Tedeschi, Gioacchino, Bonavita, Simona, Leocani, Letizia, Lavorgna, Luigi, Iodice, F., Romoli, M., Giometto, B., Clerico, M., Tedeschi, G., Bonavita, S., Leocani, L., and Lavorgna, L.

Subjects
Telemedicine, medicine.medical_specialty, medicine.medical_treatment, Clinical Neurology, COVID-19, Stroke, Telehealth, Teleneurology, Telerehabilitation, Humans, Italy, Neurology, SARS-CoV-2, Stroke Rehabilitation, Dermatology, 03 medical and health sciences, 0302 clinical medicine, Acute care, Pandemic, medicine, Social media, 030212 general & internal medicine, Rehabilitation, business.industry, General Medicine, medicine.disease, Psychiatry and Mental health, Neurology (clinical), Medical emergency, business, 030217 neurology & neurosurgery, Human
Abstract

Introduction: The pandemic has implemented the need for new digital technologies as useful tools during the emergency and the long recovery phase that will follow. SARS-CoV-2 has strongly impacted stroke care with significant contraction in a number of patients treated. Methods: This mini-review is an initiative of the “Digital Technologies, Web and Social Media Study Group” of the Italian Society of Neurology and briefly discusses digital tools for managing the acute phase and the rehabilitation after stroke, even considering the new apps that will improve the process of remote monitoring of patients after discharge at home. Results: Telemedicine and digital technologies could play a role in each of the three stroke-belt stages: hyperacute treatment and reperfusion, acute care, etiological classification and secondary prevention and rehabilitation. Conclusion: The global emergency represented by the COVID-19 pandemic can be the stimulus to accelerate the digitalization process in the field of stroke for the use of new methods on a large scale.

Published
2021

15. Switch from sequestering to anti-CD20 depleting treatment: disease activity outcomes during wash-out and in the first 6 months of ocrelizumab therapy

Author

Maria Pia Sormani, Antonio Carotenuto, Jessica Frau, Doriana Landi, Girolama Alessandra Marfia, Alessio Signori, Erica Curti, Francesco Saccà, Giorgia Teresa Maniscalco, Simone Cepparulo, Elisabetta Signoriello, Francesca Caleri, Mauro Zaffaroni, Damiano Baroncini, Carolina Gabri Nicoletti, Simona Bonavita, Giacomo Lus, Roberta Lanzillo, Viviana Nociti, Arianna Sartori, Signoriello, E., Lus, G., Bonavita, S., Lanzillo, R., Sacca, F., Landi, D., Frau, J., Baroncini, D., Zaffaroni, M., Maniscalco, G. T., Curti, E., Sartori, A., Cepparulo, S., Marfia, G. A., Nicoletti, C. G., Carotenuto, A., Nociti, V., Caleri, F., Sormani, M. P., Signori, A., Signoriello, Elisabetta, Lus, Giacomo, Bonavita, Simona, Lanzillo, Roberta, Sacc??, Francesco, Landi, Doriana, Frau, Jessica, Baroncini, Damiano, Zaffaroni, Mauro, Teresa Maniscalco, Giorgia, Curti, Erica, Sartori, Arianna, Cepparulo, Simone, Alessandra Marfia, Girolama, Gabri Nicoletti, Carolina, Carotenuto, Antonio, Nociti, Viviana, Caleri, Francesca, Pia Sormani, Maria, and Signori, Alessio

Subjects
Oncology, medicine.medical_specialty, Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized, Settore MED/26, Disease activity, Multiple sclerosis, 03 medical and health sciences, 0302 clinical medicine, Natalizumab, Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting, natalizumab, ocrelizumab, Internal medicine, medicine, Humans, Multiple sclerosi, 030212 general & internal medicine, Anti cd20, fingolimod, switch, Retrospective Studies, business.industry, Fingolimod Hydrochloride, medicine.disease, Fingolimod, Disease control, Neurology, Ocrelizumab, Neurology (clinical), business, 030217 neurology & neurosurgery, Immunosuppressive Agents, medicine.drug
Abstract

Objectives: Switching between treatments is an opportunity for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) to ameliorate disease control or safety. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of switching from fingolimod (FTY) or natalizumab (NTZ) to ocrelizumab (OCR) on disease activity. Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 165 patients treated with OCR from 11 MS centres. We assessed the association of demographic and clinical characteristics on relapse rate (RR) and activity on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) during wash-out and after 6 months of treatment with OCR through univariable and multivariable negative binomial regression models. Results: We registered a total of 35 relapses during the wash-out period. Previous treatment with FTY, relapses in the previous year, and relapsing-remitting course were associated with higher RR. In the first 6 months of OCR, 12 patients had clinical or MRI disease activity. Higher Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and higher lymphocyte count at OCR start were associated with a reduced probability of relapse. Discussion and Conclusion: This study confirms that withdrawal from sequestering agents as FTY increases the risk of relapses in the wash-out period. Nevertheless, starting OCR before achieving complete immune reconstitution could limit its effectiveness in the first 6 months probably because trapped lymphocytes escape the CD20-mediated depletion.

Published
2021

16. Digital work engagement among Italian neurologists

Author

Fabiana Colucci, Francesca Trojsi, Simona Bonavita, Letizia Leocani, Gioacchino Tedeschi, Maria Pia Sormani, Francesco Brigo, Marta Ponzano, Luigi Lavorgna, Marinella Clerico, Roberta Lanzillo, Gianmarco Abbadessa, Emanuele Spina, Luca Carmisciano, Maddalena Sparaco, Giovanni Cossu, Giuseppina Miele, Carla Tortorella, G. Servillo, Marco Bozzali, Carlo Alberto Artusi, Brigo, F., Ponzano, M., Sormani, M. P., Clerico, M., Abbadessa, G., Cossu, G., Trojsi, F., Colucci, F., Tortorella, C., Miele, G., Spina, E., Artusi, C. A., Carmisciano, L., Servillo, G., Bozzali, M., Sparaco, M., Leocani, L., Lanzillo, R., Tedeschi, G., Bonavita, S., Lavorgna, L., Brigo, Francesco, Ponzano, Marta, Sormani, Maria Pia, Clerico, Marinella, Abbadessa, Gianmarco, Cossu, Giovanni, Trojsi, Francesca, Colucci, Fabiana, Tortorella, Carla, Miele, Giuseppina, Spina, Emanuele, Artusi, Carlo Alberto, Carmisciano, Luca, Servillo, Giovanna, Bozzali, Marco, Sparaco, Maddalena, Leocani, Letizia, Lanzillo, Roberta, Tedeschi, Gioacchino, Bonavita, Simona, and Lavorgna, Luigi

Subjects
Digital work, The Role of Telemedicine in Chronic Disease, medicine.medical_specialty, Telemedicine, Medical education, Neurology, 020205 medical informatics, business.industry, Medicine (miscellaneous), 02 engineering and technology, RM1-950, Digital health, 03 medical and health sciences, 0302 clinical medicine, 0202 electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering, medicine, Therapeutics. Pharmacology, business, 030217 neurology & neurosurgery, Original Research
Abstract

Background: Digital health, including telemedicine, is increasingly recommended for the management of chronic neurological disorders, and it has changed the roles of patients and clinicians. Methods: In this cross-sectional study we aimed to investigate the digital work engagement of Italian neurologists through a survey collected between September 2020 and January 2021. Questionnaires were anonymous and collected demographic characteristics, attitudes towards digital devices and social media, and details about the clinician–patient relationship. We used logistic-regression models to identify characteristics associated with the propensity to communicate with patients using social media. Results: Among the 553 neurologists who participated to the study, smartphones and computers were widely preferred compared with tablets; wearable devices were not common, although some neurologists desired them. A total of 48% of participants reported communicating with patients using social media but only a few were in favor of social friendship with patients; WhatsApp was the social media most popular for professional (86%) and personal (98%) purposes. Propensity to communicate with social media was significantly higher among those who were older ( p Conclusions: The preferred social media were those which were rapid and which safeguard privacy more effectively; neurologists made many efforts to disprove fake news circulating online, providing help to patients in various ways. This analysis can help direct future interventions for the management of chronic neurological disorders.

Published
2021

17. Unilateral polymicrogyria, hemispheric atrophy and spastic hemiparesis: rare etiologies for a common condition

Author

Luigi Lavorgna, Simona Bonavita, Dario Ricciardi, Gioacchino Tedeschi, Giovanni Cirillo, Ricciardi, Dario, Lavorgna, Luigi, Cirillo, Giovanni, Tedeschi, Gioacchino, and Bonavita, Simona

Subjects
medicine.medical_specialty, Cortical malformation, Neurology, business.industry, Unilateral polymicrogyria, General Medicine, medicine.disease, Spastic hemiparesis, Atrophy, Polymicrogyria, Brain MRI, Brain mri, medicine, Etiology, Neurology (clinical), Radiology, business, Neuroradiology
Published
2020

18. Unraveling diagnostic uncertainty in transition phase from relapsing-remitting to secondary progressive multiple sclerosis

Author

Giacomo Lus, Ylenia Vaia, Antonio Carotenuto, Elisabetta Signoriello, Marcello Moccia, Simona Bonavita, Roberta Lanzillo, Vincenzo Brescia Morra, Carotenuto, Antonio, Signoriello, Elisabetta, Lanzillo, Roberta, Vaia, Ylenia, Moccia, Marcello, Bonavita, Simona, Lus, Giacomo, Brescia Morra, Vincenzo, and BRESCIA MORRA, Vincenzo

Subjects
medicine.medical_specialty, Multiple Sclerosis, predictor, Logistic regression, 03 medical and health sciences, Disability Evaluation, 0302 clinical medicine, Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting, Recurrence, Internal medicine, medicine, Humans, In patient, Disabled Persons, 030212 general & internal medicine, First episode, business.industry, Proportional hazards model, Multiple sclerosis, Uncertainty, General Medicine, Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Progressive, medicine.disease, Neurology, Relapsing remitting, disability, multiple sclerosi, Disease Progression, Secondary progressive multiple sclerosis, Biomarker (medicine), biomarker, Neurology (clinical), Progressive multiple sclerosis, business, 030217 neurology & neurosurgery
Abstract

Background: Clinicians struggle to timely diagnose secondary-progressive multiple sclerosis (SP-MS), with a ‘transition phase’ period of diagnostic uncertainty. We aimed at defining clinical markers predicting evolution to SP-MS. Methods:: We reviewed 210 newly diagnosed MS patients experiencing at least one confirmed disability worsening (CDW). CDWs were classified as disability worsening either due to incomplete recovery following relapse (r-CDW), or independent of relapse activity (nr-CDW). Logistic regression and Cox regression models were used to evaluate variables at CDW associated with SP-MS diagnosis. Results: On CDW, higher EDSS (OR: 2.73, p=0.002) and nr-CDW (OR: 2.63, p=0.03) were associated with conversion to SP-MS over the follow-up. In addition, the risk of SP-MS was higher in patients with EDSS>3.0 at CDW (HR: 2.26, p

Published
2020

19. Dimethyl fumarate vs Teriflunomide: an Italian time-to-event data analysis

Author

D'Amico E., Zanghi A., Sciandra M., Lanzillo R., Callari G., Cortese A., Lus G., Lucchini M., Buccafusca M., Bonavita S., Gallo A., Curti E., Gajofatto A., Signoriello E., Bisecco A., Gobbin F., Ferro M. T., Ferrazzano G., Sparaco M., Valentino P., Mirabella M., Granella F., Bresciamorra V., Grimaldi L. M. E., Patti F., Borriello G., Grossi P., Carotenuto A., Siena E., Tsantes E., Giugno A., Abbadessa G. M., Chisari C. G., D'Amico, Emanuele, Zanghì, Aurora, Sciandra, Mariangela, Lanzillo, Roberta, Callari, Graziella, Cortese, Antonio, Lus, Giacomo, Lucchini, Matteo, Buccafusca, Maria, Bonavita, Simona, Gallo, Antonio, Curti, Erica, Gajofatto, Alberto, Signoriello, Elisabetta, Bisecco, Alvino, Gobbin, Francesca, Ferrò, Maria Teresa, Ferrazzano, Gina, Sparaco, Maddalena, Valentino, Paola, Mirabella, Massimiliano, Granella, Franco, Brescia Morra, Vincenzo, Grimaldi, Luigi Maria Edoardo, Patti, Francesco, D'Amico, E., Zanghi, A., Sciandra, M., Lanzillo, R., Callari, G., Cortese, A., Lus, G., Lucchini, M., Buccafusca, M., Bonavita, S., Gallo, A., Curti, E., Gajofatto, A., Signoriello, E., Bisecco, A., Gobbin, F., Ferro, M. T., Ferrazzano, G., Sparaco, M., Valentino, P., Mirabella, M., Granella, F., Bresciamorra, V., Grimaldi, L. M. E., Patti, F., Borriello, G., Grossi, P., Carotenuto, A., Siena, E., Tsantes, E., Giugno, A., Abbadessa, G. M., and Chisari, C. G.

Subjects
Adult, Data Analysis, Male, medicine.medical_specialty, Neurology, Efficacy, Toluidines, Dimethyl Fumarate, Hydroxybutyrates, Relapsing-Remitting, Multiple sclerosis, 03 medical and health sciences, chemistry.chemical_compound, 0302 clinical medicine, Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting, Internal medicine, Teriflunomide, Nitriles, medicine, Humans, Multiple sclerosi, 030212 general & internal medicine, Neuroradiology, Dimethyl fumarate, Proportional hazards model, business.industry, Safety, Female, Italy, Middle Aged, Crotonates, Immunosuppressive Agents, medicine.disease, Settore MED/26 - NEUROLOGIA, Event data, chemistry, Cohort, Neurology (clinical), business, 030217 neurology & neurosurgery
Abstract

Background: The introduction of oral disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) for relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) changed algorithms of RRMS treatment. Objectives: To compare the effectiveness of treatment with dimethyl fumarate (DMF) and teriflunomide (TRF) in a large multicentre Italian cohort of RRMS patients. Materials and Methods: Patients with RRMS who received treatment with DMF and TRF between January 1st, 2012 and December 31st, 2018 from twelve MS centers were identified. The events investigated were “time-to-first-relapse”, “time-to-Magnetic-Resonance-Imaging (MRI)-activity” and “time-to-disability-progression”. Results: 1445 patients were enrolled (1039 on DMF, 406 on TRF) and followed for a median of 34months. Patients on TRF were older (43.5 ± 8.6 vs 38.8 ± 9.2years), with a predominance of men and higher level of disability (p < 0.001 for all). Patients on DMF had a higher number of relapses and radiological activity (p 38DMF = 3.83, CI = 1.11 to 13.23, p = 0.033). Both DMTs controlled similarly MRI activity and disability progression. Conclusions: Patients on DMF had higher relapse-free survival time than TRF group after the first 38 months ontherapy.

