Multiple Sclerosis

Older men adapt more poorly to aging with multiple sclerosis (MS), compared with older women, according to research published in the July–August issue of International Journal of MS Care. Health and lifestyle behaviors may put older men with MS at greater risk of health decline, said the authors. Older women, however, appear to have more confidence in their ability to cope with challenges and control the course of their disease.

Healthy Aging With MS

Improved longevity in patients with MS has increased interest in understanding factors associated with healthy aging. Previous studies suggested that factors such as depression, disability, decreased levels of social support, and unemployment predict health-related quality of life in MS.

Two studies examining sex differences in health-related quality of life in young to middle-aged patients with MS found that the association between disability and health-related quality of life was stronger in men than in women. No studies, however, have examined sex differences in health perception among older people with MS, according to the authors.

Analysis of a Canadian Postal Survey

To determine whether older women and men with MS have different health and lifestyle behaviors and whether there are sex differences in contributors to perceived health, Dr. Ploughman and colleagues analyzed data from the Canadian Survey of Health, Lifestyle, and Aging With MS. This cross-sectional study included Canadians older than 55 who had had MS for at least 20 years. Of 921 people contacted, 743 (577 women) returned the mailed questionnaire.

The questionnaire asked about biologic factors (eg, comorbid conditions, years since MS diagnosis), symptoms (eg, depression, anxiety, fatigue, and stress), function (eg, disability and participation), and individual and environmental factors (eg, socioeconomic status, education, and social or health support). Researchers used multiple regression analysis to build explanatory models of health perception.

Older Men With MS Were Less Resilient

Investigators found no differences in disability between men and women, nor differences in age, years of education, or years since MS diagnosis. Older men had lower perceived health and lower resilience, and participated less in life roles than did older women.

In addition, men had more depressive symptoms, and women reported more anxiety. Women also reported higher adherence to a healthy diet (ie, one high in fruits and vegetables and low in meat). Men consumed more alcohol weekly.

Depression was the strongest predictor of health perception in women and men. Other contributors included household participation, fatigue, resilience, and disability in women and physical activity, financial flexibility, and alcohol use in men.

More research is necessary to examine healthy aging in the oldest people with MS, such as octogenarians, said the authors.

—Erica Tricarico

Suggested Reading

Ploughman M, Collins K, Wallack EM, et al. Women’s and men’s differing experiences of health, lifestyle, and aging with multiple sclerosis. Int J MS Care. 2017;19(4):165-171.

Older men adapt more poorly to aging with multiple sclerosis (MS), compared with older women, according to research published in the July–August issue of International Journal of MS Care. Health and lifestyle behaviors may put older men with MS at greater risk of health decline, said the authors. Older women, however, appear to have more confidence in their ability to cope with challenges and control the course of their disease.

Healthy Aging With MS

Improved longevity in patients with MS has increased interest in understanding factors associated with healthy aging. Previous studies suggested that factors such as depression, disability, decreased levels of social support, and unemployment predict health-related quality of life in MS.

Two studies examining sex differences in health-related quality of life in young to middle-aged patients with MS found that the association between disability and health-related quality of life was stronger in men than in women. No studies, however, have examined sex differences in health perception among older people with MS, according to the authors.

Analysis of a Canadian Postal Survey

To determine whether older women and men with MS have different health and lifestyle behaviors and whether there are sex differences in contributors to perceived health, Dr. Ploughman and colleagues analyzed data from the Canadian Survey of Health, Lifestyle, and Aging With MS. This cross-sectional study included Canadians older than 55 who had had MS for at least 20 years. Of 921 people contacted, 743 (577 women) returned the mailed questionnaire.

The questionnaire asked about biologic factors (eg, comorbid conditions, years since MS diagnosis), symptoms (eg, depression, anxiety, fatigue, and stress), function (eg, disability and participation), and individual and environmental factors (eg, socioeconomic status, education, and social or health support). Researchers used multiple regression analysis to build explanatory models of health perception.

Older Men With MS Were Less Resilient

Investigators found no differences in disability between men and women, nor differences in age, years of education, or years since MS diagnosis. Older men had lower perceived health and lower resilience, and participated less in life roles than did older women.

In addition, men had more depressive symptoms, and women reported more anxiety. Women also reported higher adherence to a healthy diet (ie, one high in fruits and vegetables and low in meat). Men consumed more alcohol weekly.

Depression was the strongest predictor of health perception in women and men. Other contributors included household participation, fatigue, resilience, and disability in women and physical activity, financial flexibility, and alcohol use in men.

More research is necessary to examine healthy aging in the oldest people with MS, such as octogenarians, said the authors.

—Erica Tricarico

Suggested Reading

Ploughman M, Collins K, Wallack EM, et al. Women’s and men’s differing experiences of health, lifestyle, and aging with multiple sclerosis. Int J MS Care. 2017;19(4):165-171.

Older men adapt more poorly to aging with multiple sclerosis (MS), compared with older women, according to research published in the July–August issue of International Journal of MS Care. Health and lifestyle behaviors may put older men with MS at greater risk of health decline, said the authors. Older women, however, appear to have more confidence in their ability to cope with challenges and control the course of their disease.

Healthy Aging With MS

Improved longevity in patients with MS has increased interest in understanding factors associated with healthy aging. Previous studies suggested that factors such as depression, disability, decreased levels of social support, and unemployment predict health-related quality of life in MS.

Two studies examining sex differences in health-related quality of life in young to middle-aged patients with MS found that the association between disability and health-related quality of life was stronger in men than in women. No studies, however, have examined sex differences in health perception among older people with MS, according to the authors.

Analysis of a Canadian Postal Survey

To determine whether older women and men with MS have different health and lifestyle behaviors and whether there are sex differences in contributors to perceived health, Dr. Ploughman and colleagues analyzed data from the Canadian Survey of Health, Lifestyle, and Aging With MS. This cross-sectional study included Canadians older than 55 who had had MS for at least 20 years. Of 921 people contacted, 743 (577 women) returned the mailed questionnaire.

The questionnaire asked about biologic factors (eg, comorbid conditions, years since MS diagnosis), symptoms (eg, depression, anxiety, fatigue, and stress), function (eg, disability and participation), and individual and environmental factors (eg, socioeconomic status, education, and social or health support). Researchers used multiple regression analysis to build explanatory models of health perception.

