Author Of 1 Presentation
PS09.03 - Predictive biomarkers of the development of autoimmunity in patients treated with alemtuzumab
Abstract
Background
Alemtuzumab has proven to be an effective treatment for patients with highly active multiple sclerosis (MS). However, its use has been limited by adverse events (AEs) as secondary autoimmunity, being the most frequent those involving the thyroid gland, observed in around 40% of patients.
Objectives
To explore whether patient blood lymphocyte profile before alemtuzumab treatment initiation can identify patients with an increased risk of developing later autoimmunity.
Methods
A multicentre prospective longitudinal study was performed, including fifty‐four Relapsing-Remitting MS (RRMS) patients diagnosed in five Spanish hospitals. Patient blood samples were collected before initiating treatment with alemtuzumab. Autoimmune AEs were defined as the development, at any point within 2 years of follow-up, of any autoimmune thyroid-associated event, immune thrombocytopenia and/or autoimmune nephropathy. Differences were assessed using Man-Whitney U tests. Cut-off values were established using ROC curves to predict autoimmune AEs. Odds ratios were calculated by Fisher tests.
Results
Fifty‐four RRMS patients, 36 (66.7%) women, with a median (range) age of 28 (13–67) years and median (range) follow-up of 6 (0-20) years. Fourteen patients (25.9%) experienced autoimmune AEs, and all of them were dysthyroidism. No immune thrombocytopenia or nephropathies were observed. No statistical differences were found in clinical and demographic characteristics between patients who developed autoimmune AEs and those who did not. Patients who experienced autoimmune AEs before treatment onset had a higher percentage of blood CD19+ B cells (p=0.001), with a higher relative percentage of naïve B cells and plasmablasts. When explored total cell numbers, only plasmablast levels remained significant (p=0.02). A lower risk of autoimmune AEs after alemtuzumab was observed among patients with less than 7.6% of blood CD19+ B cells [odds ratio (OR) 16, confidence interval (CI) 3.86–58.95, p<0.0001] or less than 0.13% of plasmablast cells [OR 9.33, CI 2.17–42.65, p=0.002].
Conclusions
A low percentages of blood CD19+ B cells or plasmablasts before Alemtuzumab treatment predicted a lower risk of autoimmune AEs.
Author Of 7 Presentations
P0066 - Dimethyl fumarate decreases serum neurofilament light chain in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients. (ID 924)
Abstract
Background
Serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL) levels are associated with disease activity and prognosis in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients. Treatment with second-line disease modifying therapies (DMTs) leads to a reduction of sNfL, but little is known regarding first-line DMTs as dimethyl fumarate (DMF).
Objectives
To explore changes of sNfL levels in RRMS patients during treatment with DMF. To evaluate the potential role of sNfL measurement to predict an optimal treatment response.
Methods
Blood samples from 64 consecutive RRMS patients initiating DMF at Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal were collected at baseline and at 3, 6 and 12 months thereafter. sNfL levels were measured using a sensitive Single Molecular Array (SIMOA) assay (Quanterix). Patients were classified into No Evidence of Disease Activity (NEDA) and Ongoing Disease Activity (ODA) according the presence/absence of relapses, EDSS progression and/or MRI activity during the first year.
Results
Age at treatment initiation was 40.6 [33.2-46.3] years (median [25-75%IQR]) and EDSS was 1.5 [1.5-2.5]. Forty eight (75%) patients received other previous DMTs, seven of them were second-line DMTs. 66% of patients had evidence of disease activity at DMF initiation. Baseline sNfL levels were higher in patients who had evidence of disease activity at that time compared with patients who had not (12.2 pg/ml Vs. 8.8 pg/ml, p=0.024). No differences were found in baseline sNfL levels between naïve and previously treated patients, or between patients treated with first and second line DMTs. After 12 months of DMF treatment, 44 (69%) patients were NEDA and 20 (31%) were ODA. Baseline sNfL levels were higher in ODA patients compared to NEDA patients (14.6 pg/ml Vs. 9.2 pg/ml, p=0.016). A cut-off value of 12 pg/ml was established to predict NEDA status (OR=4.7; 95%CI: 1.6–15.7; p=0.008). After one year of DMF, sNfL levels decreased by 34.4% (p<0.0001). Both NEDA and ODA patients experienced a progressive sNfL reduction during the first year of treatment. However, this reduction was observed earlier in NEDA patients (three months after DMF initiation) than in ODA patients (six months).
