HIV infection is linked to a significantly lower risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS), indicates observational research published online in the Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry. Chronic dampening down of the immune system as a result of the infection and/or the antiretroviral drugs used to treat it might explain this association, say the researchers. If subsequently found to be causal, this could have considerable implications for the treatment of MS, they suggest. Following the case of an HIV positive man with MS, whose MS symptoms disappeared for more than 12 years after antiretroviral treatment for his HIV infection, a Danish research team attempted to find out if antiretroviral drugs might treat or slow the progression of MS. Their results suggested this might be a possibility, but the numbers were too small to reach statistical significance, prompting the current researchers to carry out a much larger comparative study. They did this by looking at episodes of hospital care between 1999 and 2011 in England. In all, more than 21,000 people infected with HIV were treated during this period, as were almost 5.3 million people treated for minor conditions or injuries, who acted as the comparison group. The development of MS … Continue reading →

In MS, body's immune system destroying nerves and their protective coating HIV patients are '62 per cent less likely to developmultiple sclerosis' Chronic dampening down of the immune system as a result of HIV - or the antiretroviral drugs used to treat - it could be reason behind lowered risk MS experts described the new study as 'valuable and intriguing' By Anna Hodgekiss Published: 17:40 EST, 4 August 2014 | Updated: 17:40 EST, 4 August 2014 100 shares 14 View comments Drugs used to treat HIV could be used to treat multiple sclerosis (MS), new research suggests. Researchers found that people infected with HIV infection have a significantly lower risk of developing the debilitating nerve condition. They say chronic dampening down of the immune system as a result of HIV - or the antiretroviral drugs used to treat - it could be the reason behind the lowered risk. Multiple sclerosis - caused by the body's own defences attacking myelin, the fatty insulation surrounding nerve fibres (pictured) - could be treated with HIV drugs, new research suggests Read more: Could MS patients be treated with HIV drugs? … Continue reading →

WINNIPEG A national clinical trial testing the effectiveness of a controversial treatment for multiple sclerosis is halfway to meeting its recruitment goal, and Manitobans are playing a prominent role. Dr. Anthony Traboulsee, director of UBC Hospitals MS Centre in Vancouver, the studys lead researcher, said 17 Manitobans are among the 51 Canadians enrolled so far. He hopes to have 100 MS sufferers recruited across the country by Feb. 1. Im pretty confident that Winnipeg could potentially be the top recruiting site, Traboulsee said in a telephone interview on Friday. All of the ducks have lined up in Manitoba beautifully. Winnipeg is one of four sites for the $6-million national clinical trial announced in September 2012. The others are in Vancouver, Montreal and Quebec City. The Manitoba government is footing part of the cost of the research. The clinical trial is assessing the effectiveness of the so-called liberation therapy for treating MS pioneered by Italian researcher Dr. Paolo Zamboni in 2008. It involves improving blood flow in neck veins. The Italian vascular surgeon believes a condition, dubbed chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency, or CCSVI, is the cause of the disease. Multiple sclerosis causes the destruction of myelin, the protective sheath around nerves … Continue reading →

Drugs used to treat HIV could potentially be used to treat multiple sclerosis (MS) in the future, experts have said after research showed that people with the virus have a lower MS risk. Researchers said that chronic dampening down of the immune system as a result of HIV or the anti-retroviral drugs used to treat it could be the reason behind the lowered risk. The MS Society said while much more research is needed, the study shows that antiretrovirals could be a potential future option for treatment for MS. Researchers examined more than 21,000 HIV-positive patients treated in hospitals in England between 1999 and 2011 and compared them to more than five million control subjects. Their study, published in the Journal Of Neurology Neurosurgery And Psychiatry, found that those with HIV were 62% less likely to develop MS. The authors wrote: HIV infection is associated with a significantly decreased risk of developing MS. Mechanisms of this observed possibly protective association may include immunosuppression induced by chronic HIV infection and antiretroviral medications. Commenting on the study, Emma Gray, research communications manager at the MS Society, said: We know that people with MS want new, effective treatments and this study provides some … Continue reading →

Brandon Sun - ONLINE EDITION By: Larry Kusch Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2014 at 6:43 AM | Comments: 0 A NATIONAL clinical trial testing the effectiveness of a controversial treatment for multiple sclerosis is halfway to meeting its recruitment goal, and Manitobans are playing a prominent role. Dr. Anthony Traboulsee, director of UBC Hospital's MS Centre in Vancouver, the study's lead researcher, said 17 Manitobans are among the 51 Canadians enrolled so far. He hopes to have 100 MS sufferers recruited across the country by Feb. 1. "I'm pretty confident that Winnipeg could potentially be the top recruiting site," Traboulsee said in a telephone interview on Friday. "All of the ducks have lined up in Manitoba beautifully." Winnipeg is one of four sites for the $6-million national clinical trial announced in September 2012. The others are in Vancouver, Montreal and Quebec City. The Manitoba government is footing part of the cost of the research. The clinical trial is assessing the effectiveness of the so-called liberation therapy for treating MS pioneered by Italian researcher Dr. Paolo Zamboni in 2008. It involves improving blood flow in neck veins. The Italian vascular surgeon believes a condition, dubbed chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency, or CCSVI, is … Continue reading →