On the Frontlines of Multiple Sclerosis

Guest: Ann D. Bass, MD Guest: Barry A. Singer, MD Multiple sclerosis is a chronic inflammatory and neurodegenerative disease with a highly variable clinical course.1,2 Most patients who have relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) will eventually transition to a secondary progressive course (SPMS).3 Patients with SPMS may live with significant impairment in physical and cognitive functions.4 Early identification of disease progression is important.2 Join Dr. Barry Singer from the MS...

Host: Paul Doghramji, MD Guest: Pavle Repovic, MD, PhD There is no cure for relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic and progressive disease in which disability accumulates over time, but available therapies may help modify the course by reducing disease activity. The MS specialist, Dr. Pavle Repovic, discusses KESIMPTA®, a treatment option offering adult RMS patients powerful efficacy with a demonstrated safety profile and flexible self-administration. 9/20 T-KSM-1393526

Guest: Timothy William West, MD Here to discuss staying ahead of progression in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS) is Dr. Timothy William West. Dr. West walks us through pathophysiological changes in progressing RMS patients, a patient case demonstrating why patients may experience increasing disability, and key data on MAYZENT®(siponimod), the first and only oral disease-modifying therapy studied and proven to delay disability progression in a more progressed RMS patient...

Host: Matt Birnholz, MD Guest: Maria K. Houtchens, MD Guest: Maria Lopes, MD Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) are increasingly choosing to start families. It is incumbent on us as healthcare professionals to try to ensure their chances for healthy pregnancies while maintaining adequate disease control. In this program, Dr. Houtchens and Dr. Lopes discuss the importance of patient/healthcare provider partnerships in family planning. Specific points of focus include the role of...

Host: Jennifer Caudle, DO Guest: Riley Bove, MD Guest: Bianca Weinstock-Guttman, MD The disease course of multiple sclerosis (MS) can take many paths based on numerous factors, including age at diagnosis, gender, and MS subtype. Layered upon the typical MS management challenges are those that can occur with the physical and physiological changes of the normal aging process. How might the care of a patient with MS need to be modified as they age? In this discussion, Dr. Bove and Dr....

Host: Jennifer Caudle, DO Guest: Catherine Apicella, MPT, PYT-C, PRPC With less and less primary care physicians partnering with physical therapists, it’s time we ask: are we doing ourselves—and our patients—a disservice by not taking advantage of this option? To find out, Dr. Jennifer Caudle sits down with physical therapist Catherine Apicella to discuss the often-overlooked benefits of physical therapy and how primary care physicians and physical therapists can work together to benefit...

Host: Patricia K. Coyle, MD Guest: Clyde E. Markowitz, MD Please note: This activity is no longer available for continuing education credit. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide. As the treatment armamentarium continues to grow, patient involvement in the development of an effective treatment strategy is becoming increasingly important. In this Clinical ExchangesSM activity, leading MS specialists discuss issues of diagnosing MS, initiating...

Host: Shiv Saidha, MBBCh, MD, MRCPI Guest: Jiwon Oh, MD Guest: Kerstin Hellwig, MD Pregnancy is a major point of discussion for all women of child-bearing age, and when you factor in diseases like multiple sclerosis, it only further complicates matters. Hear from experts Dr. Kerstin Hellwig, Dr. Jiwon Oh, and Dr. Shiv Saidha about their approach to managing MS patients before, during, and after pregnancy.

Host: Prof. David Wraith B cells have generally been considered to be only peripherally involved in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis. More recently, however, drug agents that deplete B cells have been shown to profoundly impact multiple sclerosis, greatly improving outcomes for patients affected by this autoimmune disease. Nonetheless, B-cell involvement in multiple sclerosis, for some, remains controversial.

Host: Prof. Dr. Hans Lassmann The basic pathologic hallmark of multiple sclerosis is inflammation, but the causal factors involved in the formation of confluent plaques of demyelination and neurodegeneration in the brain, as well as loss of brain volume, have been difficult to elucidate. Efforts to identify downstream sequences leading to demyelination have resulted in the development of newer pharmacologic agents, but the larger questions are if, in the clinic, these agents are 1) really...

