In the news and on
our website
Lab test detects
antibodies to virus that
causes PML
A new laboratory test can detect
antibodies to the JC virus and
help determine a person’s risk
of developing PML, a severe
brain infection that has emerged
in some people who have
taken Tysabri. The presence
of antibodies indicates that a
person has at some point been
infected by or exposed to the
virus, which can cause PML, but
usually lies dormant. The U.S.
Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) has approved a change to
the prescription label for Tysabri
to indicate the availability
of the lab test, which should
enhance the ability of people
with MS and their physicians
to weigh the risks and benefits
of this therapy.
Does Epstein-Barr
virus stimulate MS?
An international team has
identified clues that may help
explain how Epstein-Barr virus,
which has been linked to MS,
may contribute to the brain
inflammation experienced by
people who have MS. In active
brain lesions (spots of disease
activity) in people who have
MS, the researchers found
high levels of an inflammation-stimulating chemical (interferon
alpha) that helps the body fight
viruses, and immune B cells
latently infected by Epstein-Barr virus, but without signs
of active viral infection. The
findings may point to a possible
mechanism for how the virus
might indirectly stimulate MS
disease activity.
Investigators
recruiting for study of
ocrelizumab in primary-progressive MS
Investigators worldwide are
recruiting 630 people with
primary-progressive MS to study
the effectiveness of intravenous
ocrelizumab (developed by
Genentech) versus inactive
placebo. This experimental
therapy is also being tested
in relapsing MS. The study
is funded by F. Hoffmann-La
Roche. Ocrelizumab depletes
B cells, immune cells that play
a role in the immune attack on
the brain and spinal cord in
MS. No treatment is currently
approved to treat primary-progressive MS.
Study focuses
on Hispanics/Latinos
who have MS
A new study funded by the
Society provides insights into
the disease and treatment of
Latinos with MS. MS occurs
less frequently among people
with Hispanic backgrounds than
among Caucasians, so there are
few studies of Hispanics/Latinos
with MS. The nationwide
team used data from the North
American Research Committee
on Multiple Sclerosis registry,
and conducted a telephone
survey. Forty-four percent of
the 99 Hispanics/Latinos in
the study reported feelings that
indicated depression; 61 percent
were highly satisfied with their
access to mental health care
and 76 percent were highly
satisfied with their access to MS
care. This study is the first step
toward meeting the needs of the
Hispanic/Latino community
with MS.
Improving learning
and memory in MS
Learning and memory improved
in 16 people with MS with a
technique that uses stories and
imagery to cement learning. For
the first time, this improvement
was shown to be accompanied
by increased activation in areas
of the brain related to learning
and memory. The study was
funded by the Society’s Mentor-Based Postdoctoral Fellowship
in Rehabilitation Research,
which recruits and trains
talented clinician-scientists in
rehabilitation research specific
to MS. n
Read more news
and details of
these stories at
nationalMSsociety
.org/bulletins.