Older Men With MS Were Less Resilient

Investigators found no differences in disability between men and women, nor differences in age, years of education, or years since MS diagnosis. Older men had lower perceived health and lower resilience, and participated less in life roles than did older women.

In addition, men had more depressive symptoms, and women reported more anxiety. Women also reported higher adherence to a healthy diet (ie, one high in fruits and vegetables and low in meat). Men consumed more alcohol weekly.

Depression was the strongest predictor of health perception in women and men. Other contributors included household participation, fatigue, resilience, and disability in women and physical activity, financial flexibility, and alcohol use in men.

More research is necessary to examine healthy aging in the oldest people with MS, such as octogenarians, said the authors.

—Erica Tricarico

Suggested Reading

Ploughman M, Collins K, Wallack EM, et al. Women’s and men’s differing experiences of health, lifestyle, and aging with multiple sclerosis. Int J MS Care. 2017;19(4):165-171.

Urinary urgency with incontinence is associated with recurrent falls in people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) with mild to moderate disability, according to data published in the July–August issue of International Journal of MS Care. Urinary urgency with incontinence often responds to physical, behavioral, and pharmaceutical interventions, and neurologists should ask patients with MS about bladder symptoms and fall history, according to the authors.

Bladder dysfunction and falls are highly prevalent among people with MS, and bladder dysfunction is associated with falls in older adults. Studies of the association between bladder dysfunction and falls in people with MS, however, are limited and have produced mixed results. Jaime E. Zelaya, PhD, a doctoral student at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, and colleagues conducted a longitudinal observational cohort study to clarify the possible association between baseline urinary symptoms and future falls.

Participants Prospectively Recorded Falls

The investigators recruited participants from outpatient MS clinics in the Veterans Affairs Portland Health Care System, Oregon Health and Science University MS clinics, and the surrounding community. Eligible participants had a diagnosis of relapsing-remitting MS, mild to moderate MS-related disability, and no relapse within 30 days of baseline. Patients with another condition that affected their balance or gait were excluded from the study.

At baseline, Dr. Zelaya and colleagues asked participants whether they had urinary incontinence, urinary frequency, or urinary urgency. Participants then prospectively recorded their number of falls each day using fall calendars. They were asked to return their calendars to the investigators at the end of each month. The researchers defined four patient categories based on the number of falls during three months. Recurrent fallers fell two or more times, nonrecurrent fallers fell once or not at all, fallers had one fall or more, and nonfallers did not fall. The investigators analyzed the data using age, sex, and disability as potential confounders.

Most Patients Fell at Least Once

The final analysis included 51 participants (37 women). Mean age was 40, and median Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score was 3.0. In all, 15 participants (29%) were recurrent fallers, and 36 (71%) were nonrecurrent fallers. Furthermore, 32 (63%) participants were fallers, and 19 (37%) were nonfallers.

Urinary dysfunction was more prevalent in fallers and recurrent fallers than in nonrecurrent fallers or nonfallers. In the adjusted analyses, urinary urgency with incontinence was significantly associated with recurrent falls (odds ratio [OR], 57.57). The researchers did not find a significant association between urinary urgency without incontinence and recurrent falls, or between urinary frequency and recurrent falls. They also did not find significant associations between urinary urgency with incontinence, urinary urgency without incontinence, or urinary frequency and sustaining one or more falls.

The high prevalence of falls and bladder dysfunction in this population and previous studies “suggests that both falls and bladder dysfunction are common, early, and persistent symptoms in MS,” said the authors. The findings suggest that fall-prevention programs “should particularly be considered for reducing fall risk in recurrent fallers, and that such programs should include strategies for managing urinary urgency with incontinence,” they concluded.

—Erik Greb

Suggested Reading

Zelaya JE, Murchison C, Cameron M. Associations between bladder dysfunction and falls in people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. Int J MS Care. 2017;19(4):184-190.

Urinary urgency with incontinence is associated with recurrent falls in people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) with mild to moderate disability, according to data published in the July–August issue of International Journal of MS Care. Urinary urgency with incontinence often responds to physical, behavioral, and pharmaceutical interventions, and neurologists should ask patients with MS about bladder symptoms and fall history, according to the authors.

Bladder dysfunction and falls are highly prevalent among people with MS, and bladder dysfunction is associated with falls in older adults. Studies of the association between bladder dysfunction and falls in people with MS, however, are limited and have produced mixed results. Jaime E. Zelaya, PhD, a doctoral student at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, and colleagues conducted a longitudinal observational cohort study to clarify the possible association between baseline urinary symptoms and future falls.

Participants Prospectively Recorded Falls

The investigators recruited participants from outpatient MS clinics in the Veterans Affairs Portland Health Care System, Oregon Health and Science University MS clinics, and the surrounding community. Eligible participants had a diagnosis of relapsing-remitting MS, mild to moderate MS-related disability, and no relapse within 30 days of baseline. Patients with another condition that affected their balance or gait were excluded from the study.

At baseline, Dr. Zelaya and colleagues asked participants whether they had urinary incontinence, urinary frequency, or urinary urgency. Participants then prospectively recorded their number of falls each day using fall calendars. They were asked to return their calendars to the investigators at the end of each month. The researchers defined four patient categories based on the number of falls during three months. Recurrent fallers fell two or more times, nonrecurrent fallers fell once or not at all, fallers had one fall or more, and nonfallers did not fall. The investigators analyzed the data using age, sex, and disability as potential confounders.

Most Patients Fell at Least Once

The final analysis included 51 participants (37 women). Mean age was 40, and median Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score was 3.0. In all, 15 participants (29%) were recurrent fallers, and 36 (71%) were nonrecurrent fallers. Furthermore, 32 (63%) participants were fallers, and 19 (37%) were nonfallers.

Urinary dysfunction was more prevalent in fallers and recurrent fallers than in nonrecurrent fallers or nonfallers. In the adjusted analyses, urinary urgency with incontinence was significantly associated with recurrent falls (odds ratio [OR], 57.57). The researchers did not find a significant association between urinary urgency without incontinence and recurrent falls, or between urinary frequency and recurrent falls. They also did not find significant associations between urinary urgency with incontinence, urinary urgency without incontinence, or urinary frequency and sustaining one or more falls.

