New CSF Biomarker for Disease Activity

[kwarendorf]

The research side of my MS Practice has identified a CSF biomarker for disease activity. The research is featured on the cover of this month's Multiple Sclerosis Journal.

http://tischms.org/news/tisch-ms-breakthrough-biomarker-research-featured-cover-article-october-2013-issue-multiple

I'm a beneficiary of this discovery. I had been on Tysabri for 20 months. At 18 Months I converted to JCV +, and we discussed switching from Tysabri to Tecfidera.  subsequent LP showed the presence of this biomarker. At that point my JCV status was moot. The disease activity, shown through this new biomarker, indicated that Tysabri had stopped working. If Tysabri wasn't working it was unlikely that Tecfidera would. We changed course and I will start Rituxan a week from Friday.

Kyle

[kwarendorf]

The TysabriTecfidera efficacy thing is from my doc. I'm not sure there is published research on it.

Also, I got a call from Biogen/Idec after I stopped Tysabri. They agreed that Tysabri was on the top of the strength chart.

Kyle

[Lulu54]

This was another big Tysabri news story at ECTRIMS  - researchers in Germany presented results on a blood test that identifies patients who will be safe on Tysabri, even if they are JC positive.

http://bit.ly/19AWyNf

[Lulu54]

the big rush we get at ECTRIMS time with all these new thoughts and projects is always a thrill to me.  I'm skimming  through the releases, abstracts and poster presentations and finding lots of good stuff.  I didn't see the correlation of the test between Tysabri and Tecfidera efficacy and will have to go back and read it in detail.

I say we all go to ECTRIMS next year when it is in Boston....
  

[kwarendorf]

It always seems like MS Christmas when ECTRIMS is in session :-)

[immisceo]

Very, very interesting Kyle! One of these days we'll get that magical home run "You have it or you don't" diagnostic test biomarker, but this is good news for those of us already 'in the system' so to speak. Delighted you were able to better fine tune your future treatment with this information.

Getting warm fuzzies with all this research news lately! It can seem to move at glacial pace, but truly MS is an absolute hot-bed for these kind of investigations at the moment.