Faculty Bibliography

Introduction: Patients (pts) with paediatric multiple sclerosis (PedMS) have higher relapse rates and radiological activity, accumulating disability at a younger age vs adult-onset MS. There are challenges in conducting clinical trials for PedMS due to the low number of available pts and competing trials. Moreover, testing a new drug vs placebo or low efficacy control poses ethical concerns due to the high disease activity. Few Phase 3 studies have assessed the efficacy/safety of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) in PedMS; PARADIGMS demonstrated a significant reduction in annualised relapse rate (ARR) for fingolimod vs interferon (IFN)beta-1a in PedMS. A large unmet need for new studied treatment options for PedMS remains.
Objective(s): To present the innovative Bayesian design of the Phase 3 NEOS study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of ofatumumab and siponimod in PedMS.
Method(s): NEOS is a 2-year, randomised, 3-arm, double-blind, triple-dummy, parallel-group, multicentre, active-comparator, controlled global study comparing ofatumumab and siponimod vs fingolimod in the core part, followed by 2-5 years of an openlabel extension part. Eligibility criteria include pts aged 10 to <18 years, with Expanded Disability Status Scale score 0-5.5 who had experienced >=1 relapse in the last year or >=2 relapses in last 2 years or evidence of >=1 gadolinium-enhancing lesions on MRI within 12 months before randomisation. The primary objective is to demonstrate the non-inferiority (NI) of ofatumumab and siponimod vs fingolimod, assessed by ARR up to 2 years, and will be analysed using a Bayesian negative binomial regression model. This model incorporates information from historical studies on all 3 treatments to reduce the required sample size. The key secondary objective is to demonstrate superiority of ofatumumab and siponimod vs historical IFNbeta-1a data, assessed by ARR. Other endpoints include number of new/newly enlarging T2 lesions on MRI per year, serum neurofilament light chain and safety/tolerability. Randomisation of ~180 pts (n=60 per arm) will provide >80% power for the demonstration of NI (margin of 2.0) for each test treatment vs fingolimod.
Result(s): Study design will be presented at the congress.
Conclusion(s): The innovative NEOS study design does not include placebo or low efficacy controls and thus offers PedMS pts a DMT already shown to be highly effective in adults. NEOS has the potential to bring 2 new future treatment options-ofatumumab and siponimod for PedMS

Introduction: Treatment of pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis (POMS) is challenging given the lack of safety and efficacy data in the pediatric population for many of the disease-modifying treatments (DMTs) approved for use in adults with MS. Data regarding the demographic features and clinical outcomes of POMS patients treated with these DMTs could help guide future treatment algorithms in this population. Objective/Aims: To describe the demographic features and clinical and radiologic course of POMS patients on the commonly used newer DMTs within the US Network of Pediatric MS Centers.
Method(s): This is an analysis of prospectively collected data from patients seen at 11 regional pediatric MS referral centers participating in the US Network of Pediatric MS Centers. POMS patients who initiated treatment between 10- & lt;18 years with dimethyl fumarate, fingolimod, natalizumab, rituximab or ocrelizumab were included and analyzed as individual cohorts.
Result(s): 168 patients on dimethyl fumarate, 96 on fingolimod, 151 on natalizumab, 166 on rituximab, and 37 on ocrelizumab met criteria for analysis. Mean age at DMT initiation ranged from 15.2-16.5 years (median EDSS from 1.0-2.0), with 96-100% of patients at or above Tanner Stage 2. Disease duration at time of initiation of index DMT ranged from 1.1-1.6 years, while treatment duration with the index DMT ranged from 1.1-2.2 years. Mean number of relapses in the year prior to initiating index DMT ranged from 0.4-1.0. Mean number of relapses while on index DMT ranged from 0.1-0.4. New T2 and enhancing lesions occurred in 77-88% and 55-73% of the patients, respectively, during the year prior to initiating index DMT. After initiating index DMT, new T2 and enhancing lesions occurred in 7-52% and 11-35% patients, respectively.
Conclusion(s): Though limited by relatively short treatment duration with the index DMTs, our data suggest clinical and MRI benefit in a large number of POMS patients, which can be used to guide future studies in this population

Pediatric MS occurs in approximately 5% of patients and is defined as MS onset prior to age 18 years Those with pediatric MS tend to have a more inflammatory course but recover from relapses better than adults. Pediatric MS has been associated with cognitive problems in approximately 30% of patients where as 60-70% of adults have impaired cognitive functioning. Cognitive processing speed is the most frequently affected domain. In a recent study, 16% of CIS and 23% of RRMS had impaired cognitive functioning. Of concern is that other work has shown that while those with pediatric onset do well early in their course, over their life-time they may continue to show declines, particularly around 15 years after disease onset. The hope is that, early recognition, more effective symptomatic interventions such as cognitive retraining, and high efficacy disease modifying therapy can forestall the development of cognitive decline in those with pediatric MS onset

