BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The development of treatment strategies for cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis (MS) is still in its infancy. The objective of this prospective, non-randomized, pilot study was to assess the possible efficacy of treatment with natalizumab in comparison with interferon beta (IFNB) in a group of relapsing-remitting patients with MS. METHODS: We included 12 patients treated with natalizumab and 14 with IFNB. At baseline and at follow-up, cognitive functioning was assessed through Rao's Brief Repeatable Battery. All the patients underwent brain MR study with the assessment of T2 lesion volumes, neocortical volume, normalized brain volume and percentage brain volume change (PBVC). Evolution of cognitive performance was assessed using available normative data for the Italian population. Treatment comparisons were assessed through the Mann-Whitney U-test, anova for repeated measures and linear multivariate regression analyses. RESULTS: After a mean follow-up of 1.5 years, the mean number of neuropsychological tests with a deteriorating performance was significantly lower in patients treated with natalizumab (0.7 ± 0.7 vs. 1.7 ± 1.4; P = 0.031). Likewise, PBVC was significantly lower in natalizumab-treated subjects than that observed in patients treated with IFNB (-0.51% ± 0.47% vs. -1.18% ± 0.98%; P = 0.050). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest a potential beneficial effect of natalizumab therapy on cognitive functioning in MS, possibly mediated by a reduction of brain atrophy.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The development of treatment strategies for cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis (MS) is still in its infancy. The objective of this prospective, non-randomized, pilot study was to assess the possible efficacy of treatment with natalizumab in comparison with interferon beta (IFNB) in a group of relapsing-remitting patients with MS. METHODS: We included 12 patients treated with natalizumab and 14 with IFNB. At baseline and at follow-up, cognitive functioning was assessed through Rao's Brief Repeatable Battery. All the patients underwent brain MR study with the assessment of T2 lesion volumes, neocortical volume, normalized brain volume and percentage brain volume change (PBVC). Evolution of cognitive performance was assessed using available normative data for the Italian population. Treatment comparisons were assessed through the Mann-Whitney U-test, anova for repeated measures and linear multivariate regression analyses. RESULTS: After a mean follow-up of 1.5 years, the mean number of neuropsychological tests with a deteriorating performance was significantly lower in patients treated with natalizumab (0.7 ± 0.7 vs. 1.7 ± 1.4; P = 0.031). Likewise, PBVC was significantly lower in natalizumab-treated subjects than that observed in patients treated with IFNB (-0.51% ± 0.47% vs. -1.18% ± 0.98%; P = 0.050). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest a potential beneficial effect of natalizumab therapy on cognitive functioning in MS, possibly mediated by a reduction of brain atrophy.
Authors: John N Ratchford; Regina Brock-Simmons; Amanda Augsburger; Sonya U Steele; Kristie Mohn; Mandi Rhone; Jinyan Bo; Kathleen Costello Journal: Int J MS Care Date: 2014
Authors: Nicola De Stefano; Laura Airas; Nikolaos Grigoriadis; Heinrich P Mattle; Jonathan O'Riordan; Celia Oreja-Guevara; Finn Sellebjerg; Bruno Stankoff; Agata Walczak; Heinz Wiendl; Bernd C Kieseier Journal: CNS Drugs Date: 2014-02 Impact factor: 5.749
Authors: O T Wiebenga; M M Schoonheim; H E Hulst; G J A Nagtegaal; E M M Strijbis; M D Steenwijk; C H Polman; P J W Pouwels; F Barkhof; J J G Geurts Journal: AJNR Am J Neuroradiol Date: 2016-03-10 Impact factor: 3.825
Authors: Paolo Preziosa; Elisabetta Pagani; Sarlota Mesaros; Gianna C Riccitelli; Jelena Dackovic; Jelena Drulovic; Massimo Filippi; Maria A Rocca Journal: Hum Brain Mapp Date: 2017-08-09 Impact factor: 5.038
Authors: Nicola De Stefano; Maria Laura Stromillo; Antonio Giorgio; Maria Letizia Bartolozzi; Marco Battaglini; Mariella Baldini; Emilio Portaccio; Maria Pia Amato; Maria Pia Sormani Journal: J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry Date: 2015-04-22 Impact factor: 10.154
Authors: Dirk Smeets; Annemie Ribbens; Diana M Sima; Melissa Cambron; Dana Horakova; Saurabh Jain; Anke Maertens; Eline Van Vlierberghe; Vasilis Terzopoulos; Anne-Marie Van Binst; Manuela Vaneckova; Jan Krasensky; Tomas Uher; Zdenek Seidl; Jacques De Keyser; Guy Nagels; Johan De Mey; Eva Havrdova; Wim Van Hecke Journal: Brain Behav Date: 2016-07-19 Impact factor: 2.708