Conclusions
DMF induced a progressive decrease in sNfL concentration during the first year of treatment. This reduction was delayed in ODA patients. Patients with basal sNFL values ≤ 12 pg/ml showed increased probability to achieve NEDA status at 12 months.
P0172 - The prognostic value of lipid-specific IgM oligoclonal bands versus IgM index in patients with a clinical isolated syndrome: a comparative study. (ID 1114)
Abstract
Background
The value of intrathecal IgM synthesis (ITMS) is increasingly recognized as a prognostic biomarker in patients with a clinically isolated syndrome (CIS). However, no comparative studies between different methods to assess ITMS have been described previously evaluating the prognosis of patients with CIS.
Objectives
To compare the predictive value of IgM Reibergram (IR) and the presence of lipid-specific IgM oligoclonal bands (LS-OCMB) in CSF to predict conversion to clinically defined multiple sclerosis (CDMS), and the onset of EDSS of 3, 6 and a secondary progressive MS (SPMS).
Methods
An observational single-center study with CIS patients with at least 2 years of follow-up attended at Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal was performed. Demographics, clinical, radiological and immunological variables were collected.
Results
196 patients were included, 131 (66.8%) women, with a median (range) age of 31 (12–63) years and mean (SD) follow-up of 13.2 (±7.0) years. Overall, positive LS-OCMB was observed in 52 (26.5%) patients and IR in 32/193 (16.6%), reaching a concordance of 59.4% between both. The risk of CDMS was significantly higher exclusively among LS-OCMB (adjusted HR 1.80 (95%CI 1.24-2.62), p=0.002), but not for IR. In addition, LS-OCMB predicted a higher risk of reaching an EDSS of 3 (OR 1.97, p=0.044), an EDSS of 6 (OR 3.82, p=0.001) and a SPMS (OR 2.67, p=0.013) among MS patients. No significant differences were observed with IR.
Conclusions
LS-OCMB are a more sensitive and reliable CSF biomarker to predict the natural history of CIS patients compare to semi-quantitative IR.
P0324 - Effect of ocrelizumab treatment in peripheral blood leukocyte subsets of Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis patients (ID 1613)
- J. Fernandez-Velasco
- J. Kuhle
- E. Monreal
- V. Meca-Lallana
- J. Meca-Lallana
- G. Izquierdo
- F. Gascón Giménez
- S. Sainz de la Maza
- P. Walo Delgado
- A. Maceski
- E. Rodríguez-Martin
- E. Roldán
- N. Villarrubia
- A. Saiz
- Y. Blanco
- P. Sánchez
- E. Carreón Guarnizo
- Y. Aladro
- L. Brieva
- C. Íñiguez
- I. González-Suárez
- L. Rodríguez De Antonio
- J. Masjuan
- L. Costa-Frossard
- L. Villar
Abstract
Background
Ocrelizumab is the first drug approved as disease modifying treatment for primary progressive (PP) multiple sclerosis (MS). As a humanized monoclonal antibody targeting CD20 cells, it is widely known that ocrelizumab treatment results in B cells depletion, but less is known about the effects of this drug in other blood leukocyte subsets of PPMS patients.
Objectives
To explore the changes induced by ocrelizumab in blood immune cells of PPMS patients to further understand their effects in the abnormal inflammatory response.
Methods
Multi-centre prospective longitudinal study including fifty‐three PPMS patients who initiated ocrelizumab treatment. Effector, memory, and regulatory cells were analyzed by flow cytometry at baseline and after 6 months of treatment. To assess differences between baseline and after 6 months, Wilcoxon matched paired tests were used and p values were corrected using Bonferroni test.
