EAN 2023 | The association between neurodegeneration and PIRA in MS

Jaume Sastre-Garriga, MD, PhD, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain, explores the association between neurodegeneration and progression independent of relapse activity (PIRA), a clinical concept that reflects the gradual worsening of disability in patients, primarily measured using the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). Beyond the clinical aspects, MRI studies reveal early neurodegenerative processes, including increased atrophy, especially in the gray matter of the brain, in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) compared to healthy individuals. Furthermore, slowly expanding lesions, which lack typical signs of active inflammation but involve a slow-burning form, may be associated with PIRA. These findings shed light on the early occurrence of pathological changes in MS and contribute to the overall understanding of the disease. This interview took place at the European Academy of Neurology (EAN) 2023 Congress in Budapest, Hungary.

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