Unprescribed cannabinoids and multiple sclerosis: a multicenter, cross-sectional, epidemiological study in Lombardy, Italy.

INTRODUCTION: Cannabinoids are approved for spasticity and pain in multiple sclerosis (MS). In 2017 the prevalence of current users in the Italian general population was 10.2%, while data on Italian MS patients are limited. METHODS: From March 2022 to February 2023, we conducted a multicenter, cross-sectional study. Adult MS patients completed an anonymous online survey. The primary outcome was the estimated prevalence of unprescribed cannabis current use. Cannabis use patterns and associations with clinical and socio-demographical variables were investigated. The binomial method was used to estimate 95% confidence interval (95% CI) for primary outcome. RESULTS: 5620 patients were invited and 2024 (36.0%) were included (mean age 45.2 years, females 64.5%). Relapsing remitting form was the most frequent (77.3%). Median expanded disability status scale (EDSS) was 2.0. The proportion of current users was 15.5% (95% CI 13.9-17.1) and 36.4% of them disclosed to their physician their unprescribed cannabis use. 15.0% patients were former users while 69.5% never used cannabis. Current users more frequently reported a medical use (i.e., current medical users) compared to former users (p < 0.001). 41.1% of never users would use cannabis if it was legal. Young age, being male, and a free marital status were associated with current use. Current medical users had higher disability, spasticity and pain, reduced quality of life, concomitant neurological/psychiatric drugs and analgesics use. Unprescribed cannabis appeared relatively safe, with limited addiction risk, and reported clinical benefits, including concomitant medications reduction. CONCLUSION: Unprescribed cannabis use is common in patients with MS in Italy, with observed prevalence seemingly superior to the general population, often intended for medical use and without the disclosure to the treating physician, although with potential clinical benefits.

Nabiximols oromucosal spray in patients with multiple sclerosis-related bladder dysfunction: A prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Spasticity and urinary disturbances can profoundly impact the daily lives of persons with multiple sclerosis (pwMS). Cannabis has been associated with improvement in sphincteric disturbances. To our knowledge, few studies have evaluated the effect of nabiximols oromucosal spray (Sativex®) on urinary disturbances by instrumental methods. OBJECTIVES: This longitudinal study was conducted to assess the effect of nabiximols oromucosal spray on urinary disturbances by clinical and urodynamic evaluation in pwMS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Neurological, spasticity, and quality of life (QoL) assessments were performed before (T0), and at one (T1) and six (T6) months after the start of nabiximols treatment. At these same time points, patients were assessed for urinary disturbances by the International Prostatic Symptoms Score (IPSS) and a urodynamic test evaluating maximum detrusor pressure (Pdet), bladder filling capacity (CCmax), uninhibited detrusor contractions (UDC), bladder volume at first desire (BVFD), post-void residual volume (PVR) and voluntary abdominal pressure (PA). RESULTS: Of 31 pwMS enrolled in the study, 25 reached T1 and 18 reached T6. Mean IPSS total score, its subscores, and IPSS QoL decreased significantly from T0 to T6 (p = 0.000), with no differences according to sex, age, MS type, disease duration and disability at baseline. Pdet improved significantly from T0 to T6 (p = 0.0171), and CCmax changed only marginally (p = 0.0494); results were similar in patient subgroups naïve to or previously exposed to urological treatment. All patients with overactive bladder showed improvement in their urodynamic assessment based on significant reduction of Pdet (p = 0.0138). In patients with mainly hypotonic bladder, mean Pdet decreased from T0 to T6 without reaching statistical significance; most urodynamic parameters showed a trend to improve. Mean numerical scale scores for MS spasticity, and for spasms, pain and tremors, decreased significantly from T0 to T6. The mean 'physical health composite' score of the MS Quality of Life-54 questionnaire increased significantly from T0 to T6 (p = 0.0126). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that nabiximols has an appreciable effect on ameliorating subjective perception of urinary disturbances and appears to have a positive effect on objective urodynamic parameters, particularly in patients with hyperactive bladder.