Results
Ocrelizumab decreased numbers of naïve and memory B cells (p<0.0001) and those of B cells producing interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (p<0.0001 in all cases). A reduction of CD20+ T cell numbers (p=0.02) and percentages (p<0.0001) was also observed. We also detected a clear remodelation of the T cell compartment characterized by relative increases of the naïve/effector ratio in CD4+ (p=0.002) and CD8+ (p=0.002) T cells, and relative decreases of CD4+ (p=0.03) and CD8+ (p=0.004) T cells producing interferon-gamma. Total monocyte numbers increased (p=0.002), with no changes in those producing inflammatory cytokines. All these changes resulted in a reduction of serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL) levels (p=0.009).
Conclusions
Effector B cell depletion by ocrelizumab treatment induces changes in the T cell response of PPMS patients towards a low inflammatory profile. This resulted in a decrease of sNfL levels.
P0327 - Effectiveness and safety profile of the Natalizumab extended interval dosing in a Spanish cohort (ID 1815)
Abstract
Background
Previous Biogen analyses of the US TOUCH Registry showed that the risk of developing natalizumab-associated progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) among anti-JCV antibody positive natalizumab-treated patients was significantly lower with extended interval dosing (EID) compared with standard interval dosing (SID). However, the efficacy of EID was not evaluated in these analyses. Real-world studies and modelling data suggest that a patient population stable on natalizumab SID who is then switched to EID is more likely to maintain efficacy with EID as compared to a population who initiates natalizumab on EID.
Objectives
The main objective of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness (measured by the annualized relapse rate - ARR) of natalizumab EID in subjects who have been previously treated with natalizumab SID during the 12-month list, in relation to continuous SID treatment.
Methods
Observational, open-label study with retrospective analysis of a prospective cohort of patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) treated at Hospital Ramón y Cajal (Madrid) with natalizumab for 12 months using SID (Infusion every month). All patients were transferred after a period of initial treatment at standard interval doses to a 6-week EID, according to hospital protocol, eliminating a potential selection bias for assigning less active patients to the EID group Demographic, clinical, radiological and immunological variables were collected.
Results
61 patients were included, 33 (54%) women, with a median (range) age at treatment initiation of 35 (17-55) years. Median (range) treatment duration was 5,2 years (2-11,3), 3,47 years (1,4-7,8) in SID, 1,7 years (0,5-4,1) in EID. There was no difference in ARR, mean [95% confidence interval (CI)], (SID: 0.05 [0,01-0,1]; EID: 0.02 [0,02-0,05]; P=0.558), or EDSS (SID: 2,35 [1,9-2,7], EID: 2,67 [2,2-3,9]; p=0,42).
Conclusions
This study does not demonstrate significant differences in relapse outcomes between SID and EID periods of patients who switched to EID from natalizumab after ≥1 year on SID. These results are consistent with previous analyzes without comparison that concluded that efficacy is maintained after switching to EID. Consistent MRI and EDSS results will be shown in the final poster. An ongoing prospective randomized trial of EID versus SID will provide a more complete understanding of the effectiveness of natalizumab EID.
P0939 - Antibody titters against EBV and HHV-6A/B and expression of MSRV ENV in the serum of pregnant multiple sclerosis patients (ID 1197)
Abstract
Background
Pregnancy is a special period within the clinical course of multiple sclerosis (MS), characterized by a reduction in the relapse rate and slower disease progression. On the contrary, during puerperium, relapse rate increases again. Viruses have been related to the etiopathogenesis of the disease, especially with disease activity.
Objectives
To analyse the serum antibody titters against Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) (EBNA-1 and VCA) and human herpesvirus 6 A/B (HHV-6A/B), as well as the expression of the envelope protein of the MS-associated retrovirus (MSRV ENV) in pregnant MS patients during pregnancy and postpartum. To study their possible relationship with the disease activity during pregnancy and postpartum, as well as their potential role in predicting the risk of relapses.
Methods
Serum samples were collected from 71 pregnant women, 50 with MS and 21 healthy controls, at every trimester of pregnancy and in the postpartum. Antibody titters against the above mentioned viruses were analysed by ELISA commercial kits, following manufacturer instructions; gene expression of MSRV ENV was analysed by qRT-PCR.