The high prevalence of falls and bladder dysfunction in this population and previous studies “suggests that both falls and bladder dysfunction are common, early, and persistent symptoms in MS,” said the authors. The findings suggest that fall-prevention programs “should particularly be considered for reducing fall risk in recurrent fallers, and that such programs should include strategies for managing urinary urgency with incontinence,” they concluded.

—Erik Greb

Suggested Reading

Zelaya JE, Murchison C, Cameron M. Associations between bladder dysfunction and falls in people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. Int J MS Care. 2017;19(4):184-190.

Urinary urgency with incontinence is associated with recurrent falls in people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) with mild to moderate disability, according to data published in the July–August issue of International Journal of MS Care. Urinary urgency with incontinence often responds to physical, behavioral, and pharmaceutical interventions, and neurologists should ask patients with MS about bladder symptoms and fall history, according to the authors.

Bladder dysfunction and falls are highly prevalent among people with MS, and bladder dysfunction is associated with falls in older adults. Studies of the association between bladder dysfunction and falls in people with MS, however, are limited and have produced mixed results. Jaime E. Zelaya, PhD, a doctoral student at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, and colleagues conducted a longitudinal observational cohort study to clarify the possible association between baseline urinary symptoms and future falls.

Participants Prospectively Recorded Falls

The investigators recruited participants from outpatient MS clinics in the Veterans Affairs Portland Health Care System, Oregon Health and Science University MS clinics, and the surrounding community. Eligible participants had a diagnosis of relapsing-remitting MS, mild to moderate MS-related disability, and no relapse within 30 days of baseline. Patients with another condition that affected their balance or gait were excluded from the study.

At baseline, Dr. Zelaya and colleagues asked participants whether they had urinary incontinence, urinary frequency, or urinary urgency. Participants then prospectively recorded their number of falls each day using fall calendars. They were asked to return their calendars to the investigators at the end of each month. The researchers defined four patient categories based on the number of falls during three months. Recurrent fallers fell two or more times, nonrecurrent fallers fell once or not at all, fallers had one fall or more, and nonfallers did not fall. The investigators analyzed the data using age, sex, and disability as potential confounders.

Most Patients Fell at Least Once

The final analysis included 51 participants (37 women). Mean age was 40, and median Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score was 3.0. In all, 15 participants (29%) were recurrent fallers, and 36 (71%) were nonrecurrent fallers. Furthermore, 32 (63%) participants were fallers, and 19 (37%) were nonfallers.

Urinary dysfunction was more prevalent in fallers and recurrent fallers than in nonrecurrent fallers or nonfallers. In the adjusted analyses, urinary urgency with incontinence was significantly associated with recurrent falls (odds ratio [OR], 57.57). The researchers did not find a significant association between urinary urgency without incontinence and recurrent falls, or between urinary frequency and recurrent falls. They also did not find significant associations between urinary urgency with incontinence, urinary urgency without incontinence, or urinary frequency and sustaining one or more falls.

The high prevalence of falls and bladder dysfunction in this population and previous studies “suggests that both falls and bladder dysfunction are common, early, and persistent symptoms in MS,” said the authors. The findings suggest that fall-prevention programs “should particularly be considered for reducing fall risk in recurrent fallers, and that such programs should include strategies for managing urinary urgency with incontinence,” they concluded.

—Erik Greb

Suggested Reading

Zelaya JE, Murchison C, Cameron M. Associations between bladder dysfunction and falls in people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. Int J MS Care. 2017;19(4):184-190.

Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) with an Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score between 4 and 6 have significantly slower times on the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test with the addition of a simple cognitive task, according to research published in the July–August issue of International Journal of MS Care. This reduction in performance “might have implications for a person’s more complex everyday activities,” the researchers said.

Patients with MS may develop cognitive impairment (eg, reduced processing speed or working memory), but standard cognitive assessments overlook how cognitive function affects mobility. To assess how the addition of a cognitive task affects mobility in patients with MS, George H. Kraft, MD, Emeritus Alvord Professor of MS Research at the University of Washington in Seattle, and colleagues conducted a study that included 52 adults with MS and 57 healthy controls. Participants had a mean age of about 47, and most were women.

The participants completed three versions of the TUG test: the standard test, the test plus reciting the alphabet, and the test plus subtracting from a number by threes. Times to complete the tests were compared between controls and three groups of participants with MS—those with an EDSS score of 0–3.5 (n = 26), those with an EDSS score of 4.0–5.5 (n = 11), and those with an EDSS score of 6 (n = 15).

Overall mean times for the four groups were 8.0, 8.2, 11.1, and 11.6 seconds, respectively. Controls did not differ from people with MS without mobility problems (ie, those with an EDSS score of 0–3.5), but did differ from the other two groups.

“Individuals with MS and no mobility problems have ... very little increase in time due to the addition of cognitive tasks to the TUG test. The two more severe groups perform similarly to each other, with a steeper increase in time to perform the test when the cognitive demand increases,” the researchers said. “Although we cannot automatically generalize the results to more complex everyday activities, such as walking or driving a car while talking on a cell phone, the reduction in performance is an important issue that should be discussed with the patient and his or her caregiver.”

—Jake Remaly

Suggested Reading

Ciol MA, Matsuda PN, Khurana SR, et al. Effect of cognitive demand on functional mobility in ambulatory individuals with multiple sclerosis. Int J MS Care. 2017;19(4):217-224.

Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) with an Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score between 4 and 6 have significantly slower times on the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test with the addition of a simple cognitive task, according to research published in the July–August issue of International Journal of MS Care. This reduction in performance “might have implications for a person’s more complex everyday activities,” the researchers said.

Patients with MS may develop cognitive impairment (eg, reduced processing speed or working memory), but standard cognitive assessments overlook how cognitive function affects mobility. To assess how the addition of a cognitive task affects mobility in patients with MS, George H. Kraft, MD, Emeritus Alvord Professor of MS Research at the University of Washington in Seattle, and colleagues conducted a study that included 52 adults with MS and 57 healthy controls. Participants had a mean age of about 47, and most were women.