Published
2020

20. Assessing disability and relapses in multiple sclerosis on tele-neurology

Author

Letizia Leocani, Gioacchino Tedeschi, Simona Bonavita, Luigi Lavorgna, Roberta Lanzillo, Marcello Moccia, Vincenzo Brescia Morra, Moccia, Marcello, Lanzillo, Roberta, Brescia Morra, Vincenzo, Bonavita, Simona, Tedeschi, Gioacchino, Leocani, Letizia, Lavorgna, Luigi, Moccia, M., Lanzillo, R., Brescia Morra, V., Bonavita, S., Tedeschi, G., Leocani, L., and Lavorgna, L.

Subjects
medicine.medical_specialty, Multiple Sclerosis, Neurology, Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), Pneumonia, Viral, Clinical Neurology, Neurological examination, Dermatology, Brief Communication, Betacoronavirus, Disability Evaluation, 03 medical and health sciences, Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting, 0302 clinical medicine, medicine, Humans, Multiple sclerosi, 030212 general & internal medicine, Pandemics, Neuroradiology, COVID, medicine.diagnostic_test, SARS-CoV-2, business.industry, Multiple sclerosis, COVID-19, General Medicine, Tele-medicine, medicine.disease, Telemedicine, Cognitive test, Psychiatry and Mental health, Physical therapy, Chronic disability, Neurology (clinical), Neurosurgery, Tele-neurology, Coronavirus Infections, business, 030217 neurology & neurosurgery
Abstract

Background: As a consequence of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, a large amount of consultations will be delivered through tele-medicine, especially for diseases causing chronic disability and requiring immunomodulatory treatments, such as multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods: We have hereby reviewed available tools for tele-neurology examination in MS, including components of neurological examination that can be assessed through video, patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), and digital technology. Results: Overall, we have suggested a battery for assessing MS disability and relapses on tele-medicine, which brings together conventional examination, PROMs (e.g., Patient Determined Disease Steps, MS Impact Scale), and cognitive tests (Symbol Digit Modalities Test) that can be delivered remotely and in multiple languages. Discussion: The use of common tools for neurological examination could improve tele-neurology practice for both general neurologists and MS specialists, and quality of care for people with MS.

Published
2020

21. Cladribine vs other drugs in MS: Merging randomized trial with real-life data

Author

Domenico Ippolito, Sara La Gioia, Sabrina Esposito, Valentina Torri Clerici, Giorgia Teresa Maniscalco, Cinzia Cordioli, Lorena Pareja-Gutierrez, Elisabetta Signoriello, Cinzia Valeria Russo, Roberta Grasso, Doriana Landi, B. Frigeni, Andrea Visconti, Caterina Barrilà, Valeria Barcella, Raffaella Cerqua, Alice Laroni, Simona Bonavita, Stefania Barone, P. Perini, Sarah Rasia, Arianna Sartori, Maria Laura Stromillo, Roberta Lanzillo, Damiano Baroncini, Jessica Frau, Francesco Saccà, Luigi Lavorgna, Alessio Signori, Ignazio Roberto Zarbo, Giorgia Mataluni, Eleonora Cocco, Maria Pia Sormani, E Binello, Pietro Annovazzi, M Clerico, Simona Pontecorvo, Giuseppe Fenu, Alessia Di Sapio, Anna Maria Repice, Signori, A., Sacca, F., Lanzillo, R., Maniscalco, G. T., Signoriello, E., Repice, A. M., Annovazzi, P., Baroncini, D., Clerico, M., Binello, E., Cerqua, R., Mataluni, G., Perini, P., Bonavita, S., Lavorgna, L., Zarbo, I. R., Laroni, A., Pareja-Gutierrez, L., La Gioia, S., Frigeni, B., Barcella, V., Frau, J., Cocco, E., Fenu, G., Clerici, V. T., Sartori, A., Rasia, S., Cordioli, C., Stromillo, M. L., Di Sapio, A., Pontecorvo, S., Grasso, R., Barone, S., Barrila, C., Russo, C. V., Esposito, S., Ippolito, D., Landi, D., Visconti, A., Sormani, M. P., Signori, Alessio, Saccà, Francesco, Lanzillo, Roberta, Maniscalco, Giorgia Teresa, Signoriello, Elisabetta, Repice, Anna Maria, Annovazzi, Pietro, Baroncini, Damiano, Clerico, Marinella, Binello, Eleonora, Cerqua, Raffaella, Mataluni, Giorgia, Perini, Paola, Bonavita, Simona, Lavorgna, Luigi, Zarbo, Ignazio Roberto, Laroni, Alice, Pareja-Gutierrez, Lorena, La Gioia, Sara, Frigeni, Barbara, Barcella, Valeria, Frau, Jessica, Cocco, Eleonora, Fenu, Giuseppe, Clerici, Valentina Torri, Sartori, Arianna, Rasia, Sarah, Cordioli, Cinzia, Stromillo, Maria Laura, Di Sapio, Alessia, Pontecorvo, Simona, Grasso, Roberta, Barone, Stefania, Barrilà, Caterina, Russo, Cinzia Valeria, Esposito, Sabrina, Ippolito, Domenico, Landi, Doriana, Visconti, Andrea, and Sormani, Maria Pia

Subjects
Adult, Male, medicine.medical_specialty, Databases, Factual, Datasets as Topic, Settore MED/26, Placebo, Severity of Illness Index, law.invention, Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting, Natalizumab, Randomized controlled trial, law, Internal medicine, Outcome Assessment, Health Care, Severity of illness, medicine, Humans, Immunologic Factors, Multicenter Studies as Topic, Glatiramer acetate, Cladribine, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Retrospective Studies, business.industry, Middle Aged, Fingolimod, Observational Studies as Topic, Neurology, Propensity score matching, Disease Progression, Female, Neurology (clinical), business, medicine.drug
Abstract

ObjectiveCladribine tablets were tested against placebo in randomized controlled trials (RCTs). In this study, the effectiveness of cladribine vs other approved drugs in patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) was compared by matching RCT to observational data.MethodsData from the pivotal trial assessing cladribine tablets vs placebo (CLARITY) were propensity score matched to data from the Italian multicenter database i-MuST. This database included 3,150 patients diagnosed between 2010 and 2018 at 24 Italian MS centers who started a disease-modifying drug. The annualized relapse rate (ARR) over 2 years from treatment start and the 24-week confirmed disability progression were compared between patients treated with cladribine and other approved drugs (interferon, glatiramer acetate, fingolimod, natalizumab, and dimethyl fumarate), with comparisons with placebo as a reference. Treatment effects were estimated by the inverse probability weighting negative binomial regression model for ARR and Cox model for disability progression. The treatment effect has also been evaluated according to baseline disease activity.ResultsAll weighted baseline characteristics were well balanced between groups. All drugs tested had an effect vs placebo close to that detected in the RCT. Patients treated with cladribine had a significantly lower ARR compared with interferon (relapse ratio [RR] = 0.48; p < 0.001), glatiramer acetate (RR = 0.49; p < 0.001), and dimethyl fumarate (RR = 0.6; p = 0.001); a similar ARR to that with fingolimod (RR = 0.74; p = 0.24); and a significantly higher ARR than natalizumab (RR = 2.13; p = 0.014), confirming results obtained by indirect treatment comparisons from RCTs (network meta-analyses). The relative effect of cladribine tablets 10 mg (cumulative dose 3.5 mg/kg over 2 years) was higher in patients with high disease activity vs all treatments except fingolimod and natalizumab. Effects on disability progression were largely nonsignificant, probably due to lack of power for such analysis.ConclusionIn patients with RRMS, cladribine tablets showed lower ARR compared with matched patients who started interferon, glatiramer acetate, or dimethyl fumarate; was similar to fingolimod; and was higher than natalizumab. The beneficial effect of cladribine tablets was generally amplified in the subgroup of patients with high disease activity.Classification of evidenceThis study provides Class III evidence that for patients with RRMS, cladribine-treated patients had lower ARR compared with interferon, glatiramer acetate, or dimethyl fumarate; similar ARR compared with fingolimod; and higher ARR compared with natalizumab.

Published
2020

22. Extending the Interval of Natalizumab Dosing: Is Efficacy Preserved?

Author

Marco Iudicello, Cinzia Cordioli, Marinella Clerico, Giorgia Teresa Maniscalco, Luigi Lavorgna, Martina Petruzzo, Giorgia Mataluni, Giacomo Lus, Massimiliano Mirabella, Rita Frangiamore, Damiano Baroncini, Erica Curti, Alice Laroni, Paola Cavalla, Eleonora Cocco, Ruggero Capra, Alessio Signori, Roberta Lanzillo, Gianfranco Costantini, Maria Pia Sormani, Stefania Federica De Mercanti, Viviana Nociti, Simona Bonavita, Ilaria Gandoglia, Arianna Sartori, Doriana Landi, Lorena Lorefice, Elisabetta Signoriello, Clerico, Marinella, De Mercanti, Stefania Federica, Signori, Alessio, Iudicello, Marco, Cordioli, Cinzia, Signoriello, Elisabetta, Lus, Giacomo, Bonavita, Simona, Lavorgna, Luigi, Maniscalco, Giorgia Teresa, Curti, Erica, Lorefice, Lorena, Cocco, Eleonora, Nociti, Viviana, Mirabella, Massimiliano, Baroncini, Damiano, Mataluni, Giorgia, Landi, Doriana, Petruzzo, Martina, Lanzillo, Roberta, Gandoglia, Ilaria, Laroni, Alice, Frangiamore, Rita, Sartori, Arianna, Cavalla, Paola, Costantini, Gianfranco, Sormani, Maria Pia, Capra, Ruggero, Clerico, M., De Mercanti, S. F., Signori, A., Iudicello, M., Cordioli, C., Signoriello, E., Lus, G., Bonavita, S., Lavorgna, L., Maniscalco, G. T., Curti, E., Lorefice, L., Cocco, E., Nociti, V., Mirabella, M., Baroncini, D., Mataluni, G., Landi, D., Petruzzo, M., Lanzillo, R., Gandoglia, I., Laroni, A., Frangiamore, R., Sartori, A., Cavalla, P., Costantini, G., Sormani, M. P., and Capra, R.

Subjects
0301 basic medicine, Standard interval, Adult, Male, medicine.medical_specialty, efficacy, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, law.invention, Cohort Studies, Multiple sclerosis, 03 medical and health sciences, 0302 clinical medicine, Natalizumab, natalizumab, Randomized controlled trial, law, Recurrence, Internal medicine, medicine, Humans, Immunologic Factors, Pharmacology (medical), Multiple sclerosi, extended dose, Dosing, Retrospective Studies, Pharmacology, business.industry, Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, Leukoencephalopathy, Progressive Multifocal, Retrospective cohort study, medicine.disease, Settore MED/26 - NEUROLOGIA, 030104 developmental biology, Treatment Outcome, Italy, Observational study, Female, Original Article, Neurology (clinical), business, 030217 neurology & neurosurgery, medicine.drug, Cohort study
Abstract

Extending the natalizumab interval after the 24th administration could reduce the risk of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). The objective is to evaluate the noninferiority of the efficacy of an extended interval dosing (EID) compared with the standard interval dosing (SID) of natalizumab. It is an observational, multicenter (14 Italian centers), retrospective cohort study, starting from the 24th natalizumab infusion to the loss of follow-up or 2 years after baseline. Patients were grouped in 2 categories according to the mean number of weeks between doses

Published
2020

23. Telemedicine and the challenge of epilepsy management at the time of COVID-19 pandemic

Author

Francesco, Brigo, Bonavita, S., Leocani, L., Gioacchino, Tedeschi, Lavorgna, L., Giovanni, Mancardi, Alessandro, Padovani, Clerico, Marinella, Roberta, Lanzillo, Antonio, Russo, Bruno, Giometto, Giulia, Straccia, Rosa, Iodice, Sebastiano, Bucello, Pietro, Annovazzi, Marcello, Moccia, Luca, Prosperini, Maria Laura Stromillo, Anna Maria Repice, Giuseppina, Miele, Alberto, Lerario, Antonio De Martino, Francesco, Iodice, Francesco Di Lorenzo, Luca, Cuffaro, Michele, Romoli, Marcello Silvestro, Artusi, Carlo Alberto, Brigo, F., Bonavita, S., Leocani, L., Tedeschi, G., Lavorgna, L., Brigo, Francesco, Bonavita, Simona, Leocani, Letizia, Tedeschi, Gioacchino, and Lavorgna, Luigi

Subjects
medicine.medical_specialty, 2019-20 coronavirus outbreak, Telemedicine, Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), Pneumonia, Viral, Clinical Neurology, COVID-19 pandemic, Mobile device, Article, Social media, Behavioral Neuroscience, Epilepsy, Betacoronavirus, Seizures, Pandemic, Medicine, Humans, Viral, Intensive care medicine, Mobile devices, Coronavirus Infections, Pandemics, biology, SARS-CoV-2, business.industry, COVID-19, Pneumonia, medicine.disease, biology.organism_classification, Seizure, Neurology, Neurology (clinical), business
Published
2020

24. Are patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) at higher risk of COVID-19 infection?

Author

Simona Bonavita, Mahsa Ghajarzadeh, Ghajarzadeh, Mahsa, and Bonavita, Simona

Subjects
medicine.medical_specialty, Pediatrics, Multiple Sclerosis, Neurology, Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), Pneumonia, Viral, Clinical Neurology, MEDLINE, Dermatology, Betacoronavirus, Risk Factors, Pandemic, medicine, Humans, Immunologic Factors, Pandemics, Neuroradiology, biology, SARS-CoV-2, business.industry, Multiple sclerosis, COVID-19, General Medicine, biology.organism_classification, medicine.disease, Psychiatry and Mental health, Neurology (clinical), Neurosurgery, Coronavirus Infections, business
Published
2020

25. Singular cases of Alzheimer's disease disclose new and old genetic 'acquaintances'

Author

Giorgio Giaccone, Sabina Pappatà, Lorenzo Cipriano, Giuseppe Di Fede, Marcella Catania, Giacomina Rossi, Cinzia Coppola, Sara Cimini, Dario Saracino, Simona Bonavita, Gianfranco Puoti, Mariano Oliva, Martina Ricci, Coppola, Cinzia, Saracino, Dario, Oliva, Mariano, Cipriano, Lorenzo, Puoti, Gianfranco, Pappatà, Sabina, Di Fede, Giuseppe, Catania, Marcella, Ricci, Martina, Cimini, Sara, Giaccone, Giorgio, Bonavita, Simona, and Rossi, Giacomina

Subjects
0301 basic medicine, medicine.medical_specialty, Amyloid, Neurology, Mutation, Missense, Dermatology, Disease, Neuropsychological Tests, Bioinformatics, 03 medical and health sciences, symbols.namesake, 0302 clinical medicine, Genetic, Alzheimer Disease, PSEN2, Presenilin-2, medicine, PSEN1, Presenilin-1, Genetics, Dementia, Missense mutation, Humans, Genetic Testing, Sanger sequencing, business.industry, General Medicine, Biomarker, medicine.disease, Psychiatry and Mental health, 030104 developmental biology, Mutation, symbols, Original Article, Neurology (clinical), Age of onset, business, Alzheimer’s disease, 030217 neurology & neurosurgery, Biomarkers
Abstract

Background Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common age-related dementia. Besides its typical presentation with amnestic syndrome at onset, atypical AD cases are being increasingly recognized, often in presenile age. Objectives To provide an extensive clinical and genetic characterization of six AD patients carrying one or more singular features, including age of onset, atypical phenotype and disease progression rate. By reviewing the pertinent literature and accessing publicly available databases, we aimed to assess the frequency and the significance of the identified genetic variants. Methods Biomarkers of amyloid-β deposition and neurodegeneration were used to establish the in vivo diagnosis of probable AD, in addition to neurological and neuropsychological evaluation, extensive laboratory assays and neuroradiological data. Considering the presenile onset of the majority of the cases, we hypothesized genetically determined AD and performed extensive genetic analyses by both Sanger sequencing and next generation sequencing (NGS). Results We disclosed two known missense variants, one in PSEN1 and the other in PSEN2, and a novel silent variant in PSEN2. Most notably, we identified several additional variants in other dementia-related genes by NGS. Some of them have never been reported in any control or disease databases, representing variants unique to our cases. Conclusions This work underlines the difficulties in reaching a confident in vivo diagnosis in cases of atypical dementia. Moreover, a wider genetic analysis by NGS approach may prove to be useful in specific cases, especially when the study of the so-far known AD causative genes produces negative or conflicting results.

