Consensus recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of multiple sclerosis: the Middle East North Africa Committee for Treatment and Research In Multiple Sclerosis (MENACTRIMS)

Abstract

With evolving diagnostic criteria and the advent of new oral and parenteral therapies for MS, most current diagnostic and treatment algorithms need re-evaluation and updating. The diagnosis of MS relies on incorporating clinical and paraclinical findings to prove dissemination in space and in time, and exclude alternative diseases that can explain the findings at hand. The differential diagnostic workup should be guided by clinical and laboratory red flags to avoid unnecessary tests. Appropriate multiple sclerosis (MS) therapy selection is critical to maximize patient benefit. The current guidelines review the scientific evidence supporting treatment of acute relapses, radiologically isolated syndrome, clinically isolated syndrome, relapsing remitting MS, secondary progressive MS, and primary progressive MS. The purpose of these guidelines is to provide practical recommendations and algorithms for the diagnosis and treatment of MS based on current scientific evidence and clinical experience.

Pregnancy and the Use of Disease-Modifying Therapies in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: Benefits versus Risks

“…However, current recommendations for the management of MS propose early intervention with disease-modifying therapy (DMT) for these patients [15], and our understanding of the safety of DMTs in this setting is limited. This review (see the following “ Search Strategy” ) examines the current status of DMT therapy with regard to use in pregnancy and postpartum period.…”

Evoked potentials and other guiding factors of conversion from radiologically isolated syndrome to definite multiple sclerosis

“…(5,7,8,9). None of the patients admitted in the RIS phase, which is included in our study were receiving a conventional MS treatment.…”

Oral disease-modifying therapies for multiple sclerosis in the Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) region: an overview

“…As for the majority of the Arabian Gulf states (Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, and United Arab Emirates) once the drug has been approved by the FDA or EMA, the drug can be prescribed and imported on a patient named-basis. Guidelines on the use of DMTs for MS have been published from the MENACTRIMS and a few countries in the MENA region (Kuwait and Qatar) 21,96,97 .…”