The participants completed three versions of the TUG test: the standard test, the test plus reciting the alphabet, and the test plus subtracting from a number by threes. Times to complete the tests were compared between controls and three groups of participants with MS—those with an EDSS score of 0–3.5 (n = 26), those with an EDSS score of 4.0–5.5 (n = 11), and those with an EDSS score of 6 (n = 15).

Overall mean times for the four groups were 8.0, 8.2, 11.1, and 11.6 seconds, respectively. Controls did not differ from people with MS without mobility problems (ie, those with an EDSS score of 0–3.5), but did differ from the other two groups.

“Individuals with MS and no mobility problems have ... very little increase in time due to the addition of cognitive tasks to the TUG test. The two more severe groups perform similarly to each other, with a steeper increase in time to perform the test when the cognitive demand increases,” the researchers said. “Although we cannot automatically generalize the results to more complex everyday activities, such as walking or driving a car while talking on a cell phone, the reduction in performance is an important issue that should be discussed with the patient and his or her caregiver.”

—Jake Remaly

Suggested Reading

Ciol MA, Matsuda PN, Khurana SR, et al. Effect of cognitive demand on functional mobility in ambulatory individuals with multiple sclerosis. Int J MS Care. 2017;19(4):217-224.

Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) with an Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score between 4 and 6 have significantly slower times on the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test with the addition of a simple cognitive task, according to research published in the July–August issue of International Journal of MS Care. This reduction in performance “might have implications for a person’s more complex everyday activities,” the researchers said.

Patients with MS may develop cognitive impairment (eg, reduced processing speed or working memory), but standard cognitive assessments overlook how cognitive function affects mobility. To assess how the addition of a cognitive task affects mobility in patients with MS, George H. Kraft, MD, Emeritus Alvord Professor of MS Research at the University of Washington in Seattle, and colleagues conducted a study that included 52 adults with MS and 57 healthy controls. Participants had a mean age of about 47, and most were women.

The participants completed three versions of the TUG test: the standard test, the test plus reciting the alphabet, and the test plus subtracting from a number by threes. Times to complete the tests were compared between controls and three groups of participants with MS—those with an EDSS score of 0–3.5 (n = 26), those with an EDSS score of 4.0–5.5 (n = 11), and those with an EDSS score of 6 (n = 15).

Overall mean times for the four groups were 8.0, 8.2, 11.1, and 11.6 seconds, respectively. Controls did not differ from people with MS without mobility problems (ie, those with an EDSS score of 0–3.5), but did differ from the other two groups.

“Individuals with MS and no mobility problems have ... very little increase in time due to the addition of cognitive tasks to the TUG test. The two more severe groups perform similarly to each other, with a steeper increase in time to perform the test when the cognitive demand increases,” the researchers said. “Although we cannot automatically generalize the results to more complex everyday activities, such as walking or driving a car while talking on a cell phone, the reduction in performance is an important issue that should be discussed with the patient and his or her caregiver.”

—Jake Remaly

Suggested Reading

Ciol MA, Matsuda PN, Khurana SR, et al. Effect of cognitive demand on functional mobility in ambulatory individuals with multiple sclerosis. Int J MS Care. 2017;19(4):217-224.

Assessing fitness to drive a motor vehicle is an important part of clinical practice for multiple sclerosis, but MS and cognitive impairment alone don’t indicate that a patient will fail a formal road test. However, the results from a recent study indicate that one cognitive test may be able to predict the patients who would fail road tests though only with a high false-positive rate.

During 2015-2016, Sarah A. Morrow, MD, of Western University, London, Ont., and her coauthors recruited licensed drivers aged 18-59 who were diagnosed with MS. They had low physical disability (Expanded Disability Status Scale score of less than 4) but cognitive impairment in both processing speed and either memory or executive function. This set of requirements, along with the need for signed informed consent, yielded a smaller sample size (36) than the researchers’ goal, a possible weakness of the study, the investigators said (Mult Scler. 2017 Aug 7. doi: 10.1177/1352458517723991).

HUNG KUO CHUN/Thinkstock

dwatson@frontlinemedcom.com

Assessing fitness to drive a motor vehicle is an important part of clinical practice for multiple sclerosis, but MS and cognitive impairment alone don’t indicate that a patient will fail a formal road test. However, the results from a recent study indicate that one cognitive test may be able to predict the patients who would fail road tests though only with a high false-positive rate.

During 2015-2016, Sarah A. Morrow, MD, of Western University, London, Ont., and her coauthors recruited licensed drivers aged 18-59 who were diagnosed with MS. They had low physical disability (Expanded Disability Status Scale score of less than 4) but cognitive impairment in both processing speed and either memory or executive function. This set of requirements, along with the need for signed informed consent, yielded a smaller sample size (36) than the researchers’ goal, a possible weakness of the study, the investigators said (Mult Scler. 2017 Aug 7. doi: 10.1177/1352458517723991).

HUNG KUO CHUN/Thinkstock

dwatson@frontlinemedcom.com

Assessing fitness to drive a motor vehicle is an important part of clinical practice for multiple sclerosis, but MS and cognitive impairment alone don’t indicate that a patient will fail a formal road test. However, the results from a recent study indicate that one cognitive test may be able to predict the patients who would fail road tests though only with a high false-positive rate.

During 2015-2016, Sarah A. Morrow, MD, of Western University, London, Ont., and her coauthors recruited licensed drivers aged 18-59 who were diagnosed with MS. They had low physical disability (Expanded Disability Status Scale score of less than 4) but cognitive impairment in both processing speed and either memory or executive function. This set of requirements, along with the need for signed informed consent, yielded a smaller sample size (36) than the researchers’ goal, a possible weakness of the study, the investigators said (Mult Scler. 2017 Aug 7. doi: 10.1177/1352458517723991).

HUNG KUO CHUN/Thinkstock

dwatson@frontlinemedcom.com

NEW ORLEANS—Tolerance of risk related to current disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) on the part of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) varies widely, according to results from a large national survey presented at the 31st Annual Meeting of the Consortium of MS Centers.

“We have therapies available with a wide range of risks,” said Sneha Natarajan, PhD, a research coordinator at the Mellen Center for MS Treatment and Research at the Cleveland Clinic. “Some of the risks are relatively minor, like injection-site reactions or flu-like symptoms, and some are as bad as progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy [PML], which can be fatal. We do not know what kind of risks people tolerate.”

