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Multimodal Exploration of Patients With Multiple Sclerosis for an Early Detection of Subtle Progression

Not Applicable
Recruiting
Conditions
Multiple Sclerosis
Interventions
Device: Visual Evoked Potential (VEP)
Device: Somatosensory evoked potential (SSEP)
Device: Transcranial magnetic motor evoked potentials (TCmMEP)
Device: Tesla Brain MRI
Diagnostic Test: Blood test - Neurofilament light chain (NfL)
Diagnostic Test: Blood test - EBV serology
Registration Number
NCT05941975
Lead Sponsor
Brugmann University Hospital
Brief Summary

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory and degenerative disease of the central nervous system (CNS), characterized by a complex interplay of inflammatory demyelination and neuronal damage. The core MS phenotypes defined by clinical course are the relapsing and the progressive forms.Relapsing MS (RMS) is characterized by attacks - also called relapses - defined as new or increasing neurologic dysfunction, followed by periods of partial or complete recovery, without apparent progression of the disease during the periods of remission. In contrast, progressive MS (PMS) is characterized by progressive worsening of neurologic function leading to accumulation of disability over time independent of relapses. Additional descriptors ("active/not-active") serve to better characterize the presence of clinical and/or radiological activity both in relapsing and progressive forms.

In recent years, the concept of a silent progression, also known as smouldering MS, is making its way into the common lexicon of MS experts, challenging the current definitions of MS phenotypes. A growing body of literature suggests that the line between RMS and PMS is not as marked as men thought, and that inflammation and neurodegeneration can represent a single disease continuum coexisting early on in the disease course. Whilst it is established that relapse-associated worsening (RAW) can be accounted for by an acute inflammatory focal damage leading to axonal transection and conduction block, the physiopathology underlying the progression independent of relapse activity (PIRA) remains unclear.

It is becoming apparent that there is an increasing need for a personalized therapeutic approach by considering the individual MS phenotype of each patient, thereby enabling the choice of the molecule best suited to counteract the predominant disease pattern of that individual patient.

There is a limited number of studies combining clinical scores, neurophysiological evaluation and neuroimaging in patients with MS experiencing PIRA. Integrating a multimodal exploration of these patients might allow a step forward in the early recognition, management, and treatment of disability accumulation independent from relapses in patients with MS.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
60
Inclusion Criteria
  1. Patients ≥ 18-year-old with diagnosis of RMS according to 2017 McDonald diagnostic criteria
  2. Availability in the functional outcome database of at least 3 time-point complete evaluations with a time frame from the first to the last evaluation of minimum 12 months
  3. Most recent functional outcome evaluation within 12 months of enrollment
  4. Availability of follow-up MRI data during the observational period
Exclusion Criteria

a) Contraindication to one or more of the paraclinical tests of the prospective multimodal evaluation

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
PIRAVisual Evoked Potential (VEP)From the MS functional outcome database, identification of a cohort of patients with RMS experiencing progression independent of relapse (PIRA)
N-PIRATesla Brain MRIFrom the MS functional outcome database, identification of a cohort of patients with RMS not experiencing progression independent of relapse (N-PIRA)
N-PIRABlood test - EBV serologyFrom the MS functional outcome database, identification of a cohort of patients with RMS not experiencing progression independent of relapse (N-PIRA)
PIRASomatosensory evoked potential (SSEP)From the MS functional outcome database, identification of a cohort of patients with RMS experiencing progression independent of relapse (PIRA)
N-PIRAVisual Evoked Potential (VEP)From the MS functional outcome database, identification of a cohort of patients with RMS not experiencing progression independent of relapse (N-PIRA)
N-PIRATranscranial magnetic motor evoked potentials (TCmMEP)From the MS functional outcome database, identification of a cohort of patients with RMS not experiencing progression independent of relapse (N-PIRA)
PIRATesla Brain MRIFrom the MS functional outcome database, identification of a cohort of patients with RMS experiencing progression independent of relapse (PIRA)
PIRABlood test - EBV serologyFrom the MS functional outcome database, identification of a cohort of patients with RMS experiencing progression independent of relapse (PIRA)
N-PIRABlood test - Neurofilament light chain (NfL)From the MS functional outcome database, identification of a cohort of patients with RMS not experiencing progression independent of relapse (N-PIRA)
PIRATranscranial magnetic motor evoked potentials (TCmMEP)From the MS functional outcome database, identification of a cohort of patients with RMS experiencing progression independent of relapse (PIRA)
PIRABlood test - Neurofilament light chain (NfL)From the MS functional outcome database, identification of a cohort of patients with RMS experiencing progression independent of relapse (PIRA)
N-PIRASomatosensory evoked potential (SSEP)From the MS functional outcome database, identification of a cohort of patients with RMS not experiencing progression independent of relapse (N-PIRA)
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) serology (VCA IgG)12 months after baseline

EBV serology will be assessed (VCA IgG) in the serum of patients to evaluate the variation of antibody titers over time (at baseline, at 6- and 12-month follow-up), and compare to titers at the time of diagnosis (when available in their medical record).

Visual Evoked Potential (VEP)Change from baseline to 12 months

To assess the integrity of visual pathways through the optic nerves to the visual cortex.

Somatosensory evoked potential (SSEP)Change from baseline to 12 months

To assess the integrity of sensitive pathways through the peripheral nerves and dorsal spinal cord to the somatosensory cortex.

Transcranial magnetic motor evoked potentials (TCmMEP)Change from baseline to 12 months

To measure the integrity of motor pathways.

Tesla Brain MRIBaseline

Tesla Brain MRI (descriptive outcome)

Neurofilament light chain (NfL) serum levels12 months after baseline

Neurofilament light chain (NfL) serum levels

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

CHU Brugmann

🇧🇪

Brussels, Belgium

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