Published
2020

26. Nabiximols discontinuation rate in a large population of patients with multiple sclerosis: a 18-month multicentre study

Author

Damiano Paolicelli, Assunta Bianco, Simona Pontecorvo, Paola Valentino, Elisabetta Capello, Roberta Lanzillo, M. Danni, Alberto Gajofatto, Gianfranco Costantino, Claudio Solaro, Roberto Bruno Bossio, Daniele Spitaleri, Giacomo Lus, Simona Bonavita, Mauro Zaffaroni, Pasquale Annunziata, Edoardo Sessa, Roberto Bergamaschi, Claudio Gasperini, Letizia Castelli, Diego Centonze, Salvatore Cottone, Loredana Petrucci, Vincenzo Brescia Morra, Marco Rovaris, Mario Zappia, Paola Cavalla, Angelica Guareschi, Gabriella Spinicci, Isabella Righini, Francesco Patti, Giorgia Teresa Maniscalco, Manuela Matta, Federica Esposito, Clara Grazia Chisari, Chisari, Clara Grazia, Solaro, Claudio, Annunziata, Pasquale, Bergamaschi, Roberto, Bianco, Assunta, Bonavita, Simona, Brescia Morra, Vincenzo, Bruno Bossio, Roberto, Capello, Elisabetta, Castelli, Letizia, Cavalla, Paola, Costantino, Gianfranco, Centonze, Diego, Cottone, Salvatore, Danni, Maura Chiara, Esposito, Federica, Gajofatto, Alberto, Gasperini, Claudio, Guareschi, Angelica, Lanzillo, Roberta, Lus, Giacomo, Maniscalco, Giorgia Teresa, Matta, Manuela, Paolicelli, Damiano, Petrucci, Loredana, Pontecorvo, Simona, Righini, Isabella, Rovaris, Marco, Sessa, Edoardo, Spinicci, Gabriella, Spitaleri, Daniele, Valentino, Paola, Zaffaroni, Mauro, Zappia, Mario, and Patti, Francesco

Subjects
Adult, Male, medicine.medical_specialty, Multiple Sclerosis, Time Factors, Nabiximols, Delta-δ-tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabidiol: oromucosal spray, therapy continuation, therapy abandon, long-term clinical outcome, Settore MED/26, digestive system, 030226 pharmacology & pharmacy, Efficacy, 03 medical and health sciences, Drug withdrawal, 0302 clinical medicine, Internal medicine, mental disorders, Cannabidiol, Humans, Medicine, Dronabinol, Prospective Studies, Adverse effect, Prospective cohort study, business.industry, organic chemicals, Middle Aged, medicine.disease, digestive system diseases, Discontinuation, Clinical trial, Drug Combinations, Psychiatry and Mental health, Treatment Outcome, surgical procedures, operative, Withholding Treatment, Patient Compliance, Female, Surgery, Neurology (clinical), business, 030217 neurology & neurosurgery, medicine.drug
Abstract

IntroductionDelta-δ-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol (THC:CBD) oromucosal spray is used as an add-on therapy option for moderate to severe multiple sclerosis (MS) spasticity resistant to other medications. Aims of this study were to provide real-life data on long-term clinical outcomes in a large population of Italian patients treated with THC:CBD and to evaluate predictors of THC:CBD therapy continuation.Materials and methodsThis prospective observational multicentre Italian study screened all patients with MS consecutively included in the Agenzia Italiana del Farmaco e-registry at the start of THC:CBD treatment (baseline), after 4 weeks (T1), 12±3 weeks (T2), 24±3 weeks (T3), 48±3 weeks (T4) and 72±3 weeks (T5) from baseline.ResultsA total of 1845 patients were recruited from 32 MS Italian centres. At T1, 1502 (81.4%) of patients reached a Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) improvement of ≥20%, with an NRS reduction of 26.9% at T1 and of 34.4% at T5. At T5, 725 patients (48.3% of 1502) discontinued treatment with highest discontinuation rate at T2 and T3. Daily number of puffs was generally stable through the observation period. The multivariate analysis showed that higher NRS scores at baseline (OR 2.28, 95% CI 1.15 to 6.36, pDiscussionTHC:CBD effects were sustained for 18 months with a relatively stable number of puffs per day. About 50% of patients abandoned THC:CBD therapy for loss of efficacy or adverse events.

Published
2020

27. Validity and reproducibility of the Italian version of the patient determined disease steps scale in people with multiple sclerosis

Author

Sabrina Esposito, Alvino Bisecco, Maddalena Sparaco, Antonio Gallo, Luigi Lavorgna, Robert W. Motl, Simona Bonavita, Gioacchino Tedeschi, Lavorgna, Luigi, Sparaco, Maddalena, Esposito, Sabrina, Motl, Robert W., Gallo, Antonio, Bisecco, Alvino, Tedeschi, Gioacchino, and Bonavita, Simona

Subjects
Adult, Male, medicine.medical_specialty, Validation study, Multiple Sclerosis, Walking, Disability Evaluation, 03 medical and health sciences, 0302 clinical medicine, Physical medicine and rehabilitation, Humans, Medicine, Patient Reported Outcome Measures, 030212 general & internal medicine, Reproducibility, business.industry, Multiple sclerosis, Reproducibility of Results, General Medicine, Middle Aged, Translating, medicine.disease, Neurology, DISEASE STEPS, Scale (social sciences), Exercise Test, Physical therapy, Regression Analysis, Female, Neurology (clinical), business, 030217 neurology & neurosurgery
Published
2017

28. MRI activity and extended interval of Natalizumab dosing regimen: a multicentre Italian study

Author

Doriana Landi, Gianmarco Abbadessa, Gianfranco Costantini, Giacomo Lus, Stefania Federica De Mercanti, Cinzia Cordioli, Simona Bonavita, Giorgia Mataluni, Massimiliano Mirabella, Maria Pia Sormani, Ilaria Gandoglia, Giorgia Teresa Maniscalco, Martina Petruzzo, Rita Frangiamore, Eleonora Cocco, Erica Curti, Damiano Baroncini, Ruggero Capra, Elisabetta Signoriello, Paola Cavalla, Luigi Lavorgna, Lorena Lorefice, Alice Laroni, Marinella Clerico, Viviana Nociti, Alessio Signori, Arianna Sartori, Roberta Lanzillo, De Mercanti, Stefania Federica, Signori, Alessio, Cordioli, Cinzia, Signoriello, Elisabetta, Lus, Giacomo, Bonavita, Simona, Abbadessa, Gianmarco, Lavorgna, Luigi, Maniscalco, Giorgia Teresa, Curti, Erica, Lorefice, Lorena, Cocco, Eleonora, Nociti, Viviana, Mirabella, Massimiliano, Baroncini, Damiano, Mataluni, Giorgia, Landi, Doriana, Petruzzo, Martina, Lanzillo, Roberta, Gandoglia, Ilaria, Laroni, Alice, Frangiamore, Rita, Sartori, Arianna, Cavalla, Paola, Costantini, Gianfranco, Capra, Ruggero, Sormani, Maria Pia, Clerico, Marinella, De Mercanti, S. F., Signori, A., Cordioli, C., Signoriello, E., Lus, G., Bonavita, S., Abbadessa, G., Lavorgna, L., Maniscalco, G. T., Curti, E., Lorefice, L., Cocco, E., Nociti, V., Mirabella, M., Baroncini, D., Mataluni, G., Landi, D., Petruzzo, M., Lanzillo, R., Gandoglia, I., Laroni, A., Frangiamore, R., Sartori, A., Cavalla, P., Costantini, G., Capra, R., Sormani, M. P., and Clerico, M.

Subjects
medicine.medical_specialty, Efficacy, Progressive Multifocal, Relapsing-Remitting, Settore MED/26, law.invention, Multiple sclerosis, 03 medical and health sciences, Magnetic resonance imaging, Immunologic Factor, Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting, 0302 clinical medicine, Natalizumab, Randomized controlled trial, Leukoencephalopathy, Retrospective Studie, law, Internal medicine, Multiple Sclerosi, Humans, Immunologic Factors, Medicine, 030212 general & internal medicine, Dosing, Retrospective Studies, Extended dose, medicine.diagnostic_test, business.industry, Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, Leukoencephalopathy, Progressive Multifocal, Retrospective cohort study, medicine.disease, Settore MED/26 - NEUROLOGIA, Regimen, Italy, Neurology, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Multiple Sclerosis, Neurology (clinical), business, 030217 neurology & neurosurgery, Human, medicine.drug
Abstract

Background: To minimize the risk of Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy and rebound in JCV-positive multiple sclerosis (MS) patients after 24 natalizumab doses, it has been proposed to extend the administrations interval. The objective is to evaluate the EID efficacy on MRI activity compared with the standard interval dosing (SID). Methods: Observational, multicentre, retrospective cohort study, starting from the 24th natalizumab infusion to the loss of follow-up or 2 years after baseline. Three hundred and sixteen patients were enrolled. The median dose interval (MDI) following the 24th infusion was 5 weeks, with a bimodal distribution (modes at 4 and 6 weeks). Patients were grouped into 2 categories according to the mean number of weeks between doses: < 5 weeks, SID; ≥ 5 weeks, EID. Results: One hundred and eighty-seven patients were in the SID group (MDI = 4.5 weeks) and 129 in the EID group (MDI 6.1 weeks). The risk to develop active lesions on MRI is similar in SID and EID groups during the 6 and 12 months after the 24th natalizumab infusion, respectively 4.27% (95% CI:0.84–7.70) vs 4.71% (95% CI:0.16–9.25%) [p = 0.89] and 8.50% (95% CI:4.05–12.95) vs 6.55% (95% CI:2.11–11.00%) [p = 0.56]. The EID regimen does not appear to increase the occurrence of MRI activity during follow-up. Conclusion: There is no evidence of the reduced efficacy of natalizumab in an EID setting regarding the MRI activity. This observation supports the need for a bigger randomized study to assess the need to change the standard of the natalizumab dosing schedule, to better manage JCV-positive patients.

Published
2021

29. Efficacy of different rituximab therapeutic strategies in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders

Author

Ilaria Maietta, Antonio Uccelli, Erica Curti, Francesca Bovis, Marco Capobianco, Giorgia Mataluni, Giovanni Novi, Maria Pia Sormani, Pietro Annovazzi, Sabrina Realmuto, Sabrina Esposito, Roberta Lanzillo, Paola Cavalla, Luigi Zuliani, Fabio Buttari, Simona Malucchi, Maria Malentacchi, Simona Bonavita, Doriana Landi, Alessio Signori, Anna Maria Repice, Francesco Sica, Chiara Bosa, Jessica Frau, Franco Granella, Giuseppe Fenu, Laura Brambilla, Luana Benedetti, Novi, Giovanni, Bovis, Francesca, Capobianco, Marco, Frau, Jessica, Mataluni, Giorgia, Curti, Erica, Zuliani, Luigi, Cavalla, Paola, Brambilla, Laura, Annovazzi, Pietro, Repice, Anna Maria, Lanzillo, Roberta, Esposito, Sabrina, Benedetti, Luana, Maietta, Ilaria, Sica, Francesco, Buttari, Fabio, Malucchi, Simona, Fenu, Giuseppe, Landi, Doriana, Bosa, Chiara, Realmuto, Sabrina, Malentacchi, Maria, Granella, Franco, Signori, Alessio, Bonavita, Simona, Uccelli, Antonio, Sormani, Maria Pia, Novi, G., Bovis, F., Capobianco, M., Frau, J., Mataluni, G., Curti, E., Zuliani, L., Cavalla, P., Brambilla, L., Annovazzi, P., Repice, A. M., Lanzillo, R., Esposito, S., Benedetti, L., Maietta, I., Sica, F., Buttari, F., Malucchi, S., Fenu, G., Landi, D., Bosa, C., Realmuto, S., Malentacchi, M., Granella, F., Signori, A., Bonavita, S., Uccelli, A., and Sormani, M. P.

Subjects
Adult, Male, medicine.medical_specialty, Multivariate analysis, Efficacy, Outcome and Process Assessment, Settore MED/26, 03 medical and health sciences, 0302 clinical medicine, Maintenance therapy, Internal medicine, medicine, Humans, Immunologic Factors, In patient, 030212 general & internal medicine, Adverse effect, Aged, Retrospective Studies, Neuromyelitis optica, business.industry, Multiple sclerosis, General Medicine, Middle Aged, medicine.disease, Health Care, Regimen, Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care, Neurology, Efficacy, Neuromyelitis optica, Rituximab, Rituximab, Female, Neurology (clinical), business, 030217 neurology & neurosurgery, medicine.drug, Follow-Up Studies
Abstract

Objective To evaluate disease activity according to rituximab (RTX) induction and maintenance regimens in a multicenter real-life dataset of NMOSD patients. Methods This is an observational-retrospective multicentre study including patients with NMOSD treated with RTX in 21 Italian and 1 Swiss centers. Demographics, relapse rate and adverse events over the follow-up were summarized taking into account induction strategy (two-1 g infusions at a 15-day interval (IND-A) vs. 375 mg/m2/week infusions for one month (IND-B)) and maintenance therapy (regimen A (M-A) with fixed time-points infusions vs. regimen B (M-B) based on cytofluorimetric driven reinfusion regimens, the least further subdivided according to CD19+ B cells (M-B1) or CD27+ memory B cells (M-B2) monitoring). Results 131 subjects were enrolled, 127 patients completed the induction regimen and 119 patients had at least one follow-up visit and were included in the outcome analysis. Median follow-up was 1.7 years (range 0.1–11.6). Annualized relapse rate (ARR) was 1.7 in the year before RTX start and decreased to 0.19 during the follow-up. Both ARR and Time to first relapse (TTFR) analysis showed a trend toward an increased disease activity for IND-B and M-A. No patients with MT-B2 experienced relapses during the follow-up. Number of relapses in the year before RTX initiation and having received a previous treatment were significantly associated with higher ARR and reduced TTFR in the multivariate analysis. Interpretation We confirm RTX efficacy in NMOSD patients. Use of specific induction and maintenance protocols is warranted in order to foster RTX efficacy and to reduce costs and side effects.

