Recent papers
This PDF is a Parents and family summary created of recently published review articles about Pediatric MS and demyelinating disorders from the IPMSSG. The scientific versions are available on the IPMSSG Professionals website.
Contributors
The articles summarised in this publication are taken from a 2016 Neurology journal supplement, written by the International Pediatric MS Study Group. We gratefully acknowledge the editorial contribution of Dr Rosalind Kalb.
Funders
Associazione Italiana Sclerosi Multipla, Deutsche Multiple Sklerose Gesellschaft Bundesverband, MS Cure Fund, National MS Society (USA), Schweizerische Multiple Sklerose Gesellschaft/Société suisse de la Sclérose en plaques Scleroseforeningen, Stichting MS Research.
Read the story of Emily in a recent article.
Meetings
* The World of Pediatric MS: A Global Update Boston 2014
The International Pediatric MS Study Group (IPMSSG) held its first-ever members educational programme, The World of Pediatric MS: A Global Update. Held in Boston 2014, the symposium brought together 72 IPMSSG members from 19 countries to learn from each other and share experience and expertise in the field of pediatric MS.
The IPMSSG is a voluntary association of nearly 150 academic physicians and researchers treating and/or studying MS in children. Over 30 countries are represented.
The global members symposium was compromised of plenary and breakout sessions. The opening plenary session was entitled, Am I missing something? Is it MS? Is it NMO? It included presentations on the diagnosis of MS and nueromyelitis optica (NMO). There are new MS criteria and NMO criteria. We also discussed the role of MOG antibodies and brain biopsy in unclear cases
Three workshops followed. The workshop on Vitamin D – To D or Not to D? – focused on the issue of whether one should test for and treat vitamin D deficiency.
A second workshop considered MS Treatment in Two Steps. The presentations included the pros & cons of early treatment and induction therapy, how can MRI help in therapeutic decisions and whether it is possible to identify/define inadequate treatment response.
The third workshop was Cognition – How Can We Help? Presentations focused on describing the cognitive issues, and correlating them to clinical and neuroimaging findings. We discussed the role of fatigue and depression. We also identified unmet needs and future research perspectives.
The programme concluded with a plenary session, Clinical Trials in Pediatric MS and the IPMSSG Response. Speakers addressed on-going and future treatment trials and issues related to design of these studies, MRI and cognition as outcome measures as well as the regulatory issues.
The programme was supported by the Italian MS Society, MS International Federation, and the National MS Society.