To address these questions, Dr. Natarajan and colleagues conducted a survey of participants in the North American Research Committee on MS Registry and visitors to the National MS Society website who reported having MS. The benefit of a hypothetical oral DMT was set at 50% reduction in clinical relapses and 30% reduction in disability progression. The researchers chose six risk scenarios to evaluate tolerance to the following six risks: infection, skin rash, kidney injury, thyroid injury, liver injury, and PML. Starting from a risk tolerance of 1:1,000, the risk was adjusted to identify the highest risk tolerated, ranging from “would take regardless of the risk of death” to “no acceptable risk.”

Dr. Natarajan and colleagues reported results from 3,371 survey respondents. The mean age was 55, 93% of participants were white, 61% of participants had relapsing-remitting MS, and 53% of participants were currently taking a DMT. Overall, respondents reported the highest risk tolerance for infection or thyroid risks (1:1,000 for both) and lowest risk tolerance for PML and kidney injury (1:1,000,000 for both). Males reported a higher risk tolerance to all six risks. Females reported a risk tolerance to skin rash that was similar to that of kidney injury and PML.

“There is a pattern to the risks that our patients accept,” Dr. Natarajan said. “I do not think a doctor would not recommend a therapy benefit because of a skin rash [risk], but he may need to address the concerns of the patient up front and have a talk with the patient.”

Researchers also found that current DMT users expressed increased risk tolerance for all outcomes, compared with those not using any DMT. Respondents who were older, those who were more disabled, and those taking infusion therapies also reported higher risk tolerance.

The National MS Society funded this study. Dr. Natarajan reported having no financial disclosures.

—Doug Brunk

NEW ORLEANS—Tolerance of risk related to current disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) on the part of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) varies widely, according to results from a large national survey presented at the 31st Annual Meeting of the Consortium of MS Centers.

“We have therapies available with a wide range of risks,” said Sneha Natarajan, PhD, a research coordinator at the Mellen Center for MS Treatment and Research at the Cleveland Clinic. “Some of the risks are relatively minor, like injection-site reactions or flu-like symptoms, and some are as bad as progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy [PML], which can be fatal. We do not know what kind of risks people tolerate.”

To address these questions, Dr. Natarajan and colleagues conducted a survey of participants in the North American Research Committee on MS Registry and visitors to the National MS Society website who reported having MS. The benefit of a hypothetical oral DMT was set at 50% reduction in clinical relapses and 30% reduction in disability progression. The researchers chose six risk scenarios to evaluate tolerance to the following six risks: infection, skin rash, kidney injury, thyroid injury, liver injury, and PML. Starting from a risk tolerance of 1:1,000, the risk was adjusted to identify the highest risk tolerated, ranging from “would take regardless of the risk of death” to “no acceptable risk.”

Dr. Natarajan and colleagues reported results from 3,371 survey respondents. The mean age was 55, 93% of participants were white, 61% of participants had relapsing-remitting MS, and 53% of participants were currently taking a DMT. Overall, respondents reported the highest risk tolerance for infection or thyroid risks (1:1,000 for both) and lowest risk tolerance for PML and kidney injury (1:1,000,000 for both). Males reported a higher risk tolerance to all six risks. Females reported a risk tolerance to skin rash that was similar to that of kidney injury and PML.

“There is a pattern to the risks that our patients accept,” Dr. Natarajan said. “I do not think a doctor would not recommend a therapy benefit because of a skin rash [risk], but he may need to address the concerns of the patient up front and have a talk with the patient.”

Researchers also found that current DMT users expressed increased risk tolerance for all outcomes, compared with those not using any DMT. Respondents who were older, those who were more disabled, and those taking infusion therapies also reported higher risk tolerance.

The National MS Society funded this study. Dr. Natarajan reported having no financial disclosures.

—Doug Brunk

NEW ORLEANS—Tolerance of risk related to current disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) on the part of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) varies widely, according to results from a large national survey presented at the 31st Annual Meeting of the Consortium of MS Centers.

“We have therapies available with a wide range of risks,” said Sneha Natarajan, PhD, a research coordinator at the Mellen Center for MS Treatment and Research at the Cleveland Clinic. “Some of the risks are relatively minor, like injection-site reactions or flu-like symptoms, and some are as bad as progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy [PML], which can be fatal. We do not know what kind of risks people tolerate.”

To address these questions, Dr. Natarajan and colleagues conducted a survey of participants in the North American Research Committee on MS Registry and visitors to the National MS Society website who reported having MS. The benefit of a hypothetical oral DMT was set at 50% reduction in clinical relapses and 30% reduction in disability progression. The researchers chose six risk scenarios to evaluate tolerance to the following six risks: infection, skin rash, kidney injury, thyroid injury, liver injury, and PML. Starting from a risk tolerance of 1:1,000, the risk was adjusted to identify the highest risk tolerated, ranging from “would take regardless of the risk of death” to “no acceptable risk.”

Dr. Natarajan and colleagues reported results from 3,371 survey respondents. The mean age was 55, 93% of participants were white, 61% of participants had relapsing-remitting MS, and 53% of participants were currently taking a DMT. Overall, respondents reported the highest risk tolerance for infection or thyroid risks (1:1,000 for both) and lowest risk tolerance for PML and kidney injury (1:1,000,000 for both). Males reported a higher risk tolerance to all six risks. Females reported a risk tolerance to skin rash that was similar to that of kidney injury and PML.

“There is a pattern to the risks that our patients accept,” Dr. Natarajan said. “I do not think a doctor would not recommend a therapy benefit because of a skin rash [risk], but he may need to address the concerns of the patient up front and have a talk with the patient.”

Researchers also found that current DMT users expressed increased risk tolerance for all outcomes, compared with those not using any DMT. Respondents who were older, those who were more disabled, and those taking infusion therapies also reported higher risk tolerance.

The National MS Society funded this study. Dr. Natarajan reported having no financial disclosures.