Results
IgM titres against HHV-6A/B were higher in MS patients than in healthy controls in the three trimesters of pregnancy and in the postpartum period (U-Mann Whitney): p =0.00001 for the first trimester; p=0.021 for the second trimester; p = 0.000005 for the third trimester; p =0.001, for the postpartum period). Furthermore, IgM titres against HHV-6A/B in the first trimester were higher in patients with relapses (U Mann Whitney, p = 0.052). Regarding the expression of MSRV ENV, the percentage of positivity during the first trimester was significantly higher in MS patients with relapses during pregnancy compared to those who did not (Fisher, p = 0.038).
Conclusions
High IgM titters against HHV-6A/B and the expression of MSRV ENV during the first trimester of pregnancy could act as predictors of relapse risk during pregnancy / postpartum. Although further studies are needed to validate these results, this study support the relation between viruses and relapses in pregnant MS patients.
P0975 - Lipid-specific oligoclonal IgM bands condition age-related changes in multiple sclerosis (ID 1396)
- C. Picón
- A. Tejeda-Velarde
- J. Fernandez-Velasco
- M. Comabella
- R. Alvarez-Lafuente
- E. Quintana
- S. Sainz de la Maza
- E. Monreal
- N. Villarrubia
- J. Álvarez-Cermeño
- M. Domínguez-Mozo
- L. Ramió I Torrentà
- E. Rodríguez-Martin
- E. Roldán
- Y. Aladro
- S. Medina
- M. Espiño
- J. Masjuan
- C. Matute-Blanch
- M. Muñoz-San Martin
- C. Espejo
- C. Guaza
- L. Costa-Frossard
- L. Villar
Abstract
Background
Age has high influence on clinical course of chronic inflammatory diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS). Lipid-specific oligoclonal IgM bands (LS-OCBM) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of MS patients are biomarkers of high inflammatory disease. However, the relationship between both variables has not been fully studied.
Objectives
To explore age-related changes in CSF of MS patients leading to senescence and to study the role of LS-OCBM in this process.
Methods
A prospective cross-sectional study of 263 MS patients followed at Ramon y Cajal University Hospital, Madrid. Seventy-two showed (M+) and 191 (M-) lacked CSF LS-OCBM. We explored CSF immune cells, soluble mediators, microRNAs and clinical data.
Results
MS patients older than 45 years (O45) showed significant rises in CSF Programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1; p=0.001) and T-cell immunoglobulin mucin-3 (TIM-3; p<0.0001), which induce lymphocyte tolerance, and in Chitinase 3-like-1 (p<0.0001) and Activin-A (p<0.0001), which lead to innate cell activation. This associated with low values of pro-inflammatory B cells and of Th17 lymphocytes. In addition, M- O45 patients experienced significant increases in miR-125b-5p (p=0.01) and miR-145-5p (p=0.02), two miRNA associated with immune senescence, an increase of let-7b-5p (p=0.01) that counteract innate-cell activation, a dramatic decrease of CSF lymphocytes (p<0.0001) and of NK cells (p=0.002) and increased serum anti-cytomegalovirus antibodies (p=0.009). However, M+ O45 patients exhibited a reduction of miR-204-5p (p=0.01), that induce innate-cell activation and increased CSF levels of superoxide dismutase (p=0.04) and isoprostane (p=0.03), markers of oxidative stress. These changes resulted in increased Multiple Sclerosis Severity Score (MSSS) on M+ O45 patients.
Conclusions
M- O45 MS patients showed inhibition of the intrathecal adaptive immune response and early immunosenescence. Conversely, M+ O45 MS patients displayed intrathecal innate cell activation and accelerated disability worsening. These data could be relevant for treating aged MS patients.
P1138 - short-chain fatty acid during pregnancy in multiple sclerosis: a prospective cohort study (ID 1801)
Abstract
Background
Objective: Pregnancy reduces the annualized relapse rate (ARR) in multiple sclerosis (MS). However it is temporarily increased at puerperium. The exact mechanism underlying this clinical observation remains unknown.
