Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is not only an 'inflammatory' demyelinating disease, but also includes axonal and neuronal injury in the grey matter . Neurodegenerative processes are partly independent of lesion formation and relapse activity , but represent the direct driver of clinical long-term disability and cognitive decline. Multimodal evoked potentials (EP), i.e. the combination of visual, somato-sensory and motor EP (VEP, SSEP, MEP) have been shown prospectively to provide objective, monovectorial, and numerical data which are closely correlated to the EDSS. As EP capture the functional integrity of the examined systems they represent a method unbiased for directional changes, while remaining specific for the neuronal function, and hence can measure deterioration, as well as improvement, a germane advantage to capture drug response. High-resolution electroencephalography (EEG) allow for explorative analysis of potential surrogate markers for cognitive decline. Ocrelizumab (OCR), a humanized anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody has shown strong treatment effects on number of T1Gd-enhancing lesions , on new T1Gd-enhancing and new T2-hyperintense lesions as well as on the annualized relapse rate in a recent phase II trial in relapsing-remitting MS. The present study will investigate the effects of OCR on multimodal evoked potentials (EP), Furthermore, quantitative EEG as a potential correlate of cognitive dysfunction and fatigue will be explored.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
16
Dep. Neurology, Hospital of the University of Basel
Basel, Switzerland
dΣ-EP
The primary outcome measure is the change in the sum score of multimodal EP (dΣ-EP) after two years, which will be compared between treatment groups.
Time frame: Baseline, 48 weeks, 96 weeks (RMS)/ Baseline, 48 weeks, 120 weeks (PPMS)
d#-EP
Secondary outcome measures are the change in number of abnormal EP (d#-EP) as well as change in cognitive performance and fatigue at two years.
Time frame: Baseline, 48 weeks, 96 weeks (RMS)/ Baseline, 48 weeks, 120 weeks (PPMS)
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