AAN 2022 | Understanding the earliest stages of multiple sclerosis
Xavier Montalban, MD, PhD, BA, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain, discusses recent developments in our understanding of radiologically isolated syndrome (RIS) and multiple sclerosis (MS) prodrome. Continued research into the earliest stages of the disease is challenging fundamental aspects of the classical diagnostic criteria of MS, including the concept of dissemination in time and that MS is a clinical disease. Henceforth, in the next revision of the McDonald criteria, some cases of RIS may be added into the category of MS. This interview took place at the American Academy of Neurology 2022 Congress in Seattle, WA.
Transcript (edited for clarity)
I think we are now in a very interesting time point in which we are considering fundamental aspects of the classical diagnostic criteria, and one of these fundamental aspects that we want to challenge is the concept of dissemination in time, which means RIS and also that MS is a clinical disease. Perhaps it’s not a clinical disease, it’s a disease that you can identify just by MRI means...
I think we are now in a very interesting time point in which we are considering fundamental aspects of the classical diagnostic criteria, and one of these fundamental aspects that we want to challenge is the concept of dissemination in time, which means RIS and also that MS is a clinical disease. Perhaps it’s not a clinical disease, it’s a disease that you can identify just by MRI means. Some of the cases with RIS, the most typical cases with RIS, I guess, that in the next revision of the McDonald’s criteria, perhaps will be incorporated into the category of MS. Because the earliest state you can identify a patient and treat them if necessary, right.
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Disclosures
Dr Montalban has received speaking honoraria and/or travel expenses for participation in scientific meetings, and/or has been a steering committee member of clinical trials and/or participated in advisory boards of clinical trials in the past years with Actelion, Alexion, Bayer, Biogen, Bristol-Myers Squibb/Celgene, EMD Serono, Genzyme, Hoffmann-La Roche, Immunic, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Medday, Merck, Mylan, Nervgen, Novartis, Sanofi-Genzyme, Teva Pharmaceutical, TG Therapeutics, Excemed, MSIF and NMSS.