Background: Fatigue is among the most frequent and disabling symptoms in RMS patients.
Objective(s): To measure multiple sclerosis (MS) fatigue and its impact on daily life in a real-world population using a survey including the relapsing MS (RMS)-specific Fatigue Symptoms and Impacts Questionnaire-Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis (FSIQ-RMS).
Method(s): This is an ongoing noninterventional prospective study of RMS patients recruited across the USA via an online survey. Participants completed questionnaires including disease history, disease status, sleep, social and emotional functioning, and the FSIQ-RMS, administered daily for 7 days. The FSIQ-RMS measures self-reported fatigue, and scores range from 0-100 (higher score = greater severity). The impact of fatigue on several aspects of patient's life was rated from 0 (no impact) to 10 (very high impact).
Result(s): A total of 300 RMS participants completed the 7-day assessment: mean age: 43.0 yrs; 88% women; mean diagnosis age: 32 yrs. Fatigue was reported as the symptom with the greatest impact on daily functioning. Participants with lower disability rated fatigue as the most impactful symptom on daily life. Fatigue was rated as severe, with a mean score: 57.3 for the FSIQ-RMS symptom domain; 3 impact sub-domain scores were 42.3, 43.4 and 50.1 (physical, cognitive/emotional, and coping). Fatigue severity did not vary among patients receiving high efficacy disease modifying therapy (DMT) vs other DMTs (44% [n=111] vs 56% [n=143], with score of 57.8?}17.6 vs 55.9?}19.8). Impact of ability to perform daily activities was rated as the highest (6.9/10) in terms of impact on patient's life. Because of MS, 44% of participants did not work. Among those who were working currently (48%), the impact of fatigue on professional life was rated as 4.5/10. Nearly half of the participants (49% of 300) discussed fatigue at each visit with their neurologists and 35% discussed at most visits, with 'impact of fatigue on quality of life' being the most discussed topic (65% of 289). Participants used different approaches to manage their fatigue including avoided heat exposure (77%), took breaks (65%), managed their energy (59%), took non-medicinal products (58%); however, only 6% (of 293) were totally satisfied with these strategies.
Conclusion(s): In this survey including the novel RMS specific FSIQ-RMS, fatigue occurred in most MS participants and adversely influenced patient's daily functioning and life. Fatigue remains a major concern for those with MS

BACKGROUND:Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with stable disease course might view continued treatment as unnecessary. However, guidelines regarding treatment discontinuation are currently lacking. OBJECTIVE:To assess the clinical course after treatment discontinuation in MS patients with long disease duration. METHODS:Patients who discontinued disease-modifying treatments (DMTs) and not resume treatment (n = 216) were extracted from New York State MS Consortium (NYSMSC) and followed across three time points (average 4.6 years). Stable course was defined as no change in Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores (<1.0 increase if EDSS<6.0 or <0.5-point increase if EDSS≥6.0) from baseline (time 1) to DMT discontinuation (time 2). Both stable and worsening MS patients were later assessed again after the DMT discontinuation (time 3). Additional analyses were performed based on disease subtype, type of medication, age cut-off of 55 and EDSS of 6.0. RESULTS:From the cohort of 216 MS patients who discontinued DMT, 161 (72.5%) were classified as stable before DMT discontinuation. After DMT discontinuation, 53 previously stable MS patients (32.9%) experienced disability worsening/progression (DWP). 29.2 and 40% of previously stable RRMS and SPMS respectively had DWP after DMT discontinuation. Over two years after DMT discontinuation, the rate of DWP was similar between patients younger or older than 55 years (31.1% vs 25.9%, respectively). MS patients with EDSS≥6.0 had greater DWP when compared to less disabled patients while remaining on therapy as well as after discontinuation (40.7% vs 15.4%, p < 0.001 and 39.6% vs 15.2%, p < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:MS patients with stable disease course experience DWP after treatment discontinuation, with no clear relation to age and disease subtype. Patients with EDSS≥6.0 are at higher risk for DWP.