—Doug Brunk

BOSTON—At Island Neurological Associates in Plainview, New York, researchers uncovered a prevalence of chronic migraine among their population of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) that was higher than would be expected in the general population. They reported their results at the 59th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Headache Society. “Since migraine as a whole is generally accepted to occur in about 12% of the population, it appears that our MS patient prevalence of 21% significantly exceeds this [prevalence],” said Ira Turner, MD, a headache subspecialist at the Long Island facility. Similarly, “chronic migraine is thought to occur in 1% to 2% of the general population, but [it occurs] in 7% of our MS population,” Dr. Turner said.

Observing that MS and migraine are both chronic neurologic conditions in which inflammatory processes play an important role, Dr. Turner and colleagues sought evidence for increased migraine prevalence in the MS population. “Anecdotally, it has been our experience that there is a comorbidity of headache disorders in our MS patient population,” Dr. Turner said.

The investigators conducted a retrospective review of the electronic medical record (EMR) system at their community-based Comprehensive MS Center and Center for Headache Care and Research. They reviewed the EMR for all patients with a diagnosis of any form of MS. The EMR was then queried to determine which of the patients with MS had any headache diagnosis listed as a comorbidity. Those headache diagnoses were then reviewed and separated into those that met ICHD-3 beta criteria for chronic migraine, episodic migraine with aura, episodic migraine without aura, episodic cluster headache, chronic cluster headache, tension-type headache, or a nonspecific diagnosis of headache.

The researchers found 610 active patients with a diagnosis of MS. Of these, 139 (23%) also had a headache diagnosis listed in the EMR as a comorbidity. Migraine without aura was coded in 62 patients (10%), migraine with aura in 26 (4%), and chronic migraine in 45 (7%). Combining these diagnoses yielded a prevalence of comorbid migraine of 21% in the MS population studied. Episodic cluster headache was diagnosed in one patient, tension-type headache in two patients, and nonspecific headache in four patients. The prevalence of these three diagnoses was less than 1% each.

“While there is a potential bias caused by our practice having both an MS center and a headache center, this increased prevalence seems to be of great interest and would appear to warrant further investigation,” Dr. Turner said.

—Glenn S. Williams

BOSTON—At Island Neurological Associates in Plainview, New York, researchers uncovered a prevalence of chronic migraine among their population of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) that was higher than would be expected in the general population. They reported their results at the 59th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Headache Society. “Since migraine as a whole is generally accepted to occur in about 12% of the population, it appears that our MS patient prevalence of 21% significantly exceeds this [prevalence],” said Ira Turner, MD, a headache subspecialist at the Long Island facility. Similarly, “chronic migraine is thought to occur in 1% to 2% of the general population, but [it occurs] in 7% of our MS population,” Dr. Turner said.

Observing that MS and migraine are both chronic neurologic conditions in which inflammatory processes play an important role, Dr. Turner and colleagues sought evidence for increased migraine prevalence in the MS population. “Anecdotally, it has been our experience that there is a comorbidity of headache disorders in our MS patient population,” Dr. Turner said.

The investigators conducted a retrospective review of the electronic medical record (EMR) system at their community-based Comprehensive MS Center and Center for Headache Care and Research. They reviewed the EMR for all patients with a diagnosis of any form of MS. The EMR was then queried to determine which of the patients with MS had any headache diagnosis listed as a comorbidity. Those headache diagnoses were then reviewed and separated into those that met ICHD-3 beta criteria for chronic migraine, episodic migraine with aura, episodic migraine without aura, episodic cluster headache, chronic cluster headache, tension-type headache, or a nonspecific diagnosis of headache.

The researchers found 610 active patients with a diagnosis of MS. Of these, 139 (23%) also had a headache diagnosis listed in the EMR as a comorbidity. Migraine without aura was coded in 62 patients (10%), migraine with aura in 26 (4%), and chronic migraine in 45 (7%). Combining these diagnoses yielded a prevalence of comorbid migraine of 21% in the MS population studied. Episodic cluster headache was diagnosed in one patient, tension-type headache in two patients, and nonspecific headache in four patients. The prevalence of these three diagnoses was less than 1% each.

“While there is a potential bias caused by our practice having both an MS center and a headache center, this increased prevalence seems to be of great interest and would appear to warrant further investigation,” Dr. Turner said.

—Glenn S. Williams

BOSTON—At Island Neurological Associates in Plainview, New York, researchers uncovered a prevalence of chronic migraine among their population of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) that was higher than would be expected in the general population. They reported their results at the 59th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Headache Society. “Since migraine as a whole is generally accepted to occur in about 12% of the population, it appears that our MS patient prevalence of 21% significantly exceeds this [prevalence],” said Ira Turner, MD, a headache subspecialist at the Long Island facility. Similarly, “chronic migraine is thought to occur in 1% to 2% of the general population, but [it occurs] in 7% of our MS population,” Dr. Turner said.

Observing that MS and migraine are both chronic neurologic conditions in which inflammatory processes play an important role, Dr. Turner and colleagues sought evidence for increased migraine prevalence in the MS population. “Anecdotally, it has been our experience that there is a comorbidity of headache disorders in our MS patient population,” Dr. Turner said.

The investigators conducted a retrospective review of the electronic medical record (EMR) system at their community-based Comprehensive MS Center and Center for Headache Care and Research. They reviewed the EMR for all patients with a diagnosis of any form of MS. The EMR was then queried to determine which of the patients with MS had any headache diagnosis listed as a comorbidity. Those headache diagnoses were then reviewed and separated into those that met ICHD-3 beta criteria for chronic migraine, episodic migraine with aura, episodic migraine without aura, episodic cluster headache, chronic cluster headache, tension-type headache, or a nonspecific diagnosis of headache.

The researchers found 610 active patients with a diagnosis of MS. Of these, 139 (23%) also had a headache diagnosis listed in the EMR as a comorbidity. Migraine without aura was coded in 62 patients (10%), migraine with aura in 26 (4%), and chronic migraine in 45 (7%). Combining these diagnoses yielded a prevalence of comorbid migraine of 21% in the MS population studied. Episodic cluster headache was diagnosed in one patient, tension-type headache in two patients, and nonspecific headache in four patients. The prevalence of these three diagnoses was less than 1% each.

“While there is a potential bias caused by our practice having both an MS center and a headache center, this increased prevalence seems to be of great interest and would appear to warrant further investigation,” Dr. Turner said.

