A simple blood test could revolutionise care for multiple sclerosis patients and prevent disabilities, research suggests.
Markers in the blood can predict how the disease will develop and which drugs will be effective, the study found.
MS is a debilitating disease that affects the brain and spinal cord, leaving people with mobility problems, memory loss and fatigue.
There are two main types of MS: relapsing-remitting MS, in which symptoms flare and disappear for periods, and primary progressive MS, in which there are no periods of remission and symptoms steadily worsen, leaving the affected person disabled.
Many patients with relapsing-remitting MS develop the primary progressive form.
Markers in the blood can predict how the disease will progress and which drugs will be effective, according to the study. (File image)
MS is a debilitating disease that affects the brain and spinal cord, causing mobility problems, memory loss and fatigue. (File image)
The findings could benefit the 130,000 people living with MS in the UK and the nearly 7,000 people diagnosed with it each year. (File image)
There is no cure, but some treatments can slow progression and ease symptoms, so offering the right medication at the right time is key to keeping patients well for as long as possible. Researchers found that patients with elevated levels of a protein that indicates nerve damage were 45 percent more likely to suffer relapses. They showed significant benefits with more specialized medications.
The findings, presented at the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis Congress this week in Copenhagen, could benefit the 130,000 people living with MS in the UK and the nearly 7,000 people who are diagnosed each year.
“The results of this study underscore the critical need for personalized treatment approaches,” said Dr. Enric Monreal, an MS specialist in Madrid and an author on the study.
“By measuring levels at disease onset, we gain valuable insight into MS progression pathways, allowing physicians to identify optimal patients for specific medications. This approach aims to avoid unnecessary treatment-related risks.”