A simple blood test could revolutionize the care of multiple sclerosis patients and prevent disability, new research suggests.
The study found that markers in the blood can predict how the disease will develop and which drugs will be effective.
Multiple sclerosis is a debilitating disease that affects the brain and spinal cord and causes problems with movement, memory loss and fatigue.
There are two main types of MS: relapsing MS, in which symptoms come and go for periods of time, and primary progressive, in which there are no periods of remission and the symptoms get worse and worse, leaving sufferers disabled.
Many patients with relapsing remitting MS develop a primary progressive form.
There is no cure, but some treatments can slow progression and relieve symptoms, so offering the right drugs at the right time is key to keeping patients well for as long as possible.
The researchers found that patients with high levels of a protein that indicates nerve damage were 45 percent more likely to relapse. They show significant benefit from more specialized drugs.
The findings, presented at the European Committee for the Treatment and Research of Multiple Sclerosis this week in Copenhagen, could benefit the 130,000 people living with MS in the UK and the nearly 7,000 people who are diagnosed each year.
The results of this study highlight the urgent need for personalized treatment approaches, says Dr. Enrique Monreal, an MS specialist in Madrid and author of the study.
'By measuring levels at the onset of the disease, we gain valuable information about the pathways of MS progression, allowing doctors to identify the optimal patients for specific drugs. The aim of this approach is to avoid unnecessary risks associated with treatment. | BGNES
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