Novel therapies for Multiple Sclerosis

A special issue of Brain Sciences (ISSN 2076-3425). This special issue belongs to the section "Neurorehabilitation".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 November 2020) | Viewed by 8943

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
1 Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, and Advanced Technologies, Gian Filippo Ingrassia, University of Catania - Sections: Neuroscience, PO "G Rodolico", Via Santa Sofia 78, 95123 Catania, Italy 2 Multiple Sclerosis Center, PO "G Rodolico", Via Santa Sofia 78, Catania, 95123 Italy
Interests: Neurology; Neurorehabilitation; Multiple Sclerosis; Multiple Sclerosis Treatment; Quality of Life; Cognitive impairment; Neuroepidemiology; Clinical immunology; Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis; NMOSD; Myastenia Gravis; Parkinson disease; Epilepsy; Patient centricity

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

There is no curative treatment available for multiple sclerosis (MS), and the current therapeutic strategy is finalized to reduce the risk of relapses and, potentially, disability progression. The field of MS therapeutics is evolving rapidly. In the last decades, new disease modifying therapies (DMTs) have been added to our armamentarium. Most DMTS are currently approved either as first line therapy or second line therapy, to treat patients with relapsing forms of MS. Fewer DMTs are approved and used to treat both primary and secondary progressive MS patients.

Beta interferons, glatiramer acetate, azathioprine, teriflunomide, dimethyl-fumarate, natalizumab, fingolimod, and alemtuzumab, as well as ocrelizumab, cladribine, siponimod, rituximab, ozanimod, ofatumumab, and autologous stem cell transplantation show different mechanisms of action that can suppress or modulate the dysregulated immune system, limiting neuroinflammation, preventing new relapses and new MRI lesions, and, finally, reducing disability worsening.

With this great variety of therapeutic options, neurologists may face new challenges selecting early more effective and personalized treatments that do not carry over a potential safety risk. Nonetheless, there is a need to thoroughly select and strictly monitor safety programs, towards a complete cessation of any disease activity. There is also a need to think of the first treatment choice for how to sequence in case of treatment failure, poor tolerability, reduced adherence, or safety concerns.

This Issue aims to provide useful guidance on personalized treatment selection based on the newest paradigms of MS management.

Prof. Dr. Francesco Patti
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • Novel therapies for Multiple Sclerosis
  • Induction/Escalation
  • Sequencing therapies
  • Monoclonal antibodies
  • Oral therapies
  • Neuropathology:
    • Neuroinflammation
    • Neurodegeneration
    • Neuroprotection
    • Remyelination

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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11 pages, 939 KiB  
Study Protocol
Effectiveness of Dry Needling versus Placebo on Gait Performance, Spasticity, Electromyographic Activity, Pain, Range-of-Movement and Quality of Life in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: A Randomized Controlled Trial Protocol
by Carlos Luque-Moreno, Anabel Granja-Domínguez, Jose A. Moral-Munoz, Guillermo Izquierdo-Ayuso, David Lucena-Anton and Alberto Marcos Heredia-Rizo
Brain Sci. 2020, 10(12), 997; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci10120997 - 17 Dec 2020
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 5028
Abstract
Dry needling (DN) is an emerging technique commonly used in neurological and musculoskeletal pain conditions, but there have been no previous studies in patients with multiple sclerosis (pwMS). This trial aims to assess the efficacy of deep DN, compared with sham placebo DN, [...] Read more.
Dry needling (DN) is an emerging technique commonly used in neurological and musculoskeletal pain conditions, but there have been no previous studies in patients with multiple sclerosis (pwMS). This trial aims to assess the efficacy of deep DN, compared with sham placebo DN, on gait performance, spasticity level, pain, electromyographic activity, range-of-movement (ROM) and quality of life in pwMS. Forty adults with MS were randomly assigned to one study group. The DN group will undergo 2 sessions (once per week) using DN over the rectus femoris (RF) and gastrocnemius medialis (GM) muscles at the lower extremity with higher spasticity. The placebo group will receive the same protocol using a sham placebo needle (Dong Bang needle). Outcome measures will include gait performance, using the GaitRite® system, spasticity level with the Modified Ashworth Scale, superficial electromyographic activity of RF and GM, pain (pressure algometer), ROM (goniometer), and quality of life (Musiqol). This study is the first investigating the short-term effect of DN, compared with placebo, in pwMS, and taking into account the possible changes in the electromyographic activity of the lower limb. Therefore, the results may help to understand the suitability of using this technique in the clinical setting for this population. Trial registration: ACTRN12619000880145. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel therapies for Multiple Sclerosis)
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12 pages, 964 KiB  
Protocol
Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Hand Dexterity in Multiple Sclerosis: A Design for a Randomized Controlled Trial
by Samar S. Ayache, Naji Riachi, Rechdi Ahdab and Moussa A. Chalah
Brain Sci. 2020, 10(3), 185; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci10030185 - 23 Mar 2020
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3477
Abstract
Background: Cerebellar and motor tracts are frequently impaired in multiple sclerosis (MS). Altered hand dexterity constitutes a challenge in clinical practice, since medical treatment shows very limited benefits in this domain. Cerebellar control is made via several cerebellocortical pathways, of which the most [...] Read more.
Background: Cerebellar and motor tracts are frequently impaired in multiple sclerosis (MS). Altered hand dexterity constitutes a challenge in clinical practice, since medical treatment shows very limited benefits in this domain. Cerebellar control is made via several cerebellocortical pathways, of which the most studied one links the cerebellum to the contralateral motor cortex via the contralateral ventro-intermediate nucleus of the thalamus influencing the corticospinal outputs. Modulating the activity of the cerebellum or of the motor cortex could be of help. Method: The main interest here is to evaluate the efficacy of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), a noninvasive brain stimulation technique, in treating altered dexterity in MS. Forty-eight patients will be recruited in a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled, and crossover study. They will randomly undergo one of the three interventions: anodal tDCS over the primary motor area, cathodal tDCS over the cerebellum, or sham. Each block consists of five consecutive daily sessions with direct current (2 mA), lasting 20 min each. The primary outcome will be the improvement in manual dexterity according to the change in the time required to complete the nine-hole pegboard task. Secondary outcomes will include fatigue, pain, spasticity, and mood. Patients’ safety and satisfaction will be rated. Discussion: Due to its cost-effective, safe, and easy-to-use profile, motor or cerebellar tDCS may constitute a potential tool that might improve dexterity in MS patients and therefore ameliorate their quality of life. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel therapies for Multiple Sclerosis)
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