Objectives
We aimed to explore the changes of the short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) profiles in MS patients and healthy women (HCW) during pregnancy, and to assess any potential biomarker predicting the appearance of relapses during pregnancy and postpartum.
Methods
Methods: We included 53 pregnant MS patients and 21 HCW followed at Hospital Universitario Gregorio Marañón between 2007 and 2018. Patients were evaluated at every trimester of pregnancy and in the puerperium. Serum SCFAs were measured by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry
Results
Results: Seventeen patients (32%) experienced relapses during pregnancy or puerperium (ACT group) and 37(68%) did not (NO-ACT group). We did not found differences in clinical characteristics or treatment status between the two groups. We observed differences in the SCFAs profile between ACT:NO-ACT groups during pregnancy and puerperium. Acetate levels were higher during the pregnancy-puerperium period in MS patients, regardless of clinical activity, compared to HCW (p: 0.0001). Interestingly, levels of propionate and butyrate below 1,985 μM (1,283 - 3.55) and 0.515 μM (0.01-2.943) respectively during the first trimester were associated with relapses during the pregnancy-puerperium period (p: 0.0001). The ACT group had a lower ratio of propionate/acetate and butyrate/acetate during pregnancy compared to NO-ACT group (<0.0001). The ROC curve showed that a propionate/acetate ratio of 0.36 (AUC 0.96, sensitivity 94%, specificity 92%;) has an OR=165 [CI: 10.2-239.4], p <0.0001) to predict relapses during pregnancy-puerperium.
Conclusions
Conclusions: SCFA levels during pregnancy may be associated with clinical activity in MS, and that their measurement could be useful in predicting the occurrence of relapses during this pregnancy-puerperium period
Presenter Of 1 Presentation
P0324 - Effect of ocrelizumab treatment in peripheral blood leukocyte subsets of Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis patients (ID 1613)
- J. Fernandez-Velasco
- J. Kuhle
- E. Monreal
- V. Meca-Lallana
- J. Meca-Lallana
- G. Izquierdo
- F. Gascón Giménez
- S. Sainz de la Maza
- P. Walo Delgado
- A. Maceski
- E. Rodríguez-Martin
- E. Roldán
- N. Villarrubia
- A. Saiz
- Y. Blanco
- P. Sánchez
- E. Carreón Guarnizo
- Y. Aladro
- L. Brieva
- C. Íñiguez
- I. González-Suárez
- L. Rodríguez De Antonio
- J. Masjuan
- L. Costa-Frossard
- L. Villar
Abstract
Background
Ocrelizumab is the first drug approved as disease modifying treatment for primary progressive (PP) multiple sclerosis (MS). As a humanized monoclonal antibody targeting CD20 cells, it is widely known that ocrelizumab treatment results in B cells depletion, but less is known about the effects of this drug in other blood leukocyte subsets of PPMS patients.
Objectives
To explore the changes induced by ocrelizumab in blood immune cells of PPMS patients to further understand their effects in the abnormal inflammatory response.
Methods
Multi-centre prospective longitudinal study including fifty‐three PPMS patients who initiated ocrelizumab treatment. Effector, memory, and regulatory cells were analyzed by flow cytometry at baseline and after 6 months of treatment. To assess differences between baseline and after 6 months, Wilcoxon matched paired tests were used and p values were corrected using Bonferroni test.
Results
Ocrelizumab decreased numbers of naïve and memory B cells (p<0.0001) and those of B cells producing interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (p<0.0001 in all cases). A reduction of CD20+ T cell numbers (p=0.02) and percentages (p<0.0001) was also observed. We also detected a clear remodelation of the T cell compartment characterized by relative increases of the naïve/effector ratio in CD4+ (p=0.002) and CD8+ (p=0.002) T cells, and relative decreases of CD4+ (p=0.03) and CD8+ (p=0.004) T cells producing interferon-gamma. Total monocyte numbers increased (p=0.002), with no changes in those producing inflammatory cytokines. All these changes resulted in a reduction of serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL) levels (p=0.009).
Conclusions
Effector B cell depletion by ocrelizumab treatment induces changes in the T cell response of PPMS patients towards a low inflammatory profile. This resulted in a decrease of sNfL levels.