Laura De Giglio

• Sapienza University of Rome

Despite its widespread use in clinical practice, the effectiveness of natalizumab extended interval dosing (EID) adopted from treatment start across different treatment intervals and individual modifiers (body mass index - BMI) is still under-investigated. Here, seven-hundred and forty-five multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, exposed to natalizumab f...

Spinal cord MRI is not routinely performed for multiple sclerosis (MS) monitoring. Here, we explored whether spinal cord MRI activity offers any added value over brain MRI activity for clinical outcomes prediction in MS. This is a retrospective, monocentric study including 830 MS patients who underwent longitudinal brain and spinal cord MRI [median...

The impact of pregnancy and breastfeeding on the development and outcomes of Multiple sclerosis (MS) has been debated for decades. Since several factors can influence the evolution of the disease, the protective role of multiparity and breastfeeding remains uncertain, as well the role of hormone replacement therapy in the perimenopausal period. We...

Background Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a complex disease in which multiple factors contribute to disability accrual. Mediterranean Diet (MeDi) has shown beneficial effects across neurodegenerative diseases. We hypothesize that specific food habits, rather than global adherence to MeDi, might impact on MS. We aimed to (i) evaluate differences in adhe...

Pregnancy-related issues in women with multiple sclerosis (MS) have been receiving increasing attention, with particular interest for the use of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) before conception, during pregnancy, and postpartum, including breastfeeding. The risk of relapse is higher in the early postpartum period, especially in cases of signifi...

Objectives To assess the impact of timing of natalizumab cessation/redosing on long-term maternal and infant outcomes in 72 out of the original 74 pregnancies of the Italian Pregnancy Dataset in multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods Maternal outcomes in patients who received natalizumab until conception and restarted the drug within 1 month after deliv...

A 74-years-old man experienced severe diplopia one month after recovery from an uncomplicated SARS-CoV-2 infection. Neurological examination was normal whereas ophthalmological examination showed bilateral exophthalmos with a complex ocular motility disorder characterized by a pseudo-internuclear ophthalmoplegia after fatigue associated to impairme...

The potential impact of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) for multiple sclerosis (MS) on COVID-19 vaccination is poorly understood. According to recent observations, the humoral immune response could be impaired in patients treated with ocrelizumab or fingolimod. Our study evaluated the immunogenicity and safety of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines in a conv...

As atrophy represents the most relevant driver of progression in multiple sclerosis (MS), we investigated the impact of different patterns of brain and spinal cord atrophy on disability worsening in MS. We acquired clinical and MRI data from 90 patients with relapsing–remitting MS and 24 healthy controls (HC). Clinical progression at follow-up (mea...

Objectives To evaluate the accuracy of a data-driven approach, such as machine learning classification, in predicting disability progression in MS. Methods We analyzed structural brain images of 163 subjects diagnosed with MS acquired at two different sites. Participants were followed up for 2–6 years, with disability progression defined according...

Background The influence of pregnancy on long-term disability in multiple sclerosis (MS) is still controversial. Objective To assess the risk of long-term disability worsening after pregnancy in MS women as compared with a propensity-score (PS) matched group of MS women without pregnancy. Methods In the setting of the Italian Pregnancy Dataset, M...

Hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTRv, v for variant) prevalence in Italy, a non-endemic region, has been established by ATTRv amyloidosis Italian Registry. However, values of prevalence were extremely heterogeneous, considering different regions. To properly establish the prevalence of the disease in the Lazio region, a survey was sent to un...

Objective: To evaluate baseline characteristics predictive of improving information processing speed in multiple sclerosis (MS) and the relationship between cognitive and motor response to dalfampridine (DA) treatment. Methods: This is a post hoc analysis of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in patients with MS randomized to r...

Only a few studies have evaluated the brain functional changes associated with disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) in multiple sclerosis (MS), though none used a composite measure of clinical and MRI outcomes to evaluate DMT-related brain functional connectivity (FC) measures predictive of short-term outcome. Therefore, we investigated the following...

Background Frailty is an age-related status of increased vulnerability to stressors caused by the accumulation of multiple health deficits. This construct may allow to capture the clinical complexity of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Objective To investigate the relationship between frailty and the clinical manifestations of MS. Methods P...

Background People with multiple sclerosis (MS) may experience sexual dysfunction throughout the disease course. Validated scales to assess sexual dysfunction in MS for Italian patients are lacking. Hence, we aimed at validating Multiple Sclerosis Intimacy and Sexuality Questionnaire (MSISQ-19) for Italian MS patients.Methods We included both male a...

We assessed 168 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) by force platform to obtain the dual-task cost (DTC) of balance, that is, the change in postural sway from quiet standing to dual-task condition (Stroop test). After a median follow-up time of 3.5 years from this assessment, disability progression occurred in 45 (27%) patients. Disability progre...