Published
2019

30. Determinants of therapy switch in multiple sclerosis treatment-naïve patients: A real-life study

Author

Caterina Barrilà, Alice Laroni, Raffaella Cerqua, Giorgia Teresa Maniscalco, Alessia Di Sapio, Jessica Frau, Alessio Signori, A. Repice, Domenico Ippolito, Sara La Gioia, Giuseppe Fenu, Ignazio Roberto Zarbo, Francesco Saccà, Giorgia Mataluni, Sabrina Esposito, Elisabetta Signoriello, Arianna Sartori, Simona Bonavita, Eleonora Cocco, Roberta Lanzillo, Salvatore Lo Fermo, B. Frigeni, Valeria Barcella, Maria Pia Sormani, Simona Pontecorvo, E Binello, Pietro Annovazzi, Sarah Rasia, Cinzia Cordioli, Roberta Grasso, Valentina Torri Clerici, Damiano Baroncini, Lorena Pareja Gutierrez, Luigi Lavorgna, Marinella Clerico, Cinzia Valeria Russo, Fabio Gallo, Francesca Bovis, Silvia Rossi, Saccà, Francesco, Lanzillo, Roberta, Signori, Alessio, Maniscalco, Giorgia T, Signoriello, Elisabetta, Lo Fermo, Salvatore, Repice, Annamaria, Annovazzi, Pietro, Baroncini, Damiano, Clerico, Marinella, Binello, Eleonora, Cerqua, Raffaella, Mataluni, Giorgia, Bonavita, Simona, Lavorgna, Luigi, Zarbo, Ignazio Roberto, Laroni, Alice, Rossi, Silvia, Pareja Gutierrez, Lorena, La Gioia, Sara, Frigeni, Barbara, Barcella, Valeria, Frau, Jessica, Cocco, Eleonora, Fenu, Giuseppe, Torri Clerici, Valentina, Sartori, Arianna, Rasia, Sarah, Cordioli, Cinzia, Di Sapio, Alessia, Pontecorvo, Simona, Grasso, Roberta, Barrilà, Caterina, Russo, Cinzia Valeria, Esposito, Sabrina, Ippolito, Domenico, Bovis, Francesca, Gallo, Fabio, and Sormani, Maria Pia

Subjects
Persistence (psychology), Adult, Male, medicine.medical_specialty, Pediatrics, Neurology, Adolescent, naïve, relapsing–remitting, Therapy naive, 03 medical and health sciences, Young Adult, 0302 clinical medicine, Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting, disease modifying therapies, Medicine, Humans, Immunologic Factors, 030212 general & internal medicine, real-life, Aged, Retrospective Studies, business.industry, Drug Substitution, Multiple sclerosis, Switch, persistence, Middle Aged, medicine.disease, Relapsing remitting, Italy, disease modifying therapies, naïve, persistence, real-life, relapsing–remitting, Switch, Neurology, Neurology (clinical), disease modifying therapie, Female, Neurology (clinical), business, Life study, 030217 neurology & neurosurgery
Abstract

Background: With many options now available, first therapy choice is challenging in multiple sclerosis (MS) and depends mainly on neurologist and patient preferences. Objectives: To identify prognostic factors for early switch after first therapy choice. Methods: Newly diagnosed relapsing–remitting MS patients from 24 Italian centers were included. We evaluated the association of baseline demographics, clinical, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data to the switch probability for lack of efficacy or intolerance/safety with a multivariate Cox analysis and estimated switch rates by competing risks models. Results: We enrolled 3025 patients. The overall switch frequency was 48% after 3 years. Switch risk for lack of efficacy was lower with fingolimod (hazard ratio (HR) = 0.50; p = 0.009), natalizumab (HR = 0.13; p Conclusion: Several factors are associated with higher switch risk in patients starting a first-line therapy and could be integrated in the decision-making process of first treatment choice.

Published
2019

31. Conversion to Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis: Patient Awareness and Needs. Results From an Online Survey in Italy and Germany

Author

Alessandra Solari, Ambra Mara Giovannetti, Andrea Giordano, Carla Tortorella, Valentina Torri Clerici, Giampaolo Brichetto, Franco Granella, Alessandra Lugaresi, Francesco Patti, Marco Salvetti, Ilaria Pesci, Eugenio Pucci, Diego Centonze, Maura Chiara Danni, Simona Bonavita, Diana Ferraro, Antonio Gallo, Alberto Gajofatto, Viviana Nociti, Luigi Grimaldi, Monica Grobberio, Roberta Lanzillo, Rachele Di Giovanni, Silvia Gregori, Alessia Manni, Erika Pietrolongo, Sarah Bertagnoli, Marco Ronzoni, Laura Compagnucci, Roberta Fantozzi, Beatrice Allegri, Sebastiano Arena, Maria Chiara Buscarinu, Loredana Sabattini, Maria Esmeralda Quartuccio, Elena Tsantes, Paolo Confaloneri, Andrea Tacchino, Insa Schiffmann, Anne Christin Rahn, Ingo Kleiter, Michele Messmer Uccelli, Anna Barabasch, Christoph Heesen, the ManTra Project, Solari, Alessandra, Giovannetti, Ambra Mara, Giordano, Andrea, Tortorella, Carla, Torri Clerici, Valentina, Brichetto, Giampaolo, Granella, Franco, Lugaresi, Alessandra, Patti, Francesco, Salvetti, Marco, Pesci, Ilaria, Pucci, Eugenio, Centonze, Diego, Danni, Maura Chiara, Bonavita, Simona, Ferraro, Diana, Gallo, Antonio, Gajofatto, Alberto, Nociti, Viviana, Grimaldi, Luigi, Grobberio, Monica, Lanzillo, Roberta, Di Giovanni, Rachele, Gregori, Silvia, Manni, Alessia, Pietrolongo, Erika, Bertagnoli, Sarah, Ronzoni, Marco, Compagnucci, Laura, Fantozzi, Roberta, Allegri, Beatrice, Arena, Sebastiano, Buscarinu, Maria Chiara, Sabattini, Loredana, Quartuccio, Maria Esmeralda, Tsantes, Elena, Confaloneri, Paolo, Tacchino, Andrea, Schiffmann, Insa, Rahn, Anne Christin, Kleiter, Ingo, Messmer Uccelli, Michele, Barabasch, Anna, Heesen, Christoph, Solari, A., Giovannetti, A. M., Giordano, A., Tortorella, C., Clerici, V. T., Brichetto, G., Granella, F., Lugaresi, A., Patti, F., Salvetti, M., Pesci, I., Pucci, E., Centonze, D., Danni, M. C., Bonavita, S., Ferraro, D., Gallo, A., Gajofatto, A., Nociti, V., Grimaldi, L., Grobberio, M., Lanzillo, R., Di Giovanni, R., Gregori, S., Manni, A., Pietrolongo, E., Bertagnoli, S., Ronzoni, M., Compagnucci, L., Fantozzi, R., Allegri, B., Arena, S., Buscarinu, M. C., Sabattini, L., Quartuccio, M. E., Tsantes, E., Confaloneri, P., Tacchino, A., Schiffmann, I., Rahn, A. C., Kleiter, I., Uccelli, M. M., Barabasch, A., Heesen, C., Borreani, C., De Luca, G., Gitto, L., Trojano, M., and Alessandra Solari, Ambra Mara Giovannetti, Andrea Giordano, Carla Tortorella, Valentina Torri Clerici, Giampaolo Brichetto, Franco Granella, Alessandra Lugaresi, Francesco Patti, Marco Salvetti, Ilaria Pesci, Eugenio Pucci, Diego Centonze, Maura Chiara Danni, Simona Bonavita, Diana Ferraro, Antonio Gallo, Alberto Gajofatto, Viviana Nociti, Luigi Grimaldi, Monica Grobberio, Roberta Lanzillo, Rachele Di Giovanni, Silvia Gregori, Alessia Manni, Erika Pietrolongo, Sarah Bertagnoli, Marco Ronzoni, Laura Compagnucci, Roberta Fantozzi, Beatrice Allegri, Sebastiano Arena, Maria Chiara Buscarinu, Loredana Sabattini, Maria Esmeralda Quartuccio, Elena Tsantes, Paolo Confaloneri, Andrea Tacchino, Insa Schiffmann, Anne Christin Rahn, Ingo Kleiter, Michele Messmer Uccelli, Anna Barabasch, Christoph Heesen, ManTra Project

Subjects
medicine.medical_specialty, secondary progressive multiple sclerosis, Disease, Settore MED/26, multiple sclerosis, lcsh:RC346-429, 03 medical and health sciences, 0302 clinical medicine, patient needs, patient-physician communication, Intervention (counseling), Health care, Medicine, 030212 general & internal medicine, Cognitive rehabilitation therapy, conversion, lcsh:Neurology. Diseases of the nervous system, Original Research, patient need, business.industry, Odds ratio, Neurology, Family medicine, multiple sclerosi, Secondary progressive multiple sclerosis, online survey, Neurology (clinical), Conversion, Multiple sclerosis, Online survey, Patient needs, Patient-physician communication, business, Patient awareness, 030217 neurology & neurosurgery, Qualitative research
Abstract

Background: Few studies have investigated the experiences of patients around the conversion to secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS). ManTra is a mixed-method, co-production research project conducted in Italy and Germany to develop an intervention for newly-diagnosed SPMS patients. In previous project actions, we identified the needs and experiences of patients converting to SPMS via literature review and qualitative research which involved key stakeholders. Aims: The online patient survey aimed to assess, on a larger and independent sample of recently-diagnosed SPMS patients: (a) the characteristics associated to patient awareness of SPMS conversion; (b) the experience of conversion; (c) importance and prioritization of the needs previously identified. Methods: Participants were consenting adults with SPMS since ≤5 years. The survey consisted of three sections: on general and clinical characteristics; on experience of SPMS diagnosis disclosure (aware participants only); and on importance and prioritization of 33 pre-specified needs. Results: Of 215 participants, those aware of their SPMS diagnosis were 57% in Italy vs. 77% in Germany (p = 0.004). In both countries, over 80% of aware participants received a SPMS diagnosis from the neurologist; satisfaction with SPMS disclosure was moderate to high. Nevertheless, 28–35%obtained second opinions, and 48–56% reported they did not receive any information on SPMS. Participants actively seeking further information were 63% in Germany vs. 31% in Italy (p < 0.001). Variables independently associated to patient awareness were geographic area (odds ratio, OR 0.32, 95% CI 0.13–0.78 for Central Italy; OR 0.21, 95% CI 0.08–0.58 for Southern Italy [vs. Germany]) and activity limitations (OR 7.80, 95% CI 1.47–41.37 for dependent vs. autonomous patients). All pre-specified needs were scored a lot or extremely important, and two prioritized needs were shared by Italian and German patients: “physiotherapy” and “active patient care involvement.” The other two differed across countries: “an individualized health care plan” and “information on social rights and policies” in Italy, and “psychological support” and “cognitive rehabilitation” in Germany. Conclusions: Around 40% of SPMS patients were not aware of their disease form indicating a need to improve patient-physician communication. Physiotherapy and active patient care involvement were prioritized in both countries.

Published
2019

32. Retrospectively acquired cohort study to evaluate the long-term impact of two different treatment strategies on disability outcomes in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis (RE.LO.DI.MS): data from the Italian MS Register

Author

Antonella Conte, Daniele Spitaleri, Vincenzo Brescia Morra, Marco Rovaris, Giacomo Lus, Francesca De Robertis, Carlo Avolio, Giovanna De Luca, Mauro Zaffaroni, Claudio Gasperini, Damiano Paolicelli, Paola Gazzola, Alessia Manni, Eleonora Cocco, Pietro Iaffaldano, Giancarlo Comi, Marco Salvetti, Ilaria Pesci, Antonio Iaffaldano, Giorgia Teresa Maniscalco, Maria Pia Amato, Maurizia Gatto, Carlo Pozzilli, Maria Trojano, Francesco Patti, Marco Capobianco, Giuseppe Salemi, Girolama Alessandra Marfia, Giuseppe Lucisano, Davide Maimone, Rocco Totaro, Simona Bonavita, Giulia Mallucci, Paolicelli, Damiano, Lucisano, Giuseppe, Manni, Alessia, Avolio, Carlo, Bonavita, Simona, Brescia Morra, Vincenzo, Capobianco, Marco, Cocco, Eleonora, Conte, Antonella, De Luca, Giovanna, De Robertis, Francesca, Gasperini, Claudio, Gatto, Maurizia, Gazzola, Paola, Lus, Giacomo, Iaffaldano, Antonio, Iaffaldano, Pietro, Maimone, Davide, Mallucci, Giulia, Maniscalco, Giorgia T, Marfia, Girolama A, Patti, Francesco, Pesci, Ilaria, Pozzilli, Carlo, Rovaris, Marco, Salemi, Giuseppe, Salvetti, Marco, Spitaleri, Daniele, Totaro, Rocco, Zaffaroni, Mauro, Comi, Giancarlo, Amato, Maria Pia, and Trojano, Maria

Subjects
Male, Neurology, Outcome Assessment, Relapsing-Remitting, Severity of Illness Index, 0302 clinical medicine, Outcome Assessment, Health Care, Medicine, 030212 general & internal medicine, Registries, Long-term outcomes, Neuroradiology, Middle Aged, Fingolimod, Italy, Disease Progression, Treatment strategy, Interferon, Female, Settore MED/26 - Neurologia, EDSS score, Interferons, Multiple sclerosis, Real-world setting, Treatment sequences, Interferon beta-1a, medicine.drug, Cohort study, Adult, medicine.medical_specialty, Drug Administration Schedule, 03 medical and health sciences, Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting, Internal medicine, Fingolimod Hydrochloride, Humans, Immunologic Factors, Retrospective Studies, In patient, Multiple sclerosi, business.industry, medicine.disease, Long-term outcome, Health Care, Observational study, Neurology (clinical), business, 030217 neurology & neurosurgery
Abstract

The increase in disease-modifying drugs (DMDs) allows individualization of treatment in relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS); however, the long-term impact of different treatment sequences is not well established. This is particularly relevant for MS patients who may need to postpone more aggressive DMD strategies. To evaluate different therapeutic strategies and their long-term outcomes, measured as relapses and confirmed disability progression (CDP), in MS ‘real-world’ settings. Multicentre, observational, retrospectively acquired cohort study evaluating the long-term impact of different treatment strategies on disability outcomes in patients with RMS in the Italian MS Register. We evaluated 1152 RMS-naive patients after propensity-score adjustment. Patients included were receiving: interferon beta-1a (IFN-β1a) 44 µg switching to fingolimod (FTY; IFN-switchers; n = 97); FTY only (FTY-stayers; n = 157); IFN-β1a only (IFN-stayers; n = 849). CDP and relapses did not differ between FTY-stayers and IFN-switchers [HR (95% CI) 0.99 (0.48–2.04), p = 0.98 and 0.81 (0.42–1.58), p = 0.55, respectively]. However, IFN-stayers showed increased risk of relapses compared with FTY-stayers [HR (95% CI) 1.46 (1.00–2.12), p = 0.05]. The ideal treatment option for MS is becoming increasingly complex, with the need to balance benefit and risks. Our results suggest that starting with FTY affects the long-term disease outcome similarly to escalating from IFN-β1a to FTY.