—Glenn S. Williams

NEW ORLEANS—In a population of women with multiple sclerosis (MS) and a live birth, the rate of disease-modifying drug treatment decreased before and during pregnancy and increased steadily post partum, according to a report presented at the 31st Annual Meeting of the Consortium of MS Centers. In a separate analysis by the same researchers, they reported that less than one-third of women with MS and a live birth initiated a disease-modifying treatment within one year after delivery. “The rate of disease-modifying drug initiation increased with the number of relapses the patient experienced prior to pregnancy,” said Maria K. Houtchens, MD, on behalf of her research collaborators. Dr. Houtchens is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurology at Harvard Medical School and Director of the Women’s Health Program at the Partners MS Center at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.

Treatment Before, During, and After Pregnancy

To evaluate treatment patterns before, during, and after pregnancy in women with MS and a live birth, Dr. Houtchens and colleagues used a US administrative claims database to conduct a retrospective analysis of women ages 18 to 65 with MS, a claim indicative of a live birth, and one-year continuous eligibility before and after pregnancy in the IMS Health Real World Data Adjudicated Claims US database from January 1, 2006, to June 30, 2015. Disease-modifying drug treatment was evaluated during the year prior to pregnancy (at three-month intervals), the three trimesters of pregnancy, puerperium (six weeks post pregnancy), and one year post pregnancy (seven to 12 weeks post pregnancy and three to six, six to nine, and nine to 12 months post pregnancy). The researchers evaluated the proportion of women exposed to disease-modifying drug treatment during the 12 time periods. Results were also stratified by the number of relapses women experienced in the year prior to pregnancy.

Of 190,475 women with MS, 2,158 met eligibility criteria. Mean age was 30.26. Most women had commercial health insurance (98%) and were from the Midwest (32%), South (30%), or Northeast (29%) regions of the US.

The proportion of women with MS and a live birth treated with any disease-modifying drug was 20.48% at nine to 12 months pre-pregnancy, 21.46% at six to nine months pre-pregnancy, 20.62% at three to six months pre-pregnancy, and 17.75% at three months pre-pregnancy. During pregnancy, the proportion of women treated with a disease-modifying drug decreased to 12.05% during the first trimester and 1.90% during the second trimester, and then increased slightly to 2.97% during the third trimester. The proportion of women treated with disease-modifying drugs increased to 8.34% during puerperium, 12.93% during seven to 12 weeks post partum, 21.97% during three to six months post partum, 24.47% during six to nine months post partum, and 25.49% during nine to 12 months post partum. The majority of women (81.9%) had received disease-modifying drug treatment by six to nine months post partum. The proportion of women with disease-modifying drug treatment before and after pregnancy increased numerically with the number of relapses experienced before pregnancy.

Treatment After a Live Birth

In a separate analysis using the same cohort, Dr. Houtchens and colleagues looked closer at the time to initiation of disease-modifying drug treatment after a live birth in women with MS. Of the 2,094 women included in this analysis, the proportion with a live birth initiating a disease-modifying drug treatment within one year was 28.46%, and the proportion with no disease-modifying treatment within one year was 71.54%.

For those initiating a disease-modifying treatment within one year, mean time from live birth to first treatment was 118.98 days, and median time to first treatment was 93.50 days. A total of 16.11% received a disease-modifying drug less than 30 days after live birth, approximately half initiated a treatment within 90 days (47.82%), and three-quarters initiated a disease-modifying drug within six months (75.5%). The proportion of patients initiating treatment within one year after live birth increased with higher numbers of pre-pregnancy relapses (zero relapses, n = 441, 24.53%; one relapse, n = 108, 50.94%; two relapses, n = 33, 54.10%; three or more relapses, n = 14, 60.87%). The mean number of days until disease-modifying drug initiation for those receiving treatment within one year who had zero pre-pregnancy relapses was 123.57 (median, 99); one relapse, 107.95 (median, 80); two relapses, 120.76 (median, 98); and three or more relapses, 55.57 (median, 49.5). Patients who received disease-modifying drug treatment one year pre-pregnancy were more likely to receive treatment within one year after delivery, compared with patients without exposure to treatment in the year before pregnancy (72.58% vs 12.44%).

This study was supported by EMD Serono.

NEW ORLEANS—In a population of women with multiple sclerosis (MS) and a live birth, the rate of disease-modifying drug treatment decreased before and during pregnancy and increased steadily post partum, according to a report presented at the 31st Annual Meeting of the Consortium of MS Centers. In a separate analysis by the same researchers, they reported that less than one-third of women with MS and a live birth initiated a disease-modifying treatment within one year after delivery. “The rate of disease-modifying drug initiation increased with the number of relapses the patient experienced prior to pregnancy,” said Maria K. Houtchens, MD, on behalf of her research collaborators. Dr. Houtchens is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurology at Harvard Medical School and Director of the Women’s Health Program at the Partners MS Center at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.

Treatment Before, During, and After Pregnancy

To evaluate treatment patterns before, during, and after pregnancy in women with MS and a live birth, Dr. Houtchens and colleagues used a US administrative claims database to conduct a retrospective analysis of women ages 18 to 65 with MS, a claim indicative of a live birth, and one-year continuous eligibility before and after pregnancy in the IMS Health Real World Data Adjudicated Claims US database from January 1, 2006, to June 30, 2015. Disease-modifying drug treatment was evaluated during the year prior to pregnancy (at three-month intervals), the three trimesters of pregnancy, puerperium (six weeks post pregnancy), and one year post pregnancy (seven to 12 weeks post pregnancy and three to six, six to nine, and nine to 12 months post pregnancy). The researchers evaluated the proportion of women exposed to disease-modifying drug treatment during the 12 time periods. Results were also stratified by the number of relapses women experienced in the year prior to pregnancy.

Of 190,475 women with MS, 2,158 met eligibility criteria. Mean age was 30.26. Most women had commercial health insurance (98%) and were from the Midwest (32%), South (30%), or Northeast (29%) regions of the US.