Host: Prof. Hans Peter Hartung In the management of multiple sclerosis there are essentially two therapeutic approaches. The first is a high-efficacy treatment typically reserved for patients with severe disease and a high number of relapses; the second is a slowly intensifying approach known as escalation in which less efficacious treatments are assessed before escalating to a second or third drug. High efficacy treatment comes with a higher risk/reward ratio than does escalation; but...

Host: Jennifer Caudle, DO Guest: Catherine Apicella, MPT, PYT-C, PRPC Frustrating multiple sclerosis (MS) symptoms like urinary frequency and incontinence can be detrimental to a patient’s quality of life, but there are resources available to help. To explore the benefits of pelvic floor physical therapy for MS, Dr. Jennifer Caudle sits down with two special guests: physical therapist Catherine Apicella from CORE 3 Physical Therapy and her patient—and ReachMD’s very own employee—Crystal...

Host: Jennifer Caudle, DO Guest: Jaume Sastre-Garriga, MD, PhD On this episode of On the Frontlines of Multiple Sclerosis, Dr. Jaume Sastre-Garriga, clinical neurologist and professor at the MS Center of Catalonia, joins Dr. Jennifer Caudle to provide recommended approaches for improving quality of life and slowing disease progression in patients with multiple sclerosis after they leave the exam room. This program has been brought to you through an independent educational grant from...

Host: Matt Birnholz, MD Guest: Antonella Cardone Antonella Cardone, Executive Director of the Fit for Work Global Alliance at the Work Foundation, joins Dr. Matt Birnholz on this powerful edition of On the Frontlines of Multiple Sclerosis. Ms. Cardone will be discussing the Ready for Work Project, which aims to promote positive work outcomes in clinical care with particular focus on improving access to treatment and employment support for all people living with MS. This project is a...

Host: Matt Birnholz, MD Guest: Gavin Giovannoni, MBBCh, PhD In this vital episode of On the Frontlines of Multiple Sclerosis, Dr. Matt Birnholz interviews Dr. Gavin Giovannoni, Professor of Neurology at Queen Mary University of London. Join us in examining the impact of genetic and environmental factors for MS, and how this information can influence MS diagnosis, management and treatment. This program has been brought to you through an independent educational grant from Merck KGaA,...

Host: Vanessa Zimmerman, MSN, RN, MSCN Guest: Clyde E. Markowitz, MD Despite the high prevalence of multiple sclerosis (MS) on a national and global scale, research has found that healthcare providers lack proper education in making treatment decisions for patients from different geographic areas, minority groups, and patients with late-onset disease. That’s why this activity will discuss the clinical characteristics of these MS patient populations and how those factors can influence...

Host: David Weisman, MD Guest: Lauren Krupp, MD Guest: Prof. Ralf Gold MS is a challenging chronic disease to manage for any healthcare professional, but the most difficult cases we often face involve children and pregnant women. Up to 5% of people diagnosed with MS are under the age of 16. The peak age of diagnosis for women falls between 20 and 50 years old; however, that also happens to be the highest fertility window for these patients. Each of these populations present their own...

Guest: Thomas T. Leist, MD Guest: Clyde E. Markowitz, MD Multiple sclerosis is a quickly advancing field of medicine. The data presented at the Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ACTRIMS) meeting heavily focused on new and emerging concepts, including immune cell populations in the pathophysiology of MS. Join Dr. Thomas Leist and Dr. Clyde Markowitz as they review these advances. Disclaimer: Some products discussed in this activity have not received...

Host: Matt Birnholz, MD Guest: Andrew Chan, MD Guest: Tobias Derfuss, MD Evolving treatment options in multiple sclerosis have ushered in a greater focus on providing personalized management to patients with multiple sclerosis. This interview will review the concept of NEDA (No Evidence of Disease Activity), and how its application using new treatment modalities has begun to improve patient outcomes. Join Professor Andrew Chan and Professor Tobias Derfuss as they explore the changing...

Host: Matt Birnholz, MD Guest: Andrew Chan, MD Guest: Tobias Derfuss, MD Guest: Gavin Giovannoni, MBBCh, PhD Rapid advances in the management of multiple sclerosis reflects an evolving landscape whose emergent treatment philosophies are focused on improving both short- and long-term patient outcomes. This interview reviews different management strategies as well as the importance of personalized treatment, and what they mean for you and your patients. Join Professor Andrew Chan,...