Published
2019

33. Neurology and the Internet: a review

Author

Francesco Brigo, Luigi Lavorgna, Marcello Moccia, Simona Bonavita, Gioacchino Tedeschi, Moccia, Marcello, Brigo, Francesco, Tedeschi, Gioacchino, Bonavita, Simona, Lavorgna, Luigi, Moccia, M, Brigo, F, Tedeschi, G, Bonavita, S, and Lavorgna, L

Subjects
Coping (psychology), medicine.medical_specialty, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Neurology, 020205 medical informatics, Internet privacy, neurological disorders, Information Seeking Behavior, health policy, infodemiology, Internet, online searches, 02 engineering and technology, Dermatology, Infodemiology, Online searche, 03 medical and health sciences, 0302 clinical medicine, Health care, 0202 electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering, medicine, Humans, Neurological disorder, Nervous System Disease, Peer interaction, business.industry, General Medicine, Social relation, Health equity, Health policy, Health Communication, Psychiatry and Mental Health, Narrative review, The Internet, Neurology (clinical), Nervous System Diseases, business, Psychology, 030217 neurology & neurosurgery, Human
Abstract

Nowadays, the Internet is the major source to obtain information about diseases and their treatments. The Internet is gaining relevance in the neurological setting, considering the possibility of timely social interaction, contributing to general public awareness on otherwise less-well-known neurological conditions, promoting health equity and improving the health-related coping. Neurological patients can easily find several online opportunities for peer interactions and learning. On the other hand, neurologist can analyze user-generated data to better understand patient needs and to run epidemiological studies. Indeed, analyses of queries from Internet search engines on certain neurological diseases have shown a strict temporal and spatial correlation with the "real world." In this narrative review, we will discuss how the Internet is radically affecting the healthcare of people with neurological disorders and, most importantly, is shifting the paradigm of care from the hands of those who deliver care, into the hands of those who receive it. Besides, we will review possible limitations, such as safety concerns, financial issues, and the need for easy-to-access platforms.

Published
2018

34. Attention and processing speed performance in multiple sclerosis is mostly related to thalamic volume

Author

Rosaria Sacco, Alessandro d’Ambrosio, Renato Docimo, Antonio Gallo, Svetlana Stamenova, Mario Cirillo, Sabrina Esposito, Giuseppina Caiazzo, Simona Bonavita, Gioacchino Tedeschi, Alvino Bisecco, Fabrizio Esposito, Bisecco, Alvino, Stamenova, Svetlana, Caiazzo, Giuseppina, D’Ambrosio, Alessandro, Sacco, Rosaria, Docimo, Renato, Esposito, Sabrina, Cirillo, Mario, Esposito, Fabrizio, Bonavita, Simona, Tedeschi, Gioacchino, and Gallo, Antonio

Subjects
Male, 0301 basic medicine, Cerebellum, Neuropsychological Tests, Audiology, Behavioral Neuroscience, Mental Processes, 0302 clinical medicine, Thalamus, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging, Attention, Gray matter, Magnetic resonance imaging, Multiple sclerosis, Processing speed, Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging, Neurology, Neurology (clinical), Cognitive Neuroscience, Psychiatry and Mental Health, Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience, Cognitive impairment, Putamen, Organ Size, medicine.anatomical_structure, Female, Psychology, Radiology, Adult, medicine.medical_specialty, 03 medical and health sciences, Imaging, Three-Dimensional, Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting, Atrophy, medicine, Humans, Multiple sclerosi, Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and imaging, Thalamu, Voxel-based morphometry, medicine.disease, 030104 developmental biology, Linear Models, FMRIB Software Library, Neuroscience, 030217 neurology & neurosurgery
Abstract

Cognitive impairment (CI), mainly involving attention and processing speed (A-PS), is a common and disabling symptom in multiple sclerosis (MS). Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) is one of the more sensitive and reliable tests to assess A-PS deficits in MS. Structural MRI correlates of A-PS in MS still need to be clarified. This study aimed to investigate, in a large group of MS patients, the relationship between regional gray matter (GM) atrophy and SDMT performance. 125 relapsing remitting MS patients and 52 healthy controls (HC) underwent a 3 T–MRI protocol including high-resolution 3D–T1 imaging. All subjects underwent a neurological evaluation and SDMT. A Voxel Based Morphometry analysis was performed to assess: 1) correlations between regional GM volume and SDMT performance in MS patients; 2) regional differences in GM volume between MS patients and HC. Thalamic, putamen and cerebellar volumes were also calculated using FIRST tool from the FMRIB Software Library. A linear regression analysis was performed to assess the contribution of each one of these structures to A-PS performance. A significant negative correlation was found between regional GM volume and SDMT score at the level of the thalamus, cerebellum, putamen, and occipital cortex in MS patients. Thalamus, cerebellum and putamen also showed significant GM atrophy in MS patients compared to HC. Thalamic atrophy is also an independent and additional contributor to A-PS deficits in MS patients. These findings support the role of thalamus as the most relevant GM structure subtending A-PS performance in MS, as measured by SDMT.

Published
2018

35. The Role of Wearable Devices in Multiple Sclerosis

Author

Luigi Lavorgna, Simona Bonavita, Gioacchino Tedeschi, Renata Conforti, Maddalena Sparaco, Sparaco, Maddalena, Lavorgna, Luigi, Conforti, Renata, Tedeschi, Gioacchino, and Bonavita, Simona

Subjects
medicine.medical_specialty, business.industry, Multiple sclerosis, Wearable computer, Neurological disorder, Timed Up and Go test, Review Article, medicine.disease, Accelerometer, lcsh:RC346-429, 03 medical and health sciences, 0302 clinical medicine, Physical medicine and rehabilitation, medicine, 030212 general & internal medicine, Neurology (clinical), Everyday life, business, human activities, 030217 neurology & neurosurgery, Wearable technology, lcsh:Neurology. Diseases of the nervous system, Sedentary lifestyle
Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common neurological disorder in young adults. The prevalence of walking impairment in people with MS (pwMS) is estimated between 41% and 75%. To evaluate the walking capacity in pwMS, the patient reported outcomes (PROs) and performance-based tests (i.e., the 2-minute walk test, the 6-minute walk test, the Timed 25-Foot Walk Test, the Timed Up and Go Test, and the Six Spot Step Test) could be used. However, some studies point out that the results of both performance-based tests and objective measures (i.e., by accelerometer) could not reflect patient reports of walking performance and impact of MS on daily life. This review analyses different motion sensors embedded in smartphones and motion wearable device (MWD) that can be useful to measure free-living walking behavior, to evaluate falls, fatigue, sedentary lifestyle, exercise, and quality of sleep in everyday life of pwMS. Caveats and limitations of MWD such as variable accuracy, user adherence, power consumption and recharging, noise susceptibility, and data management are discussed as well.

Published
2018

36. Sativex in resistant multiple sclerosis spasticity: Discontinuation study in a large population of Italian patients (SA.FE. study)

Author

Silvia Messina, Claudio Solaro, Isabella Righini, Roberto Bergamaschi, Simona Bonavita, Roberto Bruno Bossio, Vincenzo Brescia Morra, Gianfranco Costantino, Paola Cavalla, Diego Centonze, Giancarlo Comi, Salvatore Cottone, Maura Chiara Danni, Ada Francia, Alberto Gajofatto, Claudio Gasperini, Mauro Zaffaroni, Loredana Petrucci, Elisabetta Signoriello, Giorgia Teresa Maniscalco, Gabriella Spinicci, Manuela Matta, Massimiliano Mirabella, Graziella Pedà, Letizia Castelli, Marco Rovaris, Edoardo Sessa, Daniele Spitaleri, Damiano Paolicelli, Alfredo Granata, Mario Zappia, Francesco Patti, SA.FE. study group, Messina, S, Solaro, C, Righini, I, Bergamaschi, R, Bonavita, S, Bossio, Rb, Brescia Morra, V, Costantino, G, Cavalla, P, Centonze, D, Comi, G, Cottone, S, Danni, Mc, Francia, A, Gajofatto, A, Gasperini, C, Zaffaroni, M, Petrucci, L, Signoriello, E, Maniscalco, Gt, Spinicci, G, Matta, M, Mirabella, M, Pedà, G, Castelli, L, Rovaris, M, Sessa, E, Spitaleri, D, Paolicelli, D, Granata, A, Zappia, M, Patti, F., Messina, Silvia, Solaro, Claudio, Righini, Isabella, Bergamaschi, Roberto, Bonavita, Simona, Bossio, Roberto Bruno, Brescia Morra, Vincenzo, Costantino, Gianfranco, Cavalla, Paola, Centonze, Diego, Comi, Giancarlo, Cottone, Salvatore, Danni, Maura Chiara, Francia, Ada, Gajofatto, Alberto, Gasperini, Claudio, Zaffaroni, Mauro, Petrucci, Loredana, Signoriello, Elisabetta, Maniscalco, Giorgia Teresa, Spinicci, Gabriella, Matta, Manuela, Mirabella, Massimiliano, Pedà, Graziella, Castelli, Letizia, Rovaris, Marco, Sessa, Edoardo, Spitaleri, Daniele, Paolicelli, Damiano, Granata, Alfredo, Zappia, Mario, Patti, Francesco, Morra, Vincenzo Brescia, and Pedã , Graziella

Subjects
Registrie, Genetics and Molecular Biology (all), Male, Economics, Social Sciences, Drug research and development, Biochemistry, Severity of Illness Index, 0302 clinical medicine, Multiple Sclerosi, 80 and over, Ethnicities, Medicine, Dronabinol, lcsh:Science, Drug Approval, Aged, 80 and over, evaluation, Sativex, multiple sclerosis spasticity, discontinuation, effectiveness, Drug Combinations, Neurology, Italy, Regression Analysis, Human, medicine.medical_specialty, Multiple Sclerosis, Drug Industry, Immunology, Plant Extract, 03 medical and health sciences, Health Economics, Pharmacotherapy, Drug Therapy, Severity of illness, Humans, Spasticity, Adult, Aged, Cannabidiol, Cost Sharing, Drug Costs, Female, Kaplan-Meier Estimate, Middle Aged, Multivariate Analysis, Muscle Spasticity, Parasympatholytics, Plant Extracts, Proportional Hazards Models, Registries, Young Adult, Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology (all), Agricultural and Biological Sciences (all), Adverse effect, Demography, Pharmacology, Proportional hazards model, Parasympatholytic, lcsh:R, Biology and Life Sciences, Management of multiple sclerosis, medicine.disease, Discontinuation, Health Care, Proportional Hazards Model, Population Groupings, lcsh:Q, Clinical Medicine, 030217 neurology & neurosurgery, Multivariate analysis, lcsh:Medicine, Medicine (all), Geographical Locations, Clinical trials, Drug Combination, Medicine and Health Sciences, 030212 general & internal medicine, Multivariate Analysi, Drug Cost, Multidisciplinary, Pharmaceutics, Neurodegenerative Diseases, Italian People, Phase III clinical investigation, Europe, Settore MED/26 - NEUROLOGIA, Research Design, medicine.symptom, Research Article, Clinical Research Design, Research and Analysis Methods, Settore MED/26, Regression Analysi, Autoimmune Diseases, Internal medicine, business.industry, Demyelinating Disorders, People and Places, Physical therapy, Clinical Immunology, Adverse Events, business
Abstract

Background The approval of Sativex for the management of multiple sclerosis (MS) spasticity opened a new opportunity to many patients. In Italy, the healthcare payer can be fully reimbursed by the involved pharma company with the cost of treatment for patients not responding after a 4 week (28 days) trial period (Payment by Results, PbR), and 50% reimbursed with the cost of 6 weeks (42 days) treatment for other patients discontinuing (Cost Sharing, CS). The aim of our study was to describe the Sativex discontinuation profile from a large population of spasticity treated Italian MS patients. Methods We collected data of patients from 30 MS centres across the country starting Sativex between January 2014 and February 2015. Data were collected from the mandatory Italian Medicines Agency (AIFA) web-registry. Predictors of treatment discontinuation were assessed using a multivariate Cox proportional regression analysis. Results During the observation period 631 out of 1597 (39.5%) patients discontinued Sativex. The Kaplan-Meier estimates curve showed that 333 patients (20.8%) discontinued treatment at 4 weeks while 422 patients (26.4%) discontinued at 6 weeks. We found after adjusted modeling that a higher NRS score at T1 (adjHR 2.23, 95% 2.07–2.41, p

Published
2017

37. Default mode network changes in multiple sclerosis: a link between depression and cognitive impairment?

Author

Luigi Lavorgna, Fabrizio Esposito, Alvino Bisecco, Rosaria Sacco, Renato Docimo, Antonio Gallo, Mario Cirillo, Simona Bonavita, Gioacchino Tedeschi, Sabrina Esposito, Alessandro d’Ambrosio, Daniele Corbo, M. Della Corte, Bonavita, Simona, Sacco, R., Esposito, S., D'Ambrosio, Alessandro, Della Corte, M., Corbo, D., Docimo, R., Gallo, Antonio, Lavorgna, L., Cirillo, Mario, Bisecco, Alvino, Esposito, F., and Tedeschi, Gioacchino

Subjects
0301 basic medicine, Adult, Male, medicine.medical_specialty, Multiple Sclerosis, Posterior parietal cortex, Neuropsychological Tests, Gyrus Cinguli, Resting state f-MRI, 03 medical and health sciences, Executive Function, 0302 clinical medicine, Cortex (anatomy), Internal medicine, medicine, Humans, Multiple sclerosi, Cognitive Dysfunction, Anterior cingulate cortex, Default mode network, Brain Mapping, Depressive Disorder, medicine.diagnostic_test, business.industry, Depression, Multiple sclerosis, Medicine (all), Neuropsychology, Middle Aged, medicine.disease, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, 030104 developmental biology, medicine.anatomical_structure, Cognitive impairment, Neurology, Posterior cingulate, cognitive impairment, default mode network, depression, multiple sclerosis, resting state f-MRI, Neurology (clinical), Cardiology, Female, Atrophy, Nerve Net, business, Functional magnetic resonance imaging, Neuroscience, 030217 neurology & neurosurgery
Abstract

Background and purpose In multiple sclerosis (MS), depression is a common disorder whose pathophysiology is still debated. To gain insights into the pathophysiology of depression in MS, resting-state (RS) functional connectivity (FC) changes of the default mode network (DMN), salience network (SN) and executive control network (ECN) were assessed in a group of depressed MS (D-MS) patients and in appropriately matched control groups. Methods Sixteen D-MS patients, 17 non-depressed MS (ND-MS) patients, 17 non-depressed healthy controls and 15 depressed subjects (D-S), age, sex and education matched, cognitively preserved and non-fatigued, were enrolled. All participants underwent a neuropsychological evaluation and RS functional magnetic resonance imaging study. Results Comparing D-MS patients with D-S, within the DMN, a significant RS-FC suppression was found in the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC); comparing D-MS with ND-MS, FC was significantly increased in the anterior cingulate cortex and significantly reduced in the PCC. Within the SN increased FC in the right supramarginal gyrus and right middle frontal gyrus was found in D-MS patients compared to D-S and to ND-MS; within the ECN increased FC in the right inferior parietal cortex was found in D-MS patients compared to ND-MS patients. Conclusions In cognitively preserved D-MS patients, FC derangement occurs in the SN, ECN and DMN. In the latter, changes occurring both in the anterior cingulate cortex and PCC suggest that depression in MS may be linked to MS itself and, in particular, to a peculiar pattern of network abnormalities favored by MS pathology through disconnection mechanisms. Reduced FC in the PCC, similar to MS patients with cognitive impairment, suggests a functional link between depression and cognitive impairment in MS.

