Patients with MS with autoimmune features, including those with titers of antinuclear antibodies of 1:100 or less and/or antiphospholipid antibodies, are not different than others with MS, and therefore should not be excluded from clinical trials.

SYNOPSIS After reviewing the pathophysiological features suggesting a role of prostaglandins in migraine, we have analyzed the literature concerning double‐blind trials of anti‐inflammatory drugs versus placebo or reference compounds in the acute and long‐term preventive treatment of migraine. For both of these indications, in the majority of double‐blind trials NSAID's have been found to be superior to placebo and equivalent to reference drugs. Certain points remain to be defined including, in particular, the following: • acceptability in the long‐term or by frequent repeated administrations, • efficacy according to different types or factors inducing migraine. More extensive trials are therefore indicated.

Three interferons are marketed for the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. In its pivotal trial, one of them demonstrated impressive efficacy as a once-weekly regimen, but later head-to-head studies and reviews questioned its superiority. Analysis of this pivotal trial in publications and health authority reviews has shown that its early termination might have caused attrition bias. Censored patients were different from those completing the study on magnetic resonance imaging parameters and benefited from placebo in terms of relapse rate. Early progression of disability and differences in follow-up duration could have favored the benefit observed for the progression of disability outcome. Only the raw data could be of help to confirm or refute doubts about this trial. Raw data should be made available to the scientific community.

This study compared two bedside methods recommended for the detection of low concentrations of heparin and the activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), with reference to a laboratory measure of heparin concentration. Patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass had blood drawn at four stages when low levels of heparin could be expected. At each stage four tests were performed: whole blood clotting time using a Hemochron analyser with a Saline-Rinsed test cartridge, whole blood clotting time using a Hemotec analyser with a High Range Heparinase test cartridge, APTT, and heparin concentration by polybrene neutralization. Thirty patients were studied. The sensitivity of the Saline-Rinsed Hemochron, Hemotec High Range Heparinase, and APTT in detecting concentrations of heparin less than 1 U/ml was 38%, 40% and 97%, respectively, while specificities were 87%, 90%, and 30%, respectively. Neither the Saline Rinsed Hemochron, nor the Hemotec Heparinase cartridge reliably detected concentrations of heparin less than 1 U/ml.