Hackensack Meridian Neuroscience Institute Physicians And Their Medical Students Present Research at the American Academy of Neurology National Conference
What You Need To Know
- Doctors and medical students at the Hackensack Meridian’s Neuroscience Institute at Hackensack University Medical Center presented their findings and research this week at the American Academy of Neurology annual meeting in Boston, April 22-27, 2023.
- Florian Thomas, M.D., Ph.D., Founding Chair & Professor, Department of Neurology at Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine and Director of The Hereditary Neuropathy Center in the Neuroscience Institute at HUMC, presented a poster at the conference in conjunction with two of his medical students, SeoYoun Chang and Catherine Imossi. The poster focused on recognizing neuropathic pain as a significant patient-reported Charcot Marie Tooth Disease (CMT) symptom.
- Kupa Pandey M.D., Director of the Neuroscience Institute’s Multiple Sclerosis Center and associate professor of neurology at Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, delivered an update on medications currently in use in progressive and relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS)
Recognizing Neuropathic Pain as a Significant Patient-Reported CMT Symptom
Dr. Thomas presented a poster in conjunction with two of his medical students, SeoYoun Chang and Catherine Imossi. The poster focused on recognizing neuropathic pain as a significant patient-reported Charcot Marie Tooth Disease (CMT) symptom.
Pain has long been an under-appreciated feature of CMT, a hereditary disorder that damages the peripheral nerves that transmit information and signals from the brain and spinal cord to and from the rest of the body.
Patients with CMT experience weakness, numbness, and tingling. Because longer nerves are affected more, symptoms usually begin in the feet and lower legs before reaching the fingers, hands, and arms. Analyzing patient-reported outcomes collected via an online survey tool by their collaborator, Hereditary Neuropathy Foundation, the group found that patients with CMT report pain as a significant contributor to disease burden.
The study found that most patients with CMT experience mild to moderate pain at least once per week. Pain severity was associated with heightened social isolation and diminished life satisfaction.
“These findings suggest addressing neuropathic pain will go a long way in improving quality of life in these patients, “ Dr. Thomas said. “We can make a difference in CMT patients' lives if we find ways to address their pain.”
A grant from the Orphan Disease Center at the University of Pennsylvania funded the group’s research.
Medications Currently Used In Progressive And Relapsing MS
Dr. Pandey's presentation highlighted the progression of MS independent of relapsing activity -- an important concept that patients and clinicians need to consider when patients start on therapy, in addition to monitoring its efficacy. Contrary to earlier studies, disability worsening in relapsing MS can occur without an associated relapse.
Dr. Pandey also presented a poster on the long-term safety and efficacy of dimethyl fumarate (DMF), a widely used oral therapy for MS. The research followed patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) undergoing DMF treatment in routine clinical practice for up to five years.
Results from the interim analysis demonstrate ongoing effectiveness for patients on DMF. In patients with more than five years of DMF treatment, relapse rates were low for the overall population as well as for patients newly diagnosed with MS. The treatment is considered safe long-term, with GI disorders as the primary reason for drug discontinuation. Fewer than eight percent of patients discontinued the treatment because it was no longer effective. The team concluded DMF is an effective and safe long-term treatment for MS.