comprehensive analysis of relapse in multiple sclerosis

Conditions: Multiple Sclerosis

Summary: this study will determine changes in: 1) the immune activity, characterized as the "immunorepertoire;" 2) 7 tesla mri brain images; 3) clinical outcomes; and 4) patient reported quality of life outcomes in subjects with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis who are treated with acthar gel.

20 patients with documented multiple sclerosis, who have been diagnosed within 12 months of enrollment in the study and who are currently experiencing an ms relapse, defined as the following manifestation: acute onset or worsening of any of the manifestations of cns relapses (excluding spinal cord) including: * brain stem syndrome * optic neuritis * cerebellar syndromes if they choose to participate, subjects will be asked to: meet at the clinic 4 times: * initial visit * 5 days after baseline visit * 14 days after baseline visit * 30 days after baseline visit meet with neurologist for neurological exam that will include a: * review of neurological status * review of new and ongoing symptoms * review of symptom resolution * review of any side effects or adverse events * resolution of any patient questions and concerns * provide a 40cc whole blood sample at each of the 4 visits * consent to acthar gel treatment for their relapse for 14 days (or as required for their relapse) * ss will agree to be trained in self-administration of acthar * first dose administered at baseline visit * self-administered days 2-14 of participation * complete 4 psychometric instruments at baseline and 30 day visit * cognitive assessment using the brief international cognitive assessment for ms (benedict 2012) * administered by tanner center staff specially trained in this assessment * quality of life assessments: self-administered * msqol (cella et al, 1006) * psychological adjustment to illness survey (rodrigue et al 2000) * coping skills inventory (liveneh, 2003) * participate in a brief semi-structured interview, at day 5 visit

Eligibility criteria:
inclusion criteria: * patients will be eligible to participate in the study if: they were diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis within 1 year of their participation in the study are established patients of the tanner center for ms seek care for relapse within 72 hours of onset are between the ages of 19 and 65 inclusively. relapse will be confirmed and defined as the acute worsening of function that lasts for at least 24 hours with any of the manifestations of central nervous system relapses (excluding spinal cord) including: brain stem syndrome optic neuritis cerebellar syndromes hemi-motor/sensory events males and females are both eligible patients of any race or ethnicity are eligible are not pregnant (as confirmed by pregnancy test at the time of enrollment) or nursing have no known contraindicating conditions (see exclusions) exclusion criteria: * potential participants will be excluded if they do not meet the above criteria, and also if: they are currently being treated for ms with the any of the following disease-modifying drugs: tysabri, gilenya, aubagio, tecfidera they have a history of experiencing significant adverse reactions to corticosteroids they are deemed by dr riser to be better served with an intervention other than acthar gel to treat their current ms relapse are pregnant or nursing are known to have any of the contraindicating conditions: scleroderm osteoporosis systemic fungal infections ocular herpes simplex recent surgery history of or presence of peptic ulcer congestive heart failure uncontrolled hypertension adreno-cortical insufficiency, hyper-function or sensitivity sensitivity to proteins of porcine origin

Keywords: acthar gel ms relapse 7t mri imaging quality of life