Conversion to Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis: Patient Awareness and Needs. Results From an Online Survey in Italy and Germany.

Background: Few studies have investigated the experiences of patients around the conversion to secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS). ManTra is a mixed-method, co-production research project conducted in Italy and Germany to develop an intervention for newly-diagnosed SPMS patients. In previous project actions, we identified the needs and experiences of patients converting to SPMS via literature review and qualitative research which involved key stakeholders. Aims: The online patient survey aimed to assess, on a larger and independent sample of recently-diagnosed SPMS patients: (a) the characteristics associated to patient awareness of SPMS conversion; (b) the experience of conversion; (c) importance and prioritization of the needs previously identified. Methods: Participants were consenting adults with SPMS since ≤5 years. The survey consisted of three sections: on general and clinical characteristics; on experience of SPMS diagnosis disclosure (aware participants only); and on importance and prioritization of 33 pre-specified needs. Results: Of 215 participants, those aware of their SPMS diagnosis were 57% in Italy vs. 77% in Germany (p = 0.004). In both countries, over 80% of aware participants received a SPMS diagnosis from the neurologist; satisfaction with SPMS disclosure was moderate to high. Nevertheless, 28-35% obtained second opinions, and 48-56% reported they did not receive any information on SPMS. Participants actively seeking further information were 63% in Germany vs. 31% in Italy (p < 0.001). Variables independently associated to patient awareness were geographic area (odds ratio, OR 0.32, 95% CI 0.13-0.78 for Central Italy; OR 0.21, 95% CI 0.08-0.58 for Southern Italy [vs. Germany]) and activity limitations (OR 7.80, 95% CI 1.47-41.37 for dependent vs. autonomous patients). All pre-specified needs were scored a lot or extremely important, and two prioritized needs were shared by Italian and German patients: "physiotherapy" and "active patient care involvement." The other two differed across countries: "an individualized health care plan" and "information on social rights and policies" in Italy, and "psychological support" and "cognitive rehabilitation" in Germany. Conclusions: Around 40% of SPMS patients were not aware of their disease form indicating a need to improve patient-physician communication. Physiotherapy and active patient care involvement were prioritized in both countries.

Impact of natural menopause on multiple sclerosis: a multicentre study.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of natural menopause on multiple sclerosis clinical course. METHODS: This was an observational, retrospective, multicentre, cohort study. Menopause onset was defined by the final menstrual period (FMP) beyond which no menses occurred for 12 months. We included multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with FMP occurred after 2005 and a recorded follow-up of at least 2 years pre-FMP and post-FMP. We excluded patients with primary progressive course, iatrogenic menopause and with other confounders that could mask menopause onset. We compared relapse-rate and expanded disability status scale (EDSS) scores pre-FMP and post-FMP, searching for possible interactions with age, disease duration, cigarette smoking and nulliparity status. RESULTS: 148 patients were included (mean observation: 3.5 years pre-FMP and post-FMP). Most patients (92%) received disease-modifying therapies, mainly first-lines. After menopause the annualised relapse rate (ARR) significantly decreased (from 0.21±0.31 to 0.13± 0.24; p=0.005), while disability worsened (increase of mean 0.4 vs 0.2 points after menopause; p<0.001). Older age and long-lasting disease were associated with ARR reduction (p=0.013), but not with disability worsening. Cigarette smokers showed a trend to a higher disability accumulation after menopause (p=0.059). CONCLUSION: Natural menopause seems to be a turning point to a more progressive phase of MS. Relapse rate is also reduced after menopause, but this effect could be driven most by ageing and shifting to progressive phase in patients with long-lasting disease. Cigarette smoking could speed up disability progression after menopause.

Unusual adult-onset Leigh syndrome presentation due to the mitochondrial m.9176T>C mutation.

