State of the Art and Future Challenges in Multiple Sclerosis Research and Medical Management: An Insight into the 5th International Porto Congress of Multiple Sclerosis

Abstract

The 5th International Porto Congress of Multiple Sclerosis took place between the 14th and 16th of February 2019 in Porto, Portugal. Its intensive programme covered a wide-range of themes-including many of the hot topics, challenges, pitfalls and yet unmet needs in the field of multiple sclerosis (MS)-led by a number of well-acknowledged world experts. This meeting review summarizes the talks that took place during the congress, which focussed on issues in MS as diverse as the development and challenges of progressive MS, epidemiology, differential diagnosis, medical management, molecular research and imaging tools.

Socioeconomic consequences of multiple sclerosis—A systematic literature review

“…Besides overcoming the ever-present challenge with missing data in observational studies, income data can encompass other aspects of the disease, such as fatigue and cognition, not captured by physical disability, thus serving as precise outcome measures that can be used as proxy parameters of disability or surrogate markers of global patient functioning. 46,47 In conclusion, this systematic review summarizes the pronounced differences in various socioeconomic outcomes between MS patients and general population and supports the idea that socioeconomic data can serve as a precise and robust outcome measure assessing a sum of composite of disability and global individual´s function, as well as reflecting the broader consequences of MS.…”

Clinical and neuroimaging findings in MOGAD–MRI and OCT

“…This criterion strongly favours MS over MOGAD, when: (i) ≥ 1 lesion(s) adjacent to a lateral ventricle and in the inferior temporal lobe, (ii) subcortical U‐fibre lesions and (iii) Dawson’s finger‐type lesions are present [ 79 , 86 , 87 ]. However, these studies did not report criteria to help to discriminate between MOGAD and AQP4‐NMOSD patients [ 88 ]. Both MOGAD and AQP4‐NMOSD patients can present with lesions in the brain stem [ 79 , 87 ], while cortical and juxtacortical lesions are more frequently found in MOGAD versus AQP4‐NMOSD patients (57 versus 0%).…”

Neuroimaging findings in MOGAD -- MRI and OCT

“…1 lesion adjacent to a lateral ventricle and in the inferior temporal lobe, ii) subcortical U-fibre lesions, and iii) Dawson's finger-type lesions (75,82,83). However, these studies did not report criteria to help discriminate between MOGAD and AQP4-NMOSD patients (84). The brainstem is a location where both MOGAD and AQP4-NMOSD patients can present with lesions (75,83), while cortical and juxtacortical lesions are more frequently found in MOGAD versus AQP4-NMOSD patients.…”