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BACKGROUND: The N-MOmentum trial investigated safety and efficacy of inebilizumab in participants with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the attack identification process and adjudication committee (AC) performance in N-MOmentum. METHODS: Adults ((n) = 230) with NMOSD and Expanded Disability Status Scale score ?8 were randomized (3:1) to inebilizumab 300 mg or placebo. The randomized controlled period was 28 weeks or until adjudicated attack. Attacks were adjudicated according to 18 predefined criteria. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and biomarker (serum glial fibrillary acidic protein [sGFAP]) analyses were performed. RESULTS: A total of 64 participant-reported neurological events occurred; 51 (80%) were investigator-determined to be attacks. The AC confirmed 43 of the investigator-determined attacks (84%). There was high inter- and intra-AC-member agreement. In 25/64 events (39%) and 14/43 AC-adjudicated attacks (33%), MRI was reviewed during adjudication. Retrospective analysis revealed new domain-specific T1 and T2 MRI lesions in 90% of adjudicated attacks. Increased mean sGFAP concentrations (>2-fold change) from baseline were observed in 56% of adjudicated attacks versus 14% of investigator-determined attacks rejected by the AC and 31% of participant-reported events determined not to be attacks. CONCLUSION: AC adjudication of NMOSD attacks according to predefined criteria appears robust. MRI lesion correlates and sGFAP elevations were found in most adjudicated attacks.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate relationships between serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL), ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase L1 (sUCHL1), tau (sTau) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (sGFAP) levels and disease activity/disability in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), and the effects of inebilizumab on these biomarkers in N-MOmentum. METHODS: N-MOmentum randomised participants to receive inebilizumab or placebo with a randomised controlled period (RCP) of 28 weeks and an open-label follow-up period of ≥2 years. The sNfL, sUCHL1, sTau and sGFAP were measured using single-molecule arrays in 1260 scheduled and attack-related samples from N-MOmentum participants (immunoglobulin G (IgG) autoantibodies to aquaporin-4-positive, myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein-IgG-positive or double autoantibody-negative) and two control groups (healthy donors and patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis). RESULTS: The concentration of all four biomarkers increased during NMOSD attacks. At attack, sNfL had the strongest correlation with disability worsening during attacks (Spearman R(2)=0.40; p=0.01) and prediction of disability worsening after attacks (sNfL cut-off 32 pg/mL; area under the curve 0.71 (95% CI 0.51 to 0.89); p=0.02), but only sGFAP predicted upcoming attacks. At RCP end, fewer inebilizumab-treated than placebo-treated participants had sNfL>16 pg/mL (22% vs 45%; OR 0.36 (95% CI 0.17 to 0.76); p=0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with sGFAP, sTau and sUCHL1, sNfL at attack was the strongest predictor of disability worsening at attack and follow-up, suggesting a role for identifying participants with NMOSD at risk of limited post-relapse recovery. Treatment with inebilizumab was associated with lower levels of sGFAP and sNfL than placebo. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT02200770.

Background: A progressive MS (PMS) type is a negative prognostic factor for clinical outcomes. The majority of people with PMS present motor (e.g. walking) and cognitive impairments while also reporting fatigue. Objectively, fatigue can be measured by the capacity to sustain a motor or cognitive task which is termed fatigability. Currently, the prevalence of fatigability in PMS is unknown, as well as potential explanatory factors. Aims: To investigate the prevalence of walking and cognitive fatigability in PMS and to explore potential explanatory factors in a large sample of PMS patients with cognitive impairments. Methods: this study analysed baseline data from the CogEx trial, including 298 PMS

Artificial intelligence (AI)‐based diagnostic algorithms have achieved ambitious aims through automated image pattern recognition. For neurological disorders, this includes neurodegeneration and inflammation. Scalable imaging technology for big data in neurology is optical coherence tomography (OCT). We highlight that OCT changes observed in the retina, as a window to the brain, are small, requiring rigorous quality control pipelines. There are existing tools for this purpose. Firstly, there are human‐led validated consensus quality control criteria (OSCAR‐IB) for OCT. Secondly, these criteria are embedded into OCT reporting guidelines (APOSTEL). The use of the described annotation of failed OCT scans advances machine learning. This is illustrated through the present review of the advantages and disadvantages of AI‐based applications to OCT data. The neurological conditions reviewed here for the use of big data include Alzheimer disease, stroke, multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinson disease, and epilepsy. It is noted that while big data is relevant for AI, ownership is complex. For this reason, we also reached out to involve representatives from patient organizations and the public domain in addition to clinical and research centers. The evidence reviewed can be grouped in a five‐point expansion of the OSCAR‐IB criteria to embrace AI (OSCAR‐AI). The review concludes by specific recommendations on how this can be achieved practically and in compliance with existing guidelines.

BACKGROUND: The N-MOmentum trial, a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, phase 2/3 study of inebilizumab in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), enrolled participants who were aquaporin-4-immunoglobulin G (AQP4-IgG)-seropositive (AQP4+) or -seronegative (AQP4−). This manuscript reports AQP4− participant outcomes. METHODS: AQP4-IgG serostatus was determined for all screened participants by a central laboratory, using a validated, fluorescence-observation cell-binding assay. Medical histories and screening data for AQP4− participants were assessed independently by an eligibility committee of three clinical experts during screening. Diagnosis of NMOSD was confirmed by majority decision using the 2006 neuromyelitis optica criteria. Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein-immunoglobulin G (MOG-IgG) serology (using a clinically validated, flow cytometry assay) and annualized attack rates (AARs) were evaluated post hoc. Efficacy outcomes were assessed by comparing pre-study and on-study AARs in treated participants. RESULTS: Only 18/50 AQP4− screened participants (36%) were initially considered eligible for randomization; 16 were randomized and received full treatment, 4 to placebo (1 MOG-IgG-seropositive [MOG+]) and 12 to inebilizumab (6 MOG+). The most common reason for failure to pass screening among prospective AQP4− participants was failure to fulfill the 2006 NMO MRI criteria. In inebilizumab-treated AQP4− participants, on-study AARs (95% confidence interval [CI]) calculated from treatment initiation (whether from randomization or when received at the start of the open-label period) to the end of study were lower than pre-study rates: for all AQP4− participants (n = 16), mean (95% CI) AAR was 0.048 (0.02–0.15) versus 1.70 (0.74–2.66), respectively. For the subset of AQP4−/MOG+ participants (n = 7), AAR was 0.043 (0.006–0.302) after treatment versus 1.93 (1.10–3.14) before the study. For the subset of AQP4−/MOG− participants (n = 9), post-treatment AAR was 0.051 (0.013–0.204) versus 1.60 (1.02–2.38). Three attacks occurred during the randomized controlled period in the AQP4− inebilizumab group and were of mild severity; no attacks occurred in the AQP4− placebo group. The low number of participants receiving placebo (n = 4) confounds direct comparison with the inebilizumab group. No attacks were seen in any AQP4− participant after the second infusion of inebilizumab. Inebilizumab was generally well tolerated by AQP4− participants and the adverse event profile observed was similar to that of AQP4+ participants. CONCLUSION: The high rate of rejection of AQP4− participants from enrollment into the study highlights the challenges of implementing the diagnostic criteria of AQP4− NMOSD. An apparent reduction of AAR in participants with AQP4− NMOSD who received inebilizumab warrants further investigation.