Cerebellar damage occurs frequently in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, with a wide exhibition of symptoms particularly as impairments of balance and gait. Recent studies implementing new postprocessing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques showed how cerebellar subregional atrophy provides an explanation of disability in MS. The aim of this...

PurposeIn multiple sclerosis (MS), how brain functional changes relate to clinical conditions is still a matter of debate. The aim of this study was to investigate how functional connectivity (FC) reorganization at three different scales, ranging from local to whole brain, is related to tissue damage and disability.Methods One-hundred-nineteen pati...

Introduction: Since February 2020, the outbreak of COVID-19 in Italy has forced the health care system to undergo profound rearrangements in its services and facilities, especially in the worst-hit areas in Northern Italy. In this setting, inpatient and outpatient services had to rethink and reorganize their activities to meet the needs of patient...

In this independent, multicenter, post-marketing study, we directly compare induction immunosuppression versus escalation strategies on the risk of reaching the disability milestone of Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) ≥ 6.0 over 10 years in previously untreated patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. We collected data of patien...

Objective This study aimed to define the minimal evidence of disease activity (MEDA) during treatment that can be tolerated without exposing patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis at risk of long-term disability. Methods We retrospectively collected data of patients followed up to 10 years after starting interferon beta or glatiramer...

Therapy of multiple sclerosis (MS) with disease-modifying agents such as natalizumab or fingolimod has been associated with the development of cutaneous melanoma. Here we briefly revise literature data and report of a case of a 48-year old woman who developed a melanoma and several atypical naevi after sub sequential treatment with natalizumab (1 y...

Background Premorbid physically and intellectually enriching lifestyles have increasingly been recognized as able to mitigate the risk of disease-related disability in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Objective To explore if premorbid physical activity, cognitive reserve and trait personality act as proxies for functional reserve that contri...

This was a substudy of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial originally designed to explore the effect of dalfampridine on information processing speed (2013-002558-64 EU Clinical Trials Register) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). A total of 120 patients were originally randomized in a 2:1 ratio to receive dalfampridine 10 mg...

Cognitive fatigability in multiple sclerosis represents the decrease in cognitive performance over time. It is a frequent symptom that negatively affects quality of life and ability to work. There are no objective measures of cognitive fatigability. This study aimed at quantifying cognitive fatigability despite the learning effect and to clarify wh...

Background Nabiximols (THC/CBD Oromucosal Spray, Sativex) is used as an add-on therapy to treat moderate to severe spasticity of Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Objectives To examine the impact of physiotherapy (PT) programs on effectiveness and persistence of nabiximols treatment in people with MS-related spasticity. Methods This is an observational mu...

Objective: To test a possible benefit of dalfampridine on information processing speed (IPS), a key function for cognitive impairment (CogIm) in multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods: In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, we included patients with a score on the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) under the 10th percentile of th...

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2018/3419871.].

Introduction: Decades of pharmacological research in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) led to the development of therapeutic Monoclonal Antibodies (MAbs) with many different mechanisms of action (MoA), potentially able to improve disability outcome but also determining a more complex management of patients. Areas covered: When clinicians select MS treatments...

On the basis of recent functional MRI studies, Multiple Sclerosis (MS) has been interpreted as a multisystem disconnection syndrome. Compared to normal subjects, MS patients show alterations in functional connectivity (FC). However, the mechanisms underlying these alterations are still debated. The aim of the study is to investigate resting state (...

Objective To characterize the relation between brain functional connectivity and disability in patients with multiple sclerosis; to investigate the existence of critical values of both disability and functional connectivity corresponding to exhaustion of functional adaptive mechanisms. Methods Hundred-and-nineteen patients with no-to-severe disabi...

Background: In order to anticipate the diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis (MS), the diagnostic criteria had been reviewed several times in the last years. Objective: We wanted to understand whether earlier diagnoses of MS have impacted on therapeutic management of the disease. Methods: We designed a 22-item survey posted on SMsocialnetwork, a webplatf...

In Reply We thank Budhram and Kim for their observations on our article.¹ We agree with their comment regarding the role of differential diagnosis between a relapse and an acute infection of the central nervous system. This remains a crucial point in treating patients with multiple sclerosis, especially while they are receiving treatment with disea...

Background: Two phase III trials have demonstrated the clinical and radiological efficacy of delayed-release dimethyl fumarate (DMF) in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). However, data on its safety and effectiveness in real-world practice are still limited. Objectives: The aim of our study was to explore the safety and tolerability...