Leigh syndrome (LS) is an incurable, nearly always fatal, neurodegenerative, pediatric disorder that results from respiratory chain failure. The most common mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations that result in LS are m.8993T→C/G and m.9176T→C/G, which were previously found in several patients with early-onset Leigh syndrome. Here, we describe clinical and molecular features of a novel pedigree, where LS developed in two siblings. The proband was a young woman with an unusual adult-onset LS. She harbored a homoplasmic m.9176T→C mutation, based on analysis of a muscle biopsy. In contrast, the brother died at a young age. This novel case report and literature review highlights the variability of phenotypic expression of the m.9176T→C mutation.

P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) polymorphism in patients with multiple sclerosis.

P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1) is an important adhesion molecule involved in lymphocyte recruitment into the brain, which represents a crucial step in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). Three hundred twenty-one MS patients and 342 controls were genotyped for the presence of a polymorphism in the PSGL-1 gene, consisting of a variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) originating three possible alleles: A, B and C, in order to test whether they influence the susceptibility and the course of the disease. No significant differences among allelic frequencies of A, B and C alleles in MS as compared with controls were observed. Stratifying patients according to the course of the disease, a significantly increased frequency of the shortest C allele in PP-MS was found (7.1%), either in comparison with controls (P=0.011) or with all other MS patients, who had acute inflammatory attacks at onset and an initial RR form (P=0.036). Besides, none of SP-MS patients was a carrier of the C allele and B carriers converted later from RR to SP course as compared with A/A subjects (after 15.8 rather than 8.8 years, P=0.01). In conclusion, the C allele of the VNTR polymorphism in PSGL-1 is likely to be associated with PP-MS. As this allele has been demonstrated to have a very low efficiency in mediating lymphocyte binding to brain endothelium during attacks, its high frequency in PP-MS could be related to the absence of exacerbations in such patients.

E-selectin A561C and G98T polymorphisms influence susceptibility and course of multiple sclerosis.

Three hundred seven patients with MS and 300 controls were genotyped for G98T and A561C SNPs in the E-selectin gene, and genetic data were correlated with the course of the disease. The frequency of the T/T genotype of the G98T SNP was significantly increased in RR-MS patients compared with controls, while was absent in PP-MS. The frequency of the A561C SNP was significantly decreased in SP-MS compared with benign RR-MS. The T/T genotype of the G98T SNP is likely to confer an increased risk to develop MS. The A561C polymorphism seems to act as protective factor towards the progression to SP-MS.

IP-10 and MCP-1 levels in CSF and serum from multiple sclerosis patients with different clinical subtypes of the disease.

Interferon-gamma-inducible Protein-10 (IP-10) and Monocyte Chemotactic Protein-1 (MCP-1) levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in the CSF and in the serum from 74 patients affected by different clinical forms of Multiple Sclerosis (MS), including 39 patients with Relapsing Remitting (RR) MS in an active phase, 14 patients in a stable phase of the disease, 12 patients with Secondary Progressive (SP) MS and 9 patients with Primary Progressive (PP) MS. IP-10 and MCP-1 levels were also determined in 19 subjects with no neurological diseases or major systemic disorders, 18 patients with non-inflammatory neurological diseases, as well as in 15 patients with other inflammatory neurological diseases.IP-10 levels were significantly elevated in CSF and serum from RR and SP, but not PP-MS patients. On the contrary, MCP-1 levels were decreased in CSF and serum of all MS patients. CSF concentrations of IP-10 and MCP-1 did not significantly correlate neither with each other, nor with CSF mononuclear cell count, albumin quotient or CSF IgG index. No correlation between disease duration, clinical course or EDSS score and chemokine levels was found.IP-10 and MCP-1 undergo modifications in different subtypes of the disease: IP-10 levels in CSF and serum samples are markedly increased when inflammation is prominent, and not in PP--MS patients, where inflammation is less evident. MCP-1 decrease in CSF and serum from MS patients could be related to the regulation of T-cell polarization.