Published
2017

38. Assessing association of comorbidities with treatment choice and persistence in MS: A real-life multicenter study

Author

Alice, Laroni, Alessio, Signori, Giorgia T, Maniscalco, Roberta, Lanzillo, Cinzia Valeria, Russo, Eleonora, Binello, Salvatore, Lo Fermo, Annamaria, Repice, Pietro, Annovazzi, Simona, Bonavita, Marinella, Clerico, Damiano, Baroncini, Luca, Prosperini, Sara, La Gioia, Silvia, Rossi, Eleonora, Cocco, Jessica, Frau, Valentina, Torri Clerici, Elisabetta, Signoriello, Arianna, Sartori, Ignazio Roberto, Zarbo, Sarah, Rasia, Cinzia, Cordioli, Raffaella, Cerqua, Alessia, Di Sapio, Luigi, Lavorgna, Simona, Pontecorvo, Caterina, Barrilà, Francesco, Saccà, Barbara, Frigeni, Sabrina, Esposito, Domenico, Ippolito, Fabio, Gallo, Maria Pia, Sormani, Laroni, Alice, Signori, Alessio, Maniscalco, Giorgia T., Lanzillo, Roberta, Russo, Cinzia Valeria, Binello, Eleonora, Lo Fermo, Salvatore, Repice, Annamaria, Annovazzi, Pietro, Bonavita, Simona, Clerico, Marinella, Baroncini, Damiano, Prosperini, Luca, La Gioia, Sara, Rossi, Silvia, Cocco, Eleonora, Frau, Jessica, Torri Clerici, Valentina, Signoriello, Elisabetta, Sartori, Arianna, Zarbo, Ignazio Roberto, Rasia, Sarah, Cordioli, Cinzia, Cerqua, Raffaella, Di Sapio, Alessia, Lavorgna, Luigi, Pontecorvo, Simona, Barrilà, Caterina, Saccà, Francesco, Frigeni, Barbara, Esposito, Sabrina, Ippolito, Domenico, Gallo, Fabio, Sormani, Maria Pia, Laroni, A, Signori, A, Maniscalco, Gt, Lanzillo, R, Russo, Cv, Binello, E, Lo Fermo, S, Repice, A, Annovazzi, P, Bonavita, S, Clerico, M, Baroncini, D, Prosperini, L, La Gioia, S, Rossi, S, Cocco, E, Frau, J, Torri Clerici, V, Signoriello, E, Sartori, A, Zarbo, Ir, Rasia, S, Cordioli, C, Cerqua, R, Di Sapio, A, Lavorgna, L, Pontecorvo, S, Barrilà, C, Saccà, F, Frigeni, B, Esposito, S, Ippolito, D, Gallo, F, and Sormani, Mp

Subjects
0301 basic medicine, Adult, Male, medicine.medical_specialty, Multiple Sclerosis, Cardiovascular Abnormalities, Cohort Studies, Comorbidity, Disability Evaluation, Female, Humans, Immunosuppressive Agents, Italy, Mental Disorders, Metabolic Diseases, Middle Aged, Nervous System Diseases, Severity of Illness Index, Drug Substitution, Neurology (clinical), Immunosuppressive Agent, 03 medical and health sciences, 0302 clinical medicine, Natalizumab, Internal medicine, Multiple Sclerosi, Severity of illness, medicine, Cardiovascular Abnormalitie, Glatiramer acetate, Nervous System Disease, business.industry, Odds ratio, medicine.disease, Fingolimod, Metabolic Disease, 030104 developmental biology, Cohort, Mental Disorder, Cohort Studie, business, 030217 neurology & neurosurgery, Human, Cohort study, medicine.drug
Abstract

Objective:To assess whether the presence of concomitant diseases at multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis is associated with the choice and the treatment persistence in an Italian MS cohort.Methods:We included newly diagnosed patients (2010–2016) followed in 20 MS centers and collected demographic and clinical data. We evaluated baseline factors related to the presence of comorbidities and the association between comorbidities and the clinical course of MS and the time to the first treatment switch.Results:The study cohort included 2,076 patients. Data on comorbidities were available for 1,877/2,076 patients (90.4%). A total of 449/1,877 (23.9%) patients had at least 1 comorbidity at MS diagnosis. Age at diagnosis (odds ratio 1.05, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04–1.06; p < 0.001) was the only baseline factor independently related to the presence of comorbidities. Comorbidities were not significantly associated with the choice of the first disease-modifying treatment, but were significantly associated with higher risk to switch from the first treatment due to intolerance (hazard ratio 1.42, CI 1.07–1.87; p = 0.014). Association of comorbidities with risk of switching for intolerance was significantly heterogeneous among treatments (interferon β, glatiramer acetate, natalizumab, or fingolimod; interaction test, p = 0.04).Conclusions:Comorbidities at diagnosis should be taken into account at the first treatment choice because they are associated with lower persistence on treatment.

Published
2017

39. Depressive Symptoms Correlate with Disability and Disease Course in Multiple Sclerosis Patients: An Italian Multi-Center Study Using the Beck Depression Inventory

Author

Claudio Solaro, Andrea Truini, Silvia Rossi, Alessandro Clemenzi, Vittorio Martinelli, Alessandro d’Ambrosio, Maria Grazia Grasso, Giorgio Cruccu, M. Radaelli, Emanuele D'Amico, Simona Bonavita, Francesco Patti, Diego Centonze, Alessio Signori, Erika Trabucco, Solaro, C., Trabucco, E., Signori, A., Martinelli, V., Radaelli, M., Centonze, D., Rossi, Silvia, Grasso, M. G., Clemenzi, A., Bonavita, Simona, D'Ambrosio, Alessandro, Patti, F., D'Amico, E., Cruccu, G., Truini, A., Rossi, S., Bonavita, S., and D'Ambrosio, A.

Subjects
Male, Critical Care and Emergency Medicine, Multivariate analysis, lcsh:Medicine, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, depressive symptoms, Mathematical and Statistical Techniques, 0302 clinical medicine, multiple sclerosis patients, Multiple Sclerosi, Medicine and Health Sciences, Brain Damage, 030212 general & internal medicine, lcsh:Science, Trauma Medicine, Depression (differential diagnoses), education.field_of_study, Multidisciplinary, Depression, Medicine (all), Neurodegenerative Diseases, Neurology, Italy, Physical Sciences, Female, Disabled Person, Settore MED/26 - Neurologia, Statistics (Mathematics), Research Article, Human, Adult, medicine.medical_specialty, Multiple Sclerosis, Immunology, Population, Research and Analysis Methods, behavioral disciplines and activities, disability, Beck depression inventory, Autoimmune Diseases, Disease course, Young Adult, 03 medical and health sciences, Signs and Symptoms, Diagnostic Medicine, Internal medicine, Mental Health and Psychiatry, medicine, Humans, Disabled Persons, Statistical Methods, education, Depressive symptoms, Demography, Cross-Sectional Studie, Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology (all), Mood Disorders, business.industry, Multiple sclerosis, lcsh:R, Beck Depression Inventory, Biology and Life Sciences, medicine.disease, Demyelinating Disorders, Cross-Sectional Studies, Mood disorders, Agricultural and Biological Sciences (all), People and Places, Multivariate Analysis, Lesions, Physical therapy, Clinical Immunology, lcsh:Q, Clinical Medicine, business, Mathematics, 030217 neurology & neurosurgery
Abstract

Background Depression occurs in about 50% of patients with multiple sclerosis. The aims of this study was to investigate the prevalence of depressive symptoms in a multicenter MS population using the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI II) and to identify possible correlations between the BDI II score and demographic and clinical variables. Methods Data were collected in a multi-center, cross-sectional study over a period of six months in six MS centers in Italy using BDI II. Results 1,011 MS patients participated in the study. 676 subjects were female, with a mean age of 34 years (SD 10.8), mean EDSS of 3.3 (0–8.5) and mean disease duration of 10.3 years (range 1–50 years). 668 (%) subjects scored lower than 14 on the BDI II and 343 (33.9%) scored greater than 14 (14 cut-off score). For patients with BDI>14 multivariate analysis showed a significant difference between EDSS and disease course. BDI II scores for subjects with secondary progressive (SP) MS were significantly different from primary progressive (PP) patients (p < 0.001) but similar to relapsing-remitting (RR) patients. Considering subjects with moderate to severe depressive symptoms (BDI II score from 20–63), in relation to disease course, 11.7% (83/710) had RR MS, 40.7% (96/236) SP and 13.6% (6/44) PP. Conclusions Using the BDI II, 30% of the current sample had depressive symptoms. BDI II score correlates with disability and disease course, particularly in subjects with SP MS. The BDI II scale can be a useful tool in clinical practice to screen depressive symptoms in people with MS.

Published
2016

40. Fatigue in multiple sclerosis: The contribution of occult white matter damage

Author

Renato Docimo, Giuseppina Caiazzo, Alvino Bisecco, Simona Bonavita, Antonio Gallo, Mario Cirillo, Elisabetta Pagani, Fabrizio Esposito, Rosaria Sacco, Gioacchino Tedeschi, Massimo Filippi, Alessandro d’Ambrosio, Bisecco, A, Caiazzo, G, D’Ambrosio, A, Sacco, R, Bonavita, S, Docimo, R, Cirillo, M, Pagani, E, Filippi, Massimo, Esposito, F, Tedeschi, G, Gallo, A., Bisecco, Alvino, Giuseppina, Caiazzo, D'Ambrosio, Alessandro, Rosaria, Sacco, Bonavita, Simona, Renato, Docimo, Cirillo, Mario, Elisabetta, Pagani, Massimo, Filippi, Esposito, Fabrizio, Tedeschi, Gioacchino, and Gallo, Antonio

Subjects
Adult, Male, Pathology, medicine.medical_specialty, diffusion tensor imaging, fatigue, magnetic resonance imaging, Multiple sclerosis, normal appearing white matter, tract-based spatial statistics, Neurology, Neurology (clinical), Tract based spatial statistics, behavioral disciplines and activities, 030218 nuclear medicine & medical imaging, White matter, 03 medical and health sciences, Young Adult, 0302 clinical medicine, Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting, medicine, Fatigue Severity Scale, Humans, Multiple sclerosi, medicine.diagnostic_test, business.industry, Magnetic resonance imaging, Middle Aged, medicine.disease, Occult, White Matter, medicine.anatomical_structure, nervous system, Correlation analysis, Female, Psychology, Nuclear medicine, business, 030217 neurology & neurosurgery, Diffusion MRI
Abstract

Background: A functional cortico-subcortical disconnection has been recognized in fatigued multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Normal appearing white matter (NAWM) damage might contribute to the abovementioned disconnectivity. Objectives: To assess the relationship between fatigue and microstructural NAWM damage in relapsing-remitting (RR) MS. Methods: Sixty RRMS patients and 29 healthy controls (HC) underwent a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) protocol including diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Patients with a mean Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) score ⩾ 4 were considered fatigued (fatigued MS (F-MS)). Tract-based spatial statistics were applied for voxel-wise analysis of DTI indices. A correlation analysis was performed between FSS score and DTI indices in the entire MS group. Results: Thirty MS patients were F-MS. Compared to HC, F-MS patients showed a more extensive NAWM damage than not fatigued MS (NF-MS) patients, with additional damage in the following tracts: frontal and occipital juxtacortical fibers, external capsule, uncinate fasciculus, forceps minor, superior longitudinal fasciculus, cingulum, and pons. No differences were found between F-MS and NF-MS patients. Fatigue severity correlated to DTI abnormalities of corona radiata, cingulum, corpus callosum, forceps minor, superior longitudinal fasciculus, inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, thalamus and anterior thalamic radiation, cerebral peduncle, and midbrain. Conclusions: Fatigue is associated to a widespread microstructural NAWM damage, particularly in associative tracts connected to frontal lobes.

