Posted on 06/08/2023 1:58:40 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
A best treatment pathway has been identified for people with multiple sclerosis (MS) whose current medication puts them at risk of a serious brain infection.
MS patients who take the highly effective drug natalizumab are monitored regularly for their risk of developing a potentially deadly brain infection known as progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), caused by a human virus called John Cunningham virus (JCV).
Even though the risk of PML is small, the prognosis is poor, with an average six-month life expectancy.
If their six-monthly blood monitoring shows an increased risk of JCV, many patients switch treatment, but patients who stop taking natalizumab can be at risk of severe MS relapses. Until now, understanding which alternative drug would be best was not known.
However, a study has identified which of the drugs among dimethyl fumarate, fingolimod and ocrelizumab is most effective after stopping natalizumab.
Researchers analyzed real world data collected from the international MSBase registry tracking outcomes in over 89,000 patients with multiple sclerosis.
The study identified 1,386 patients worldwide who had changed from natalizumab to dimethyl fumarate, fingolimod and ocrelizumab.
Ocrelizumab was the most effective in patients who had stopped taking natalizumab. Relapse risk and discontinuation rates were lower for ocrelizumab than dimethyl fumarate and fingolimod.
Dr. Chao Zhu said the findings were important globally for clinicians and patients. He said they could help inform treatment decision making and maximize an optimal strategy for patients who need to stop natalizumab.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
My sister was cured of MS with a new treatment instigated a few years ago. If your symptoms are not too severe, they will be reduced completely. If they are severe, they will at least be reduced. She was using a walker, almost in a wheelchair and in her 50’s, but after the treatment she now walks on her own. That is, it reduced her about 20-30%. She was actually beyond who they normally take, as she had had it for decades and was in late stages, but she got her life back.
I see MS pretty much like I see polio now. It’s a curable disease.
A friend of my wife’s who had been dealing with MS for a long time and had given up on the meds and treatments read that Vitamin D3 in very large doses - 1500 mcg a day - might help. He tried it and a month later has shed almost all the disabilities that came with the MS.
FWIW, Mrs. LS diagnosed around 1995 with MS, took an interferon for about 7-8 years. It made her horribly sick every weekend when she had to inject. Finally, she just quit cold turkey.
No progression of the disease since then. Every once in a while, especially with very high humidity, she has an “episode,” but these so far haven’t been permanent. Given the loss of living time she had while sick from the interferon, she hasn’t regretted giving up the med.
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How about you get on the MS threads and make fun of the information and people, there? Let's see what happens to your butt.
Do something useful with your pathetic life, webheart.
She’s had no progression? That’s a wonderful thing to hear, but it’s very rare.
That is a true blessing!
What was the treatment? My wife has it.
It’s some clinic in the Chicago area. The treatment involves killing off all your stem cells and replacing them with new stem cells. But tomorrow I’ll try to find out the actual name of the doctor and I’ll private message you.
By the way, part of the treatment was she was very careful about her immune system for 2 years afterwards. Apparently it kills your immune system unless you vulnerable to almost anything. But when that two years is up holy cow!
Actually, an acquaintance of ours from OH, who stopped her meds at almost the same time, has had no progression either.
They really don’t know squat about MS. It’s all “let’s try this!”
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