Background: Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is an inflammatory demyelinating central nervous system (CNS) disorder, characterized by new onset polyfocal neurologic symptoms with encephalopathy and multifocal demyelination, typically occurring in early childhood. The initial diagnosis of ADEM can be challenging as up to 20% of children with multiple sclerosis (MS) or neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) are initially diagnosed with ADEM.
Objective(s): To describe characteristics of patients with ADEM vs. recurrent demyelinating syndromes (MS or NMOSD) at the time of initial presentation and identify features at disease onset associated with monophasic demyelinating disease.
Method(s): This is a multicenter observational cohort study of children with a demyelinating disease diagnosis of ADEM, multiphasic ADEM, MS, and NMOSD who were followed at 12 regional pediatric MS referral centers in the US Network of Pediatric MS Centers. Descriptive statistics were used to report patient characteristics, clinical/imaging presenting features and clinical followup outcomes. Logistic regression was used to predict features associated with monophasic demyelination and to identify features associated with poor recovery from ADEM in patients with ADEM-like presentation at 2 years from disease onset.
Result(s): As of July 2019, 872 pediatric patients with a final diagnosis of ADEM (n=89), MS (n= 664) and NMOSD (n=119) were identified. The mean follow-up for all patients was 5.7 +/-3.1 years. ADEM patients were the youngest with mean age at first event 5.4 +/-3.7 years and male predominance (62%), p < 0.001. Severe clinical symptoms at onset were more frequent in ADEM (55% vs. 35% NMOSD and 15% MS, p < 0.001). After 2 years of follow-up, 86.2% of patients initially diagnosed with ADEM retained this diagnosis (ADEM to ADEM), while 10.1% were later reclassified as MS and 3.6% with NMOSD. In univariable regression, younger age at first event and having an antecedent infection at onset were associated with ADEM, while presentation with optic neuritis and gadolinium enhancement on brain MRI were associated with ADEM reclassification to MS or NMOSD after 2 years of follow up. In a multivariable analysis, older age at first event (OR 1.29 [95% CI 1.07-1.56], p = 0.007), presenting with optic neuritis (OR 27.56 [95% CI 3.19-238.14], p = 0.003) and presence of gadolinium enhancement on brain MRI at onset (OR 14.36 [95% CI 2.53-81.36], p = 0.003) were associated with reclassification of ADEM to MS or NMOSD within 2 years. Younger age at onset was associated with higher risk of EDSS 2.0 or higher after 2 years of follow-up (p = 0.0422).
Conclusion(s): Those who remain classified as ADEM vs. those who are reclassified as other demyelinating disorders are younger at onset, more likely to be male, have a more severe initial presentation, and are less likely to have optic neuritis or gadolinium enhancing lesions at onset

BACKGROUND:Only recently has the first disease-modifying therapy been approved for children with multiple sclerosis (MS) and practice patterns including substantial off-label use have evolved. Understanding attitudes towards treatment of paediatric MS and whether this has changed due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is vital to guide future therapeutic trials and for developing guidelines that reflect practice. METHODS:We performed an online survey within the International Paediatric Multiple Sclerosis Study Group between July and September 2020. The survey was sent to 130 members from 25 countries and consisted of five sections: demographic data, treatment, disease modifying therapies and COVID-19, outcome and three patient cases. RESULTS:The survey was completed by 66 members (51%), both paediatric neurologists and adult neurologists. Fingolimod and β-interferons were the most frequently used disease-modifying therapies, especially among paediatric neurologists. Almost a third (31%) of respondents had altered their prescribing practice due to COVID-19, in particular at the beginning of the pandemic. CONCLUSIONS:The survey results indicate a tendency of moving from the traditional escalation therapy starting with injectables towards an early start with newer, highly effective disease modifying therapies. The COVID-19 pandemic only slightly affected prescribing patterns and treatment choices in paediatric MS.

OBJECTIVE:To identify features of the gut microbiome associated with multiple sclerosis activity over time. METHODS:We used 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing from stool of 55 recently diagnosed pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis patients. Microbiome features included the abundance of individual microbes and networks identified from weighted genetic correlation network analyses. Prentice-Williams-Peterson Cox proportional hazards models estimated the associations between features and three disease activity outcomes: clinical relapses and both new/enlarging T2 lesions and new gadolinium-enhancing lesions on brain MRI. Analyses were adjusted for age, sex, and disease-modifying therapies. RESULTS:Participants were followed, on average, 2.1 years. Five microbes were nominally associated with all three disease activity outcomes after multiple testing correction. These included butyrate producers Odoribacter (relapse hazard ratio = 0.46, 95% confidence interval: 0.24, 0.88) and Butyricicoccus (relapse hazard ratio = 0.49, 95% confidence interval: 0.28, 0.88). Two networks of co-occurring gut microbes were significantly associated with a higher hazard of both MRI outcomes (gadolinium-enhancing lesion hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) for Modules 32 and 33 were 1.29 (1.08, 1.54) and 1.42 (1.18, 1.71), respectively; T2 lesion hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) for Modules 32 and 33 were 1.34 (1.15, 1.56) and 1.41 (1.21, 1.64), respectively). Metagenomic predictions of these networks demonstrated enrichment for amino acid biosynthesis pathways. INTERPRETATION/CONCLUSIONS:Both individual and networks of gut microbes were associated with longitudinal multiple sclerosis activity. Known functions and metagenomic predictions of these microbes suggest the important role of butyrate and amino acid biosynthesis pathways. This provides strong support for future development of personalized microbiome interventions to modify multiple sclerosis disease activity.