The management of multiple sclerosis disease has progressed enormously over the last 15 years with the introduction of treatments that change the course of the disease and reduce the frequency of outbreaks.
Background Treatments for Multiple Sclerosis
Substantial treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) relies on the use of immunomodulatory or immunosuppressive drugs to limit the occurrence of flare-ups. There are many molecules, which can be administered by injection or orally, that can be used. The choice of the most appropriate treatment is made by the neurologist according to the characteristics of the patient's disease.
Treatments during outbreaks
Multiple sclerosis flare-ups are caused by inflammation of the central nervous system and attacks of myelin by the patient’s own immune cells, leading to different MS symptoms. During a flare-up, infusions of corticoids, with their powerful anti-inflammatory effect, reduce the duration of the flare-up and facilitate recovery. However, these drugs have no effect on the consequences of the flare-up in terms of disability and residual symptoms.
Non-specific treatments
Multiple sclerosis can cause a wide variety of symptoms related to the central nervous system. For some, there are symptomatic treatments: for spasticity, for bladder-sphincter disorders…
At Paris Brain Institute
- After a proof-of-concept study in 30 patients in 2016, Ad Scientiam published a large, multi-center study comparing scores measured by the MCCF, a clinical test performed in consultation with a neurologist, to those calculated by the algorithms of MSCopilot®. Coordinated by Dr Elisabeth MAILLART and carried out in 11 SEP expert centres, this study recruited 146 patients and 76 healthy volunteers, who passed the standard paper tests and then the digital tests on smartphone. In the presence of Professor Catherine LUBETZKI, neurologist and team leader at the CIM Brain Institute and Dr. Elisabeth MAILLART, Ad Scientiam confirmed that with only 4 tests, the MSCopilot® score gathers infinitely more variables than the standard tests, which enriches the data provided to the clinician. MSCopilot® is now a Class I medical software device, CE-marked, dedicated to the follow-up of patients with multiple sclerosis.
- The ON-STIM trial, currently being conducted by Céline Louapre at the Brain Institute, aims to promote remyelination after an episode of optic neuritis in patients with electrical stimulation-induced multiple sclerosis.