Published
2016

41. Anxiety in Multiple Sclerosis: Psychometric properties of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory

Author

Luigi Trojano, Alvino Bisecco, Rosaria Sacco, Renato Docimo, G. Tedeschi, Simona Bonavita, Luigi Lavorgna, M. De Stefano, Gabriella Santangelo, Antonio Gallo, G. Muzzo, Mattia Siciliano, Santangelo, Gabriella, Sacco, R., Siciliano, M., Bisecco, Alvino, Muzzo, G., Docimo, R., De Stefano, M., Bonavita, Simona, Lavorgna, L., Tedeschi, Gioacchino, Trojano, Luigi, and Gallo, Antonio

Subjects
Adult, Male, medicine.medical_specialty, Multiple Sclerosis, Psychometrics, Population, Neuropsychological Tests, Anxiety, behavioral disciplines and activities, 03 medical and health sciences, 0302 clinical medicine, Reference Values, Validation, medicine, Prevalence, Humans, Multiple sclerosi, 030212 general & internal medicine, Psychiatry, education, Depression (differential diagnoses), Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, education.field_of_study, Sex Characteristics, Cognitive deficit, Depression, Multiple sclerosis, Construct validity, STAI-Y, General Medicine, Middle Aged, Missing data, medicine.disease, humanities, Exploratory factor analysis, Neurology, Female, Neurology (clinical), medicine.symptom, Psychology, 030217 neurology & neurosurgery, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Clinical psychology
Abstract

Objective The aims of the present study were to examine psychometric properties of the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-Y-1 and STAI-Y-2, respectively) in a Multiple Sclerosis (MS) population and to identify a cut-off score to detect those MS patients with high level of state and/or trait anxiety who could be more vulnerable to development of depression and/or cognitive defects. Material and methods The STAI-Y-1 and STAI-Y-2 was completed by a group of patients (n = 175) affected by MS and a group of healthy subjects (n = 150) matched for age, educational level, and gender. In MS patients internal consistency, divergent and discriminant validities were evaluated. Construct validity was examined by exploratory factor analysis for each scale. Results There was no missing data, no floor or ceiling effects for both scales. The two scales showed high internal consistency, good divergent, and Known-groups validities. To identify high levels of state and trait anxiety in a patient with MS, we proposed three gender specific screening cut-off values (1, 1.5, 2 SD) for the STAI-Y-1 and the STAI-Y-2. Conclusions The findings showed that the STAI-Y-1 and the STAI-Y-2 are a valid tool for clinical use in MS patients and can be useful to measure the severity of anxiety and to identify those patients with high anxiety to introduce them in specific non-pharmacological intervention.

Published
2016

42. Efficacy and safety of cannabinoid oromucosal spray for multiple sclerosis spasticity

Author

Patti F., Messina S., Solaro C., Amato M. P., Bergamaschi R., Bonavita S., Bruno Bossio R., Brescia Morra V., Costantino G. F., Cavalla P., Centonze D., Comi G., Cottone S., Danni M., Francia A., Gajofatto A., Gasperini C., Ghezzi A., Iudice A., Lus G., Maniscalco G. T., Marrosu M. G., Matta M., Mirabella M., Montanari E., Pozzilli C., Rovaris M., Sessa E., Spitaleri D., Trojano M., Valentino P., Zappia M., Benedetti MD, Bertolotto A, Berra E, Bianco A, Buttari F, Cerqua R, Florio C, Fuiani A, Guareschi A, Ippolito D, Nuara A, Palmieri V, Paolicelli D, Petrucci L, Pontecorvo S, Saccà Francesco, Salamone G, Signoriello E, Spinicci G, Russo M, Tavazzi E Trabucco E, Trotta M, Zaffaroni M., Patti, F, Messina, S., Solaro, C., Amato, M. P., Bergamaschi, R., Bonavita, Simona, Bruno Bossio, R., Brescia Morra, V., Costantino, G. F., Cavalla, P., Centonze, D., Comi, G., Cottone, S., Danni, M., Francia, A., Gajofatto, A., Gasperini, C., Ghezzi, A., Iudice, A., Lus, Giacomo, Maniscalco, G. T., Marrosu, M. G., Matta, M., Mirabella, M., Montanari, E., Pozzilli, C., Rovaris, M., Sessa, E., Spitaleri, D., Trojano, M., Valentino, P., Zappia, M., Patti, F., Bonavita, S., Lus, G., Benedetti, Md, Bertolotto, A, Berra, E, Bianco, A, Buttari, F, Cerqua, R, Florio, C, Fuiani, A, Guareschi, A, Ippolito, D, Nuara, A, Palmieri, V, Paolicelli, D, Petrucci, L, Pontecorvo, S, Saccà, Francesco, Salamone, G, Signoriello, E, Spinicci, G, Russo, M, Tavazzi, E Trabucco E, Trotta, M, Zaffaroni, M., Messina, S, Solaro, C, Amato, Mp, Bergamaschi, R, Bonavita, S, Bossio, Rb, Morra, Vb, Costantino, Gf, Cavalla, P, Centonze, D, Comi, Giancarlo, Cottone, S, Danni, M, Francia, A, Gajofatto, A, Gasperini, C, Ghezzi, A, Iudice, A, Lus, G, Maniscalco, Gt, Marrosu, Mg, Matta, M, Mirabella, M, Montanari, E, Pozzilli, C, Rovaris, M, Sessa, E, Spitaleri, D, Trojano, M, and Valentino, P

Subjects
Multivariate analysis, assessment, Administration, Oral, patients, 0302 clinical medicine, Drug Combination, Multiple Sclerosi, 9- δ -tetrahydocannabinol, cannabidiol, Sativex, multiple sclerosis, treatment-resistant spasticity, Italy, Cannabidiol, Medicine, Dronabinol, 030212 general & internal medicine, cannabinoid, Drug Combinations, Muscle Spasticity, Psychiatry and Mental Health, Humans, Multiple Sclerosis, Plant Extracts, Safety, Surgery, Neurology (clinical), Administration, Settore MED/26 - Neurologia, medicine.symptom, Human, medicine.drug, Oral, medicine.medical_specialty, Nabiximols, Plant Extract, 03 medical and health sciences, Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous), Rating scale, Internal medicine, Spasticity, Adverse effect, multiple sclerosis, cannabinoid, business.industry, Multiple sclerosis, medicine.disease, Physical therapy, Observational study, business, 030217 neurology & neurosurgery
Abstract

Background The approval of 9-δ-tetrahydocannabinol and cannabidiol (THC:CBD) oromucosal spray (Sativex) for the management of treatment-resistant multiple sclerosis (MS) spasticity opened a new opportunity for many patients. The aim of our study was to describe Sativex effectiveness and adverse events profile in a large population of Italian patients with MS in the daily practice setting. Methods We collected data of all patients starting Sativex between January 2014 and February 2015 from the mandatory Italian medicines agency (AIFA) e-registry. Spasticity assessment by the 0–10 numerical rating scale (NRS) scale is available at baseline, after 1 month of treatment (trial period), and at 3 and 6 months. Results A total of 1615 patients were recruited from 30 MS centres across Italy. After one treatment month (trial period), we found 70.5% of patients reaching a ≥20% improvement (initial response, IR) and 28.2% who had already reached a ≥30% improvement (clinically relevant response, CRR), with a mean NRS score reduction of 22.6% (from 7.5 to 5.8). After a multivariate analysis, we found an increased probability to reach IR at the first month among patients with primary and secondary progressive MS, (n=1169, OR 1.4 95% CI 1.04 to 1.9, p=0.025) and among patients with >8 NRS score at baseline (OR 1.8 95% CI 1.3–2.4 p

Published
2016

43. Distributed changes in default-mode resting-state connectivity in multiple sclerosis

Author

Marida Della Corte, Mario Cirillo, Simona Bonavita, Gioacchino Tedeschi, Renato Docimo, Luigi Lavorgna, Fabrizio Esposito, Antonio Gallo, Alvino Bisecco, Alfonso Di Costanzo, Rosaria Sacco, Daniele Corbo, Fabio Tortora, Bonavita, Simona, Gallo, Antonio, Sacco, R, DELLA CORTE, M, Bisecco, Alvino, Docimo, R, Lavorgna, L, Corbo, D, DI COSTANZO, A, Tortora, Fabio, Cirillo, Mario, Esposito, F, and Tedeschi, Gioacchino

Subjects
Adult, Male, medicine.medical_specialty, Neuropsychological Tests, Audiology, computer.software_genre, Severity of Illness Index, Brain mapping, Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting, Atrophy, Voxel, Image Processing, Computer-Assisted, medicine, Humans, Anterior cingulate cortex, Brain Mapping, Resting state fMRI, medicine.diagnostic_test, Multiple sclerosis, Neuropsychology, Brain, Magnetic resonance imaging, Middle Aged, medicine.disease, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, medicine.anatomical_structure, Neurology, Female, Neurology (clinical), Nerve Net, Cognition Disorders, Psychology, human activities, Neuroscience, computer
Abstract

Background: The default-mode network (DMN) has been increasingly recognized as relevant to cognitive status. Objectives: To explore DMN changes in patients with relapsing–remitting (RR) multiple sclerosis (MS) and to relate these to the cognitive status. Methods: Eighteen cognitively impaired (CI) and eighteen cognitively preserved (CP) RRMS patients and eighteen healthy controls (HCs), matched for age, sex and education, underwent neuropsychological evaluation and anatomical and resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI). DMN functional connectivity was evaluated from rs-fMRI data via independent component analysis. T2 lesion load (LL) was computed by a semi-automatic method and global and local atrophy was estimated by SIENAX and SPM8 voxel-based morphometry analyses from 3D-T1 images. Results: When the whole group of RRMS patients was compared with HCs, DMN connectivity was significantly weaker in the anterior cingulate cortex, whereas it was significantly weaker in the core but stronger at the periphery of the posterior cingulate cortex. These findings were more evident in CP than CI patients. Observed DMN changes did not correlate with global atrophy or T2-LL, but were locally associated with regional grey matter loss. Conclusion: Relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis patients show a consistent dysfunction of DMN at the level of the anterior node. DMN distribution changes in the posterior node may reflect a possible compensatory effect on cognitive performance.

Published
2011

44. BDNF Val66Met polymorphism and brain volumes in multiple sclerosis

Author

Laura Marcuccio, Antonio Russo, Marco Comerci, M. L. De Bonis, Alessandro Tessitore, G. Tedeschi, D. Dinacci, Simona Bonavita, Bruno Alfano, G. Servillo, Luigi Lavorgna, O. Picconi, Rosaria Sacco, Antonio Gallo, Patrizia Galletti, Dinacci, D, Tessitore, Alessandro, Russo, Antonio, DE BONIS, Ml, Lavorgna, L, Picconi, O, Sacco, R, Bonavita, Simona, Gallo, Antonio, Servillo, G, Marcuccio, L, Comerci, M, Galletti, P, Alfano, B, and Tedeschi, Gioacchino

Subjects
Adult, Male, Brain atrophy, medicine.medical_specialty, Multiple Sclerosis, Neurology, Adolescent, Genotype, DNA Mutational Analysis, Dermatology, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, White matter, Disability Evaluation, Young Adult, Methionine, Atrophy, Gene Frequency, Internal medicine, Image Processing, Computer-Assisted, medicine, Humans, Allele, Pathological, Brain-derived neurotrophic factor, Analysis of Variance, BDNF polymorphism, Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor, Multiple sclerosis, Brain, Valine, General Medicine, Middle Aged, medicine.disease, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Psychiatry and Mental health, medicine.anatomical_structure, Endocrinology, Case-Control Studies, Regression Analysis, Female, Neurology (clinical), Psychology, Neuroscience, MRI
Abstract

Brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) regulates several CNS physiological and pathological processes. To investigate in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, the relationship between the Val66Met polymorphism of BDNF and clinical markers of disease activity and MRI markers of focal and diffuse brain pathologies. 45 MS patients and 34 healthy controls (HCs) were genotyped and subjected to clinical-MRI examination. Global white matter fraction (gWM-f), gray matter-f (GM-f), cerebrospinal fluid-f (CSF-f), and abnormal WM-f were measured. We studied 26 Val/Val and 19 Val/Met patients and 23 Val/Val and 11 Val/Met HCs. We found that Val/Val patients had lower GM-f and higher CSF-f than Val/Val HCs; such differences were not statistically significant comparing Val/Met patients to HCs. The regression analysis showed that both Val/Met genotype and relapse number were associated with lower CSF-f. Our data suggest that Met allele might be a protective factor against MS as it is associated to a lower brain atrophy.

Published
2010

45. Treatment withdrawal in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: a retrospective cohort study

Author

Giacomo Lus, G. T. Maniscalco, Elisabetta Signoriello, Simona Signoriello, Ciro Gallo, Simona Bonavita, Lus, Giacomo, Signoriello, E, Maniscalco, G. T, Bonavita, Simona, Signoriello, Simona, and Gallo, Ciro

Subjects
Adult, Male, medicine.medical_specialty, 03 medical and health sciences, Drug withdrawal, 0302 clinical medicine, Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting, Adjuvants, Immunologic, Recurrence, Internal medicine, Outcome Assessment, Health Care, medicine, Humans, 030212 general & internal medicine, Glatiramer acetate, Retrospective Studies, Expanded Disability Status Scale, business.industry, Multiple sclerosis, treatment withdrawal, Retrospective cohort study, Glatiramer Acetate, medicine.disease, Confidence interval, Surgery, Neurology, multiple sclerosi, Cohort, Observational study, Female, Neurology (clinical), business, 030217 neurology & neurosurgery, Interferon beta-1a, medicine.drug, Follow-Up Studies, Interferon beta-1b
Abstract

Background To investigate the effect of drug withdrawal on the course of relapsing−remitting multiple sclerosis (RR-MS). Methods An observational cohort retrospective study was performed to compare the time to relapse of patients who discontinued disease-modifying therapy (1a or 1b beta-interferons or glatiramer acetate) with the patients who did not. One hundred and twenty-eight RR-MS patients were investigated using a time-dependent approach. Results Over a median follow-up of 108 months, 60 patients discontinued treatment and 89 relapses were observed. The time to relapse was shorter in patients who discontinued treatment compared with those who did not (P

Published
2015

46. Lesion load may predict long-term cognitive dysfunction in multiple sclerosis patients

Author

Gioacchino Tedeschi, Sabrina Realmuto, Damiano Paolicelli, Giovanni Savettieri, Vincenzo Brescia Morra, Alessandro d’Ambrosio, Silvia Messina, Veria Vacchiano, Mario Zappia, Maria Buccafusca, Bruno Alfano, Roberta Lanzillo, Domenico Ippolito, Paola Valentino, Antonio Gallo, Luigi Lavorgna, Manuela De Stefano, Francesco Patti, Rosa Gemma Viterbo, Patrizia Montella, Isabella Laura Simone, Clara Grazia Chisari, G. Coniglio, Simona Bonavita, Patti, F, De Stefano, M, Lavorgna, L, Messina, S, Chisari, C. G, Ippolito, D, Lanzillo, Roberta, Vacchiano, V, Realmuto, S, Valentino, P, Coniglio, G, Buccafusca, M, Paolicelli, D, D'Ambrosio, A, Montella, P, BRESCIA MORRA, Vincenzo, Savettieri, Giovanni, Alfano, B, Gallo, A, Simone, I, Viterbo, R, Zappia, M, Bonavita, S, Tedeschi, G., Chisari, Cg, Lanzillo, R, D'Ambrosio, Alessandro, Brescia Morra, V, Savettieri, G, Gallo, Antonio, Bonavita, Simona, Tedeschi, Gioacchino, Patti, F., De Stefano, M., Lavorgna, L., Messina, S., Chisari, C., Ippolito, D., Lanzillo, R., Vacchiano, V., Realmuto, S., Valentino, P., Coniglio, G., Buccafusca, M., Paolicelli, D., D'Ambrosio, A., Montella, P., Brescia Morra, V., Savettieri, G., Alfano, B., Gallo, A., Simone, I., Viterbo, R., Zappia, M., and Bonavita, S.

