Early Intervention in Patients With Suspected Multiple Sclerosis
A continuing medical education certified Webcast

The treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) presents numerous challenges to health care providers seeking to minimize functional impairment and maximize quality of life for their patients with MS. There is strong evidence to support that early diagnosis and treatment of patients with clinical syndromes suggestive of MS could delay or prevent the progression of neurologic damage. The management of MS has been substantially advanced by the availability of disease-modifying drugs (DMDs), which have been shown to reduce the frequency and severity of relapse and slow disease progression on MRI in patients with relapsing-remitting MS.

Based on data supporting the concept that neural damage occurs in the early stages of MS, researchers have been exploring whether early interruption of the immune response would improve outcomes for patients who do not yet have clinically definite MS (CDMS). Three trials have provided important data that support the benefits of early treatment with DMDs in patients who present with an initial clinical event and MRI findings. Reduced risk of progression to CDMS was demonstrated by treatment with interferon ß-1a in the ETOMS and CHAMPS trials and by treatment with interferon ß-1b in the BENEFIT study. Results of the BENEFIT follow-up study also showed that advantages of early treatment may include slower progression in disability. This Webcast will review guidelines for early diagnosis, discuss recent clinical data on DMDs, and assess treatment options and effective strategies to help health care professionals manage suspected or early MS.

CME INFORMATION

Educational Objectives

• Analyze the biology and pathology of MS that support the benefits of early intervention
• Correctly identify patients with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) who will benefit from early treatment
• Initiate early pharmacologic intervention in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients with MS, based on clinical trial reports of efficacy, safety, and delay in disability progression

Quintiles, through its Learning and Development Department, is a California Board of Registered Nursing approved Continuing Education Provider. Eligible participants will be granted 1.0 contact hour after completion of this program.

Patricia Coyle, MD, has received grant and/or research support from Bayer. She is a consultant for, served on the speakers bureaus for, and received honoraria from Bayer and Pfizer, Inc. Dr. Coyle has received honoraria from, and served on the speakers bureau for Biogen. She has also received honoraria from Serono and Teva Pharmaceuticals.

Mark S. Freedman, MD, FRCPC, FAAN, has been a consultant for, and has received honoraria from Bayer Schering Pharma, BioMS, EMD Serono/Pfizer, and Teva Neurosciences.

Barrie J. Hurwitz, MB, MRCP(UK), has received grant and/or research support from, has served on the speakers bureaus for, received honoraria from, and is a consultant for Bayer and Merck Serono S.A.

CME Content Reviewer Disclosure

Michael Kaufman, MD, has received grant and/or research support and honoraria from Bayer, Biogen Idec, EMD Serono, Inc., and Teva Pharmaceuticals. He is also a consultant for Bayer.

Educational Partner Disclosure
The internal staff of Quintiles Medical Education reports no conflict or financial interest with any manufacturers of products or providers of services.

This activity does not contain information on commercial products/devices that are unlabeled for use or investigational uses of products not yet approved.

Disclaimer
The opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the sponsor, the educational partner, or the supporter. Please review complete prescribing information of specific drugs or combination of drugs, including indications, contraindications, warnings, and adverse effects before administering pharmacologic therapy to patients.

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