Objective: To directly compare fingolimod (FNG) and dimethyl fumarate (DMF) on no evident disease activity (NEDA) status in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) from 7 multiple sclerosis outpatient clinics in Central Italy. Methods: We analyzed data of patients with RRMS who started an oral agent, namely DMF or FNG, either...

Dimethyl fumarate is an oral treatment used for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS). Caution is required in patients with severe lymphocytopenia that persists for more than 6 months. We describe a case of rhombencephalitis caused by Listeria monocytogenes in a patient without severe lymphocytopenia who was treated with dimethyl fumarate.

Objective: To assess the risk of disease reactivation during pregnancy after natalizumab suspension in women with multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods: Data of all pregnancies occurring between 2009 and 2015 in patients with MS treated with natalizumab and referring to 19 participating sites were collected and compared with those of pregnancies in u...

Objective: To assess fetal risk after pregnancy exposure to natalizumab in women with multiple sclerosis (MS), with a specific focus on spontaneous abortion (SA) and congenital anomalies (CA). Methods: Data of all pregnancies occurring between 2009 and 2015 in patients with MS treated with natalizumab and referring to 19 participating sites were...

Purpose To prospectively investigate, by using resting-state functional magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, cerebellar dentate nuclei (DNs) functional connectivity abnormalities in multiple sclerosis (MS) to explore their impact on balance impairment in patients with MS, considering the role of DNs and their projections in maintaining balance, posture...

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological disease that represents a leading cause of disability in young adults and is characterized by inflammation and degeneration of both white matter (WM) and gray matter (GM). Defining the presence or absence of inflammation on individual basis is a key point in choosing the therapy and monitoring the t...

Objective To investigate the disease-altered structure–function relationship underlying the cognitive–postural interference (CPI) phenomenon in multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods We measured postural sway of 96 patients and 48 sex-/age-matched healthy controls by force platform in quiet standing (single-task (ST)) while performing the Stroop test (d...

IntroductionCognitive impairment is a disabling symptom in multiple sclerosis (MS). While its management remains challenging, beneficial effects on cognition of interferon beta (IFN-β) have been reported and a positive effect from estroprogestins has been hypothesised, suggesting that the combination of the two medications in women with MS could of...

E-Poster didattico

Objective: To investigate which concurrent cognitive task (if any) had the most detrimental effect on balance control of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods: In a dual-task experiment, we evaluated the reciprocal effect of simultaneously performing a postural and a cognitive task on balance and cognition in 52 patients and 26 sex- and...

Background and objective The dentate nucleus, which is the largest of the cerebellar nuclei, plays a critical role in movement and cognition. The aim of our study was to assess any changes in dentate functional connectivity (FC) in adult relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RR-MS) patients and to investigate possible clinical correlates. Materi...

Background: With increasing availability of effective disease-modifying treatments for multiple sclerosis (MS), an early identification of patients who do not adequately respond to Interferon Beta (IFNB) is relevant to decide the future strategy. Objective: To investigate the predictive role of new lesion location on the risk of breakthrough dis...

To test the effect of oral contraceptives (OCs) in combination with interferon β (IFN-β) on disease activity in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). One hundred fifty women with RRMS were randomized in a 1:1:1 ratio to receive IFN-β-1a subcutaneously (SC) only (group 1), IFN-β-1a SC plus ethinylstradiol 20 μg and desogestrel...

Background. The role of prolactin (PRL) on tissue injury and repair mechanisms in multiple sclerosis (MS) remains unclear. The aim of this work was to investigate the relationship between PRL plasma levels and brain damage as measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods. We employed a chemiluminescence immunoassay for measuring plasma leve...

Background. The role of prolactin (PRL) on tissue injury and repair mechanisms in multiple sclerosis (MS) remains unclear. The aim of this work was to investigate the relationship between PRL plasma levels and brain damage as measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods. We employed a chemiluminescence immunoassay for measuring plasma leve...

Two simultaneously performed tasks may compete for common brain network resources in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), suggesting the occurrence of a cognitive-motor interference. While this phenomenon has been well described for walking and gait, data on static balance are scarce. In this cross-sectional study, 92 patients and 46 sex/age-matc...

The humanized monoclonal alpha4-integrin antibody Natalizumab (NTZ) (Tysabri(©) , Biogen Idec, Cambridge, MA, USA) has shown to be effective in multiple sclerosis (MS) therapy; however, the interruption of the drug has been related to a disease restart. This risk has to be carefully considered in case of accidental or desired pregnancies. To report...

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a home-based cognitive rehabilitation (CR) program based on the video game Dr Kawashima's Brain Training (DKBT; Nintendo, Japan), in improving attention, processing speed, and working memory of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods: This was a randomized, wait-list control study. Patients with...