Subjects
EMTREE medical terms: Article, recall, lcsh:Medicine, Audiology, Neuropsychological Tests, Nerve Fibers, Myelinated, 030218 nuclear medicine & medical imaging, Cohort Studies, 0302 clinical medicine, cognitive defect, nuclear magnetic resonance imaging, lcsh:Science, Modified Card Sorting Test, Multidisciplinary, neuroimaging, Semantically Related Word List Test, Multiple Sclerosis, Cognitive Dysfunction, MRI, medicine.diagnostic_test, predictive value, Brain, Cognition, Neuropsychological test, gray matter, Middle Aged, Prognosis, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Memory, Short-Term, female, brain size, multiple sclerosi, Cohort, Disease Progression, Settore MED/26 - Neurologia, white matter, Research Article, Adult, medicine.medical_specialty, Multiple Sclerosis, Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test, verbal memory, cerebrospinal fluid, working memory, 03 medical and health sciences, male, medicine, Humans, controlled study, human, Recall, business.industry, Multiple sclerosis, lcsh:R, Magnetic resonance imaging, medicine.disease, major clinical study, attention, executive function, Symbol Digit Modalities Test, neuropsychological test, lcsh:Q, Verbal memory, business, Cognition Disorders, 030217 neurology & neurosurgery, Follow-Up Studies
Abstract

Background: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) techniques provided evidences into the understanding of cognitive impairment (CIm) in Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Objectives: To investigate the role of white matter (WM) and gray matter (GM) in predicting long-term CIm in a cohort of MS patients. Methods: 303 out of 597 patients participating in a previous multicenter clinical-MRI study were enrolled (49.4% were lost at follow-up). The following MRI parameters, expressed as fraction (f) of intracranial volume, were evaluated: cerebrospinal fluid (CSF-f), WM-f, GM-f and abnormal WM (AWM-f), a measure of lesion load. Nine years later, cognitive status was assessed in 241 patients using the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), the Semantically Related Word List Test (SRWL), the Modified Card Sorting Test (MCST), and the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT). In particular, being SRWL a memory test, both immediate recall and delayed recall were evaluated. MCST scoring was calculated based on the number of categories, number of perseverative and non-perseverative errors. Results: AWM-f was predictive of an impaired performance 9 years ahead in SDMT (OR 1.49, CI 1.12-1.97 p = 0.006), PASAT (OR 1.43, CI 1.14-1.80 p = 0.002), SRWL-immediate recall (OR 1.72 CI 1.35-2.20 p

Published
2015

47. Computer-aided cognitive rehabilitation improves cognitive performances and induces brain functional connectivity changes in relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis patients: an exploratory study

Author

G. Tedeschi, Alvino Bisecco, Fabrizio Esposito, Luigi Lavorgna, Sabrina Esposito, Alessandro d’Ambrosio, M. Della Corte, Daniele Corbo, Maddalena Sparaco, Sossio Cirillo, Simona Bonavita, Renato Docimo, Antonio Gallo, Rosaria Sacco, Bonavita, Simona, Sacco, R, Della Corte, M, Esposito, S, Sparaco, M, D'Ambrosio, Alessandro, Docimo, R, Bisecco, Alvino, Lavorgna, L, Corbo, D, Cirillo, Sossio, Gallo, Antonio, Esposito, F, and Tedeschi, Gioacchino

Subjects
Adult, Male, medicine.medical_specialty, Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging, Audiology, Multiple sclerosis, Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting, medicine, Humans, Cognitive rehabilitation therapy, Cognitive impairment, Cognitive rehabilitation, fMRI, Cognitive reserve, Cerebral Cortex, medicine.diagnostic_test, Neuropsychology, Cognition, Middle Aged, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cognitive training, Treatment Outcome, Neurology, Practice, Psychological, Therapy, Computer-Assisted, Posterior cingulate, Female, Neurology (clinical), Nerve Net, Cognition Disorders, Psychology, Functional magnetic resonance imaging, Neuroscience, Psychomotor Performance, Stroop effect
Abstract

To better understand the effects of short-term computer-based cognitive rehabilitation (cCR) on cognitive performances and default mode network (DMN) intrinsic functional connectivity (FC) in cognitively impaired relapsing remitting (RR) multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Eighteen cognitively impaired RRMS patients underwent neuropsychological evaluation by the Rao's brief repeatable battery and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging to evaluate FC of the DMN before and after a short-term (8 weeks, twice a week) cCR. A control group of 14 cognitively impaired RRMS patients was assigned to an aspecific cognitive training (aCT), and underwent the same study protocol. Correlations between DMN and cognitive performances were also tested. After cCR, there was a significant improvement of the following tests: SDMT (p < 0.01), PASAT 3" (p < 0.00), PASAT 2" (p < 0.03), SRT-D (p < 0.02), and 10/36 SPART-D (p < 0.04); as well as a significant increase of the FC of the DMN in the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) and bilateral inferior parietal cortex (IPC). After cCR, a significant negative correlation between Stroop Color-Word Interference Test and FC in the PCC emerged. After aCT, the control group did not show any significant effect either on FC or neuropsychological tests. No significant differences were found in brain volumes and lesion load in both groups when comparing data acquired at baseline and after cCR or aCT. In cognitively impaired RRMS patients, cCR improves cognitive performances (i.e., processing speed and visual and verbal sustained memory), and increases FC in the PCC and IPC of the DMN. This exploratory study suggests that cCR may induce adaptive cortical reorganization favoring better cognitive performances, thus strengthening the value of cognitive exercise in the general perspective of building either cognitive or brain reserve.

Published
2015

48. Longitudinal assessment of immuno-metabolic parameters in multiple sclerosis patients during treatment with glatiramer acetate

Author

Giorgia Teresa Maniscalco, Marida Della Corte, Silvana Montella, Dario Bruzzese, Claudia La Rocca, Maria Petracca, Gioacchino Tedeschi, Francesco Perna, Mario Galgani, Giuseppe Matarese, Simona Bonavita, Pietro Biagio Carrieri, Ciro Florio, Gerardo Iuliano, Daniele Spitaleri, Fortunata Carbone, Carrieri, Pb, Carbone, F, Perna, F, Bruzzese, D, La Rocca, C, Galgani, M, Montella, S, Petracca, M, Florio, C, Maniscalco, Gt, Spitaleri, Dl, Iuliano, G, Tedeschi, G, Della Corte, M, Bonavita, S, Matarese, G, Carrieri, Pietro B, Carbone, Fortunata, Perna, Francesco, Bruzzese, Dario, La Rocca, Claudia, Galgani, Mario, Montella, Silvana, Petracca, Maria, Florio, Ciro, Maniscalco, Giorgia T., Spitaleri, Daniele L. A., Iuliano, Gerardo, Tedeschi, Gioacchino, Corte, Marida Della, Bonavita, Simona, and Matarese, Giuseppe

Subjects
CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes, Adult, Leptin, Male, medicine.medical_specialty, Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Longitudinal Studie, Pathogenesis, Multiple sclerosis, Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting, Endocrinology, Immune system, Immunophenotyping, Glatiramer acetate, Osteoprotegerin, Interferon, Internal medicine, medicine, Humans, Multiple sclerosi, Longitudinal Studies, Lymphocyte Count, Obesity, Metabolic Syndrome, Chemistry, Metabolism, Metabolic Syndrome X, Medicine (all), Biomarker, Middle Aged, medicine.disease, CD4-Positive T-Lymphocyte, Peptide, Immunology, Female, Tumor necrosis factor alpha, Peptides, Biomarkers, Human, medicine.drug
Abstract

Objective: We investigated the effect of glatiramer acetate (GA) on the modulation of immune cell subpopulations and serum levels of multiple immune/metabolic markers in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) to understand whether the treatment with GA could induce a specific change in the immunometabolic asset of patients with RRMS. Material and methods: We performed an extensive peripheral blood immunophenotyping and measured serum levels of several parameters involved in the pathogenesis of RRMS and also relevant in the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome and obesity such as leptin, soluble leptin-receptor (sLep-R), myeloperoxidase (MPO), soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40-L), soluble tumor necrosis factor-receptor (sTNF-R), monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1), soluble Inter-Cellular Adhesion Molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and osteoprotegerin (OPG), in 20 naïve-to-treatment RRMS patients and 20 healthy controls. We repeated these analyses over time at 6 and 12. months after starting GA treatment. Results: Our analysis showed that naïve-to-treatment RRMS patients had a lower number of CD16+CD56+ NK cells, CD19+ B cells, CD4+ T cells co-expressing the MHC class II activation marker HLA-DR (CD4+DR+) and naïve CD4+CD45RA+ T cells in basal conditions. GA treatment induced a specific and significant decrease of circulating CD19+ B cells. Naïve-to-treatment RRMS patients also showed a significantly higher number of CD4+ T cells with a memory phenotype (CD4+CD45RO+) whose peripheral frequency was not affected by GA treatment. These changes over time associated with a higher serum concentration of leptin and lower levels of MPO. GA treatment also reduced significantly the circulating levels of sCD40-L and sTNF-R overtime. Conclusions: Our data suggest that the clinical outcome of GA treatment is associated with changes in immune cell subpopulations and modulation of specific immunometabolic markers. These data add substantial evidence of the immune modulating effect of GA during RRMS and could be of relevance in understanding the pathogenesis of disease and its follow-up.

Published
2015

49. Dilated Virchow-Robin spaces and multiple sclerosis: 3 T magnetic resonance study

Author

Renata Conforti, Giuseppina Caiazzo, Alvino Bisecco, Antonella Paccone, Antonio Gallo, Alberto Negro, Rosaria Sacco, Pietro Paolo Saturnino, Simona Bonavita, Mario Cirillo, Sossio Cirillo, Conforti, Renata, Cirillo, Mario, Saturnino, Pp, Gallo, Antonio, Sacco, R, Negro, A, Paccone, A, Caiazzo, G, Bisecco, Alvino, Bonavita, Simona, and Cirillo, Sossio

Subjects
Adult, Male, Pathology, medicine.medical_specialty, Multiple Sclerosis, Virchow robin spaces, Subarachnoid Space, Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted, Magnetic resonance study, Medicine, Humans, Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and imaging, Perivascular space, Neuroradiology, Retrospective Studies, medicine.diagnostic_test, business.industry, Multiple sclerosis, Brain, Magnetic resonance imaging, General Medicine, Middle Aged, Dilated Virchow-Robin spaces, medicine.disease, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Inactive phase, Perivascular spaces Virchow–Robin spaces Multiple sclerosis Magnetic resonance, medicine.anatomical_structure, Case-Control Studies, Female, business, Dilatation, Pathologic
Abstract

Purpose The aim of this study was to assess differences in the presence, size, number and site of dilated cerebral Virchow–Robin spaces (VRSd) between patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) in the inactive phase and healthy controls, and between MS patients with disabling (MSd) or nondisabling (MSnd) disease. Materials and methods The study was performed by retrospectively analysing the 3 T magnetic resonance studies of 40 MS patients and 30 healthy subjects (matched for age, education and gender). The data were analysed with MIPAV (Medical Image Processing, Analysis and Visualisation) software to assess for VRSd and with FSL SIENA-X to measure global cerebral atrophy (GCA) expressed as brain parenchyma fraction. Results The MS patients had significantly higher VRSd number (p\0.011), area (p\0.0073) and volume (p\0.0071) than controls, with a marked increase for atypical sites (p\0.0069) without significant intragroup differences between the disease forms (MSd vs MSnd). The number and size of VRSd did not correlate with GCA.Conclusions Our results confirm previous reports regarding the increase in VRSd in nonactive phases of MS and support the immunological role of the VRS within the central nervous system. The lack of correlation between VRSd and the degree of GCA and their prevailing localisation in atypical sites in MS patients make VRSd a potential marker of inflammatory-demyelinating disease.

Published
2014

50. Recurrent glioblastoma multiforme versus radiation injury: a multiparametric 3-T MR approach

Author

Teresa Popolizio, Tommaso Scarabino, Mario de Cristofaro, Claudio Colonnese, Francesca Trojsi, Gioacchino Tedeschi, Simona Bonavita, Adriana Cristofano, Ugo Salvolini, Alfonso Di Costanzo, Renata Conforti, DI COSTANZO, A, Scarabino, T, Trojsi, Francesca, Popolizio, T, Bonavita, Simona, DE CRISTOFARO, M, Conforti, Renata, Cristofano, A, Colonnese, C, Salvolini, U, and Tedeschi, Gioacchino

Subjects
Adult, Male, medicine.medical_specialty, Recurrent Glioma, Diagnosis, Differential, medicine, Humans, Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and imaging, Radiation Injuries, Radiation injury, Neuroradiology, Aged, medicine.diagnostic_test, business.industry, Brain Neoplasms, Ultrasound, Magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging, Magnetic resonance imaging, General Medicine, Middle Aged, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Brain Injuries, Susceptibility weighted imaging, Female, Radiology, Radiation injury Recurrent brain tumour Magnetic resonance spectroscopy Diffusion-weighted imaging Perfusion-weighted imaging, Neoplasm Recurrence, Local, business, Glioblastoma, Diffusion MRI
Abstract

Objective The discrimination between recurrent glioma and radiation injury is often a challenge on conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We verified whether adding and combining proton MR spectroscopic imaging (1H-MRSI), diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and perfusion- weighted imaging (PWI) information at 3 Tesla facilitate such discrimination. Materials and methods Twenty-nine patients with histologically verified high-grade gliomas, who had undergone surgical resection and radiotherapy, and had developed new contrast-enhancing lesions close to the treated tumour, underwent MRI, 1H-MRSI, DWI and PWI at regular time intervals. The metabolite ratios choline (Cho)/normal( n)Chon, N-acetylaspartate (NAA)/NAAn, creatine (Cr)/ Crn, lactate/lipids (LL)/LLn, Cho/Crn, NAA/Crn, Cho/NAA,NAA/Cr and Cho/Cr were derived from 1H-MRSI; the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) from DWI; and the relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV) from PWI. Results In serial MRI, recurrent gliomas showed a progressive enlargement, and radiation injuries showed regression or no modification. Discriminant analysis showed that discrimination accuracy was 79.3 % when considering only the metabolite ratios (predictor, Cho/Crn), 86.2 % when considering ratios and ADC (predictors, Cho/Crn and ADC), 89.7 % when considering ratios and rCBV (predictors, Cho/ Crn, Cho/Cr and rCBV), and 96.6 %when considering ratios, ADC and rCBV (predictors, Cho/Chon, ADC and rCBV). Conclusions The multiparametric 3-T MR assessment based on 1H-MRSI, DWI and PWI in addition to MRI is a useful tool to discriminate tumour recurrence/progression from radiation effects

Published
2014

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