Laura J Balcer1, Lisanne J Balk, Alexander U Brandt, Peter A Calabresi, Elena H Martinez-Lapiscina, Rachel C Nolan, Friedemann Paul, Axel Petzold, Shiv Saidha. 1. Departments of Neurology, Ophthalmology & Population Health (LJ Balcer), New York University School of Medicine, New York University, New York, New York; Department of Neurology (LJ Balk, AP), Amsterdam UMC-Location VUmc, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Neurology (AUB, FP), NeuroCure Clinical Research Center and Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin and Max Delbrueck Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany; Department of Neurology (PAC, SS), Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland; Department of Neurology (EHM-L), Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain; Department of Population Health (RCN), Sackler Institute for Biomedical Sciences, New York University, New York, NY, USA & Department of Neurology, New York University School of Medicine, New York University, New York, New York; and Department of Neurology (AP), University College London, the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, United Kingdom.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The International Multiple Sclerosis Visual System Consortium (IMSVISUAL) was formed in November 2014 with the primary goal of improving research, care, and education regarding the role of the visual system in multiple sclerosis (MS) and related disorders. METHODS: In this review, we describe the formation, goals, activities, and structure of IMSVISUAL, as well as the relationship of IMSVISUAL with the Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in MS (ACTRIMS). Finally, we provide an overview of the work IMSVISUAL has completed to date, as well as an outline of research projects ongoing under the auspices of IMSVISUAL. RESULTS: IMSVISUAL has 140 members worldwide and continues to grow. Through IMSVISUAL-related research, optical coherence tomography (OCT)-derived peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) thinning has been established as a predictor of future disability in MS. IMSVISUAL has also developed guidelines for reporting OCT studies in MS. Moreover, a systematic review performed by IMSVISUAL found that not only are pRNFL and ganglion cell + inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) thicknesses reduced in patients with MS (particularly in eyes with prior optic neuritis [ON]), but that inner nuclear layer measures may be higher among MS ON eyes, relative to healthy control eyes. Currently, there are several ongoing IMSVISUAL projects that will establish a role for visual outcomes in diagnosing MS and quantifying the effects of emerging therapies in clinical trials. CONCLUSIONS: The development of IMSVISUAL represents a major collaborative commitment to defining the role of visual outcomes in high-quality, large-scale studies that generate definitive and instructive findings in the field of MS. As a consortium, IMSVISUAL has completed several international collaborative projects, is actively engaged in numerous ongoing research studies, and is committed to expanding the role of vision research in MS and related disorders.
BACKGROUND: The International Multiple Sclerosis Visual System Consortium (IMSVISUAL) was formed in November 2014 with the primary goal of improving research, care, and education regarding the role of the visual system in multiple sclerosis (MS) and related disorders. METHODS: In this review, we describe the formation, goals, activities, and structure of IMSVISUAL, as well as the relationship of IMSVISUAL with the Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in MS (ACTRIMS). Finally, we provide an overview of the work IMSVISUAL has completed to date, as well as an outline of research projects ongoing under the auspices of IMSVISUAL. RESULTS: IMSVISUAL has 140 members worldwide and continues to grow. Through IMSVISUAL-related research, optical coherence tomography (OCT)-derived peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) thinning has been established as a predictor of future disability in MS. IMSVISUAL has also developed guidelines for reporting OCT studies in MS. Moreover, a systematic review performed by IMSVISUAL found that not only are pRNFL and ganglion cell + inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) thicknesses reduced in patients with MS (particularly in eyes with prior optic neuritis [ON]), but that inner nuclear layer measures may be higher among MS ON eyes, relative to healthy control eyes. Currently, there are several ongoing IMSVISUAL projects that will establish a role for visual outcomes in diagnosing MS and quantifying the effects of emerging therapies in clinical trials. CONCLUSIONS: The development of IMSVISUAL represents a major collaborative commitment to defining the role of visual outcomes in high-quality, large-scale studies that generate definitive and instructive findings in the field of MS. As a consortium, IMSVISUAL has completed several international collaborative projects, is actively engaged in numerous ongoing research studies, and is committed to expanding the role of vision research in MS and related disorders.
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Authors: Aykut Aytulun; Andrés Cruz-Herranz; Orhan Aktas; Laura J Balcer; Lisanne Balk; Piero Barboni; Augusto Azuara Blanco; Peter A Calabresi; Fiona Costello; Bernardo Sanchez-Dalmau; Delia Cabrera DeBuc; Nicolas Feltgen; Robert P Finger; Jette Lautrup Frederiksen; Elliot Frohman; Teresa Frohman; David Garway-Heath; Iñigo Gabilondo; Jennifer S Graves; Ari J Green; Hans-Peter Hartung; Joachim Havla; Frank G Holz; Jaime Imitola; Rachel Kenney; Alexander Klistorner; Benjamin Knier; Thomas Korn; Scott Kolbe; Julia Krämer; Wolf A Lagrèze; Letizia Leocani; Oliver Maier; Elena H Martínez-Lapiscina; Sven Meuth; Olivier Outteryck; Friedemann Paul; Axel Petzold; Gorm Pihl-Jensen; Jana Lizrova Preiningerova; Gema Rebolleda; Marius Ringelstein; Shiv Saidha; Sven Schippling; Joel S Schuman; Robert C Sergott; Ahmed Toosy; Pablo Villoslada; Sebastian Wolf; E Ann Yeh; Patrick Yu-Wai-Man; Hanna G Zimmermann; Alexander U Brandt; Philipp Albrecht Journal: Neurology Date: 2021-04-28 Impact factor: 9.910