The proportion of women with MS and a live birth treated with any disease-modifying drug was 20.48% at nine to 12 months pre-pregnancy, 21.46% at six to nine months pre-pregnancy, 20.62% at three to six months pre-pregnancy, and 17.75% at three months pre-pregnancy. During pregnancy, the proportion of women treated with a disease-modifying drug decreased to 12.05% during the first trimester and 1.90% during the second trimester, and then increased slightly to 2.97% during the third trimester. The proportion of women treated with disease-modifying drugs increased to 8.34% during puerperium, 12.93% during seven to 12 weeks post partum, 21.97% during three to six months post partum, 24.47% during six to nine months post partum, and 25.49% during nine to 12 months post partum. The majority of women (81.9%) had received disease-modifying drug treatment by six to nine months post partum. The proportion of women with disease-modifying drug treatment before and after pregnancy increased numerically with the number of relapses experienced before pregnancy.

Treatment After a Live Birth

In a separate analysis using the same cohort, Dr. Houtchens and colleagues looked closer at the time to initiation of disease-modifying drug treatment after a live birth in women with MS. Of the 2,094 women included in this analysis, the proportion with a live birth initiating a disease-modifying drug treatment within one year was 28.46%, and the proportion with no disease-modifying treatment within one year was 71.54%.

For those initiating a disease-modifying treatment within one year, mean time from live birth to first treatment was 118.98 days, and median time to first treatment was 93.50 days. A total of 16.11% received a disease-modifying drug less than 30 days after live birth, approximately half initiated a treatment within 90 days (47.82%), and three-quarters initiated a disease-modifying drug within six months (75.5%). The proportion of patients initiating treatment within one year after live birth increased with higher numbers of pre-pregnancy relapses (zero relapses, n = 441, 24.53%; one relapse, n = 108, 50.94%; two relapses, n = 33, 54.10%; three or more relapses, n = 14, 60.87%). The mean number of days until disease-modifying drug initiation for those receiving treatment within one year who had zero pre-pregnancy relapses was 123.57 (median, 99); one relapse, 107.95 (median, 80); two relapses, 120.76 (median, 98); and three or more relapses, 55.57 (median, 49.5). Patients who received disease-modifying drug treatment one year pre-pregnancy were more likely to receive treatment within one year after delivery, compared with patients without exposure to treatment in the year before pregnancy (72.58% vs 12.44%).

This study was supported by EMD Serono.

NEW ORLEANS—In a population of women with multiple sclerosis (MS) and a live birth, the rate of disease-modifying drug treatment decreased before and during pregnancy and increased steadily post partum, according to a report presented at the 31st Annual Meeting of the Consortium of MS Centers. In a separate analysis by the same researchers, they reported that less than one-third of women with MS and a live birth initiated a disease-modifying treatment within one year after delivery. “The rate of disease-modifying drug initiation increased with the number of relapses the patient experienced prior to pregnancy,” said Maria K. Houtchens, MD, on behalf of her research collaborators. Dr. Houtchens is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurology at Harvard Medical School and Director of the Women’s Health Program at the Partners MS Center at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.

Treatment Before, During, and After Pregnancy

To evaluate treatment patterns before, during, and after pregnancy in women with MS and a live birth, Dr. Houtchens and colleagues used a US administrative claims database to conduct a retrospective analysis of women ages 18 to 65 with MS, a claim indicative of a live birth, and one-year continuous eligibility before and after pregnancy in the IMS Health Real World Data Adjudicated Claims US database from January 1, 2006, to June 30, 2015. Disease-modifying drug treatment was evaluated during the year prior to pregnancy (at three-month intervals), the three trimesters of pregnancy, puerperium (six weeks post pregnancy), and one year post pregnancy (seven to 12 weeks post pregnancy and three to six, six to nine, and nine to 12 months post pregnancy). The researchers evaluated the proportion of women exposed to disease-modifying drug treatment during the 12 time periods. Results were also stratified by the number of relapses women experienced in the year prior to pregnancy.

Of 190,475 women with MS, 2,158 met eligibility criteria. Mean age was 30.26. Most women had commercial health insurance (98%) and were from the Midwest (32%), South (30%), or Northeast (29%) regions of the US.

The proportion of women with MS and a live birth treated with any disease-modifying drug was 20.48% at nine to 12 months pre-pregnancy, 21.46% at six to nine months pre-pregnancy, 20.62% at three to six months pre-pregnancy, and 17.75% at three months pre-pregnancy. During pregnancy, the proportion of women treated with a disease-modifying drug decreased to 12.05% during the first trimester and 1.90% during the second trimester, and then increased slightly to 2.97% during the third trimester. The proportion of women treated with disease-modifying drugs increased to 8.34% during puerperium, 12.93% during seven to 12 weeks post partum, 21.97% during three to six months post partum, 24.47% during six to nine months post partum, and 25.49% during nine to 12 months post partum. The majority of women (81.9%) had received disease-modifying drug treatment by six to nine months post partum. The proportion of women with disease-modifying drug treatment before and after pregnancy increased numerically with the number of relapses experienced before pregnancy.

Treatment After a Live Birth

In a separate analysis using the same cohort, Dr. Houtchens and colleagues looked closer at the time to initiation of disease-modifying drug treatment after a live birth in women with MS. Of the 2,094 women included in this analysis, the proportion with a live birth initiating a disease-modifying drug treatment within one year was 28.46%, and the proportion with no disease-modifying treatment within one year was 71.54%.

For those initiating a disease-modifying treatment within one year, mean time from live birth to first treatment was 118.98 days, and median time to first treatment was 93.50 days. A total of 16.11% received a disease-modifying drug less than 30 days after live birth, approximately half initiated a treatment within 90 days (47.82%), and three-quarters initiated a disease-modifying drug within six months (75.5%). The proportion of patients initiating treatment within one year after live birth increased with higher numbers of pre-pregnancy relapses (zero relapses, n = 441, 24.53%; one relapse, n = 108, 50.94%; two relapses, n = 33, 54.10%; three or more relapses, n = 14, 60.87%). The mean number of days until disease-modifying drug initiation for those receiving treatment within one year who had zero pre-pregnancy relapses was 123.57 (median, 99); one relapse, 107.95 (median, 80); two relapses, 120.76 (median, 98); and three or more relapses, 55.57 (median, 49.5). Patients who received disease-modifying drug treatment one year pre-pregnancy were more likely to receive treatment within one year after delivery, compared with patients without exposure to treatment in the year before pregnancy (72.58% vs 12.44%).

This study was supported by EMD Serono.