AAN Abstracts for April Meeting
Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 5:59 pm
Hi all
The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) abstracts for the April meeting are up and not embargoed. The general web site is here. Some that quickly caught my eye (and there are lots of them) that might be of interest.
[P02.144] Examining the Association between High-Density Lipoprotein Levels and Disability in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis
S39.004] Gender Differences in Immunomodulatory Effects of 1,25 Dihydroxyvitamin D3 in Multiple Sclerosis
S31.004] Brain Atrophy Predicts Disability Progression in Multiple Sclerosis
[S31.002] In Vivo Evidence of Glutamate Toxicity in MS: A Longitudinal Spectroscopy Study
[S51.002] Quantitative Assessment of Brain Iron by R2* Relaxometry in Patients with Clinically Isolated Syndrome or Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis
P08.038] High Frequency of Impaired Glucose Tolerance and Diabetes in Patients with Progressive Multiple Sclerosis
[P08.027] Temporal Variation of Onset of Relapses in Multiple Sclerosis: Results from the Northern and Southern Hemispheres in the MSBase Registry
[P06.132] TERMS Trial T-Cell Vaccination Secondary Analysis of Clinical and Immunologic Outcomes in Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Patients
[P06.141] Randomized, Prospective, Rater-Blinded, Four Year Pilot Study To Compare the Effect of Daily Versus Every Other Day Glatiramer Acetate 20 mg Subcutaneous Injections in RRMS
[P06.130] Oral Masitinib in Patients with Primary Progressive or Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis
[P05.156] Correlation between N-acteylaspartate (NAA) Levels and RNFL Thickness Measures in a Large Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Cohort
[P09.110] Low Production and Defective Regulation of Neurotrophins mRNA in Immune Cells of Patients with RR-MS
[S17.004] Equal Loss of Corticospinal Axons Despite Less Demyelination in Primary Versus Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis
[S47.004] Fish Diet Prevents Demyelination, Clinical Symptoms and MRI Activity in the Cuprizone Model
Sharon
The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) abstracts for the April meeting are up and not embargoed. The general web site is here. Some that quickly caught my eye (and there are lots of them) that might be of interest.
[P02.144] Examining the Association between High-Density Lipoprotein Levels and Disability in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis
CONCLUSIONS/RELEVANCE: The results of this study demonstrate a significant association between HDL level classification and disability. While it appears as though the anti-inflammatory effect of high HDL may be protective in patients with MS, further studies regarding the relationship between HDL levels, DMTs and MS disease progression are warranted.
S39.004] Gender Differences in Immunomodulatory Effects of 1,25 Dihydroxyvitamin D3 in Multiple Sclerosis
CONCLUSIONS/RELEVANCE: Gender differences in the metabolism of Vitamin D suggest a higher protective effect of Vitamin D-based therapeutic strategies in women
S31.004] Brain Atrophy Predicts Disability Progression in Multiple Sclerosis
[S31.002] In Vivo Evidence of Glutamate Toxicity in MS: A Longitudinal Spectroscopy Study
CONCLUSIONS/RELEVANCE: The higher the [Glu] the more neuro-axonal compromise in grey matter is expected over time. This effect was not observed in white matter. The quasi-lack of decline of [NAA]NAWM is consistent with brain volume results where minimal white matter volume decline were reported compared to grey matter. These in vivo findings, from the largest longitudinal analysis of metabolites to date, strongly support the link between the excess of glutamate and decline of neuro-axonal integrity in MS.
[S51.002] Quantitative Assessment of Brain Iron by R2* Relaxometry in Patients with Clinically Isolated Syndrome or Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis
CONCLUSIONS/RELEVANCE: Quantitative assessment by R2* relaxometry confirms an increased deposition of iron in the basal ganglia of MS patients which is associated with disease duration and brain atrophy. This technique together with long-term follow-up should also serve to clarify whether regional iron deposition contributes to tissue loss in MS or merely reflects an epiphenomenon of pathophysiological processes of the disease.
