Risk factors ID'd for conversion from RIS to multiple sclerosis

(HealthDay)—Three factors are associated with an increased risk for onset of clinical symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS) among individuals with radiologically isolated syndrome (RIS), according to a study published online Oct. 11 in JAMA Network Open.

Christine Lebrun-Frénay, M.D., from the Université Nice Côte d'Azur in France, and colleagues used data from a prospective follow-up of 354 individuals with RIS identified at one of 26 tertiary centers for MS care in France to evaluate the two-year risk for onset of clinical symptoms of MS.

The researchers found that 49 patients (13.8 percent) had onset of clinical symptoms within two years, which was associated with an estimated risk for conversion of 19.2 percent. Age younger than 37 years (hazard ratio [HR], 4.04), spinal cord lesions (HR, 5.11), and gadolinium-enhancing lesions at the time of the index magnetic resonance imaging scan (HR, 2.09) were independently associated with an increased risk for conversion to MS in a multivariate analysis. The probability of a clinical event at two years was 27.9 percent for patients with two of these risk factors at the time of the index magnetic resonance imaging scan and 90.9 percent for patients with all three factors (three risk factors versus none: HR, 23.34).

"RIS may be well-positioned to serve as a new focal point in our scientific efforts to more accurately and at an earlier stage recognize, guide, and possibly treat to optimize care," the authors write.

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