Purpose To investigate thalamic connectivity changes after use of a video game-based cognitive rehabilitation program, as thalamic damage and alterations in thalamocortical functional connectivity (FC) are important factors in cognitive dysfunction in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Materials and Methods This prospective study was approved b...

Objective To assess relapses, disability progression and the role of disease modifying drugs (DMDs) in the year after delivery in women with multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods We prospectively followed-up pregnancies occurring between 2002 and 2008 in women with MS, recruited from 21 Italian MS centres. The risk of relapses and disability progression...

Background Most of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients undergo disease modifying drug (DMD) therapy at childbearing age. The objective of this prospective, collaborative study, was to assess outcomes of pregnancies fathered by MS patients undergoing DMD. Methods Structured interviews on pregnancies fathered by MS patients gathered in the Italian Preg...

Objective To assess relapses, disability progression and the role of disease modifying drugs (DMDs) in the year after delivery in women with multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods We prospectively followed-up pregnancies occurring between 2002 and 2008 in women with MS, recruited from 21 Italian MS centres. The risk of relapses and disability progression...

Few studies have examined behavioural changes in the early phase of multiple sclerosis (MS). The aim of the study is to investigate mood alterations and to explore coping strategies regarding patients with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) and relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS). The communication of diagnosis was made by one neurologist using a standar...

Objective The objective of this paper is to investigate four-year outcomes of interferon beta (IFNB)-treated patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) according to their clinical or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) activity status at first year of treatment. Methods A total of 370 patients with MS duration ≤5 years before IFNB start were followed-up f...

Abstract Background Few studies have systematically addressed the role of epidural analgesia and caesarean delivery in predicting the post-partum disease activity in women with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). The objective of this study was to assess the impact of epidural analgesia (EA) and caesarean delivery (CD) on the risk of post-partum relapses and...

Study interview.

Background Only few studies have assessed safety of in utero exposure to glatiramer acetate (GA). Following a previous study assessing the safety of interferon beta (IFNB) pregnancy exposure in multiple sclerosis (MS), we aimed to assess pregnancy and fetal outcomes after in utero exposure to GA, using the same dataset, with a specific focus on the...

A high co-morbidity between multiple sclerosis (MS) and migraine has been reported, especially in young female patients affected by a relapsing-remitting (RR) course of MS. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the determinants of the severity of comorbid migraine in MS. Demographic, clinical and psychometric variables were collected from a cohort o...

Some multiple sclerosis (MS)-specific therapies may exacerbate a comorbid migraine. Whereas data regarding the impact of interferon beta (IFNB) on this comorbidity have been reported, studies on the role of natalizumab (NTZ) are still lacking. Our aim was to compare the impact of IFNB and NTZ on the frequency and disability of comorbid migraine in...

Objective: To evaluate whether an escalation approach was more effective in suppressing clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) activity than switching among immunomodulators in relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients. Methods: In this post-marketing, prospective, observational study in two Italian multiple sclerosis (MS) centr...

To assess the relationship between breastfeeding and risk of puerperal relapses in a large cohort of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). We prospectively followed-up pregnancies occurring between 2002 and 2008 in women with MS, recruited from 21 Italian MS centers, and gathered data on breastfeeding through a standardized interview. The risk of...

In daily clinical setting, some patients affected by relapsing-remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS) are switched from the low-dose to the high-dose Interferon beta (IFNB) in order to achieve a better control of the disease. In this observational, post-marketing study we reported the 2-year clinical outcomes of patients switched to the high-dose IFNB...

To assess pregnancy and fetal outcomes after in utero exposure to interferon-β (IFNβ) in all pregnancies occurring in women with multiple sclerosis (MS) during the study period, with a specific focus on the risk of spontaneous abortion. In this cohort study, data were gathered through a standardized, semi-structured interview. Patients who disconti...

The aim of this study was to test the contribution of anti-myelin antibodies in predicting conversion from clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) to multiple sclerosis (MS) when considering either Poser's or McDonald's diagnostic criteria. Fifty-one patients with CIS and abnormal brain MRI were imaged monthly for six months and then at 12, 18, 24, 36 m...

Fatigue is a common symptom in multiple sclerosis (MS). As fatigue includes a variety of aspects, its treatment is best approached in a multidisciplinary fashion that includes nonpharmacological interventions and medications. In individuals with mild fatigue non-pharmacological treatment including yoga, aerobic exercises, cooling therapy and energy...

Safety, tolerability and efficacy profiles of interferon beta (IFNbeta) therapy in relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS) has been widely verified both in trial settings and in daily clinical practice. However, for a variable percentage of treated patients, it remains only partially effective. In this study, we reported the post-marketing experience of...