P08.038] High Frequency of Impaired Glucose Tolerance and Diabetes in Patients with Progressive Multiple Sclerosis
CONCLUSIONS/RELEVANCE: IFG, IGT and DM are frequently observed in progressive MS. Disturbances of glucose metabolism may contribute to pathogenesis of progressive MS. The two-hour OGTT is more sensitive than other measures of glucose handling in screening these patients
[P08.027] Temporal Variation of Onset of Relapses in Multiple Sclerosis: Results from the Northern and Southern Hemispheres in the MSBase Registry
RESULTS: 22,684 relapses (19,775 northern, 2,909 southern) were included. Relapses were significantly more common in spring in the northern hemisphere (P<0.0001) and autumn in the southern hemisphere (P<0.0001). June had the highest number of relapses than any other month in either hemisphere (P<0.0001).
CONCLUSIONS/RELEVANCE: A highly significant temporal variation in onset of relapses is present in both northern and southern hemispheres. However, peak relapse incidence does not occur in the same season in the northern and southern hemispheres
[P06.132] TERMS Trial T-Cell Vaccination Secondary Analysis of Clinical and Immunologic Outcomes in Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Patients
CONCLUSIONS/RELEVANCE: Tovaxin treatment demonstrated a benefit across clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) endpoints. The immunology and epitope database assessment suggests that those patients exhibiting a greater T-cell reactivity often demonstrated a worsening of at least one MRI endpoint (Gd lesion, Gd volume, new T2 count or progression to black holes) and one clinical endpoint (either relapse or EDSS). The converse also appears true, where T-cell reactivity resulted in an absence of worsening of MRI and clinical endpoints.
[P06.141] Randomized, Prospective, Rater-Blinded, Four Year Pilot Study To Compare the Effect of Daily Versus Every Other Day Glatiramer Acetate 20 mg Subcutaneous Injections in RRMS
CONCLUSIONS/RELEVANCE: This pilot study suggests that GA 20 mg SC administered QD or QOD may be equally effective in RRMS. Larger, multi-center studies are warranted to confirm our findings and identifying the optimal dose of GA in RRMS.
[P06.130] Oral Masitinib in Patients with Primary Progressive or Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis
CONCLUSIONS/RELEVANCE: This small population, proof of concept suggests that targeting mast cells could provide a therapeutic option for both PPMS and SPMS patients. Data give ground for a large scale phase 3 trial
[P05.156] Correlation between N-acteylaspartate (NAA) Levels and RNFL Thickness Measures in a Large Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Cohort
CONCLUSIONS/RELEVANCE: These results demonstrate that reduced NAA levels in NAGM are predictive of future axonal loss in the AVP. This is the strongest in-vivo evidence to date of a relationship between NAA and OCT in MS. Furthermore, this study documents that RNFL thickness is correlated with MRI lesion volume and whole brain volume measures. This provides additional evidence regarding the utility of OCT as a clinic-based correlate of brain injury in MS.
[P09.110] Low Production and Defective Regulation of Neurotrophins mRNA in Immune Cells of Patients with RR-MS
CONCLUSIONS/RELEVANCE: The neuroprotective potential of PBMCs is defective in patients with RRMS as they produce lower neurotrophins mRNA and lack of up-regulatory effect via CD3 and CD40. TNF- may partially restore the levels of the neurotrophins mRNA.
[S17.004] Equal Loss of Corticospinal Axons Despite Less Demyelination in Primary Versus Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis
CONCLUSIONS/RELEVANCE: These findings support axonal loss as the pathological substrate of progressive disability in both PP and SP MS with a common plaque-centred mechanism. More extensive axonal loss within white matter plaques in PPMS could explain high levels of axonal loss observed in these patients despite low levels of demyelination.
[S47.004] Fish Diet Prevents Demyelination, Clinical Symptoms and MRI Activity in the Cuprizone Model
Lots to check out...just what caught my eye during lunch. Too friggin' cold to go outside.CONCLUSIONS/RELEVANCE: A diet rich in fish protects against demyelination and clinical signs of demyelination induced by cuprizone. There was, however, no effect of giving omega-3 supplementation in the form of cod liver oil.
Sharon