Randomized, Double-blinded Study of Treatment:Teriflunomide, in Radiologically Isolated Syndrome

Plain-language summary

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a common cause of severe neurological disability in young adults, resulting from an autoimmune interruption of both myelin and axons within the central nervous system (CNS). The diagnosis is made by fulfilling both spatial criteria, by meeting the requisite number of lesions within the brain or spinal cord, along with criteria for time, by demonstrating a history of at least a second clinical attack or the development of a new MS lesion on MRI after the seminal neurological event. In the case of MS, healthy individuals who do not exhibit signs of neurological dysfunction commonly have brain MRI studies performed for a reason other than an evaluation for MS that reveal unexpected anomalies highly suggestive of demyelinating plaques given their size, location, and morphology. These healthy subjects lack symptomatology suggestive of MS and fulfill formal criteria for radiologically isolated syndrome (RIS), a recently described MS subtype that expands upon the phenotype of at-risk individuals for future demyelinating events. The discovery of such anomalies creates intersecting neuro-ethical, legal, social, and practical medical management quandaries and is, therefore, of both immediate and long-term clinical significance. Despite advancements in the characterization of RIS subjects, and in our understanding of risk factors for initial symptom development, the effect of treatment on such cases remain unclear. The purpose of this investigation is to systematically study the efficacy of Teriflunomide in those individuals who possess incidental white matter anomalies within the brain and following a MRI study that is performed for a reason other than for the evaluation of MS. RIS subjects are frequently exposed to disease modifying therapies despite the lack of scientific literature supporting the use of such treatments. Earlier treatment intervention may extend the time to the first acute or progressive clinical event resulting from CNS demyelination and reduce radiological progression. In addition, early treatment may result in more profound effects on reducing disability progression long-term. The primary outcome measure for this trial is the time to the first acute or progressive neurological event resulting from CNS demyelination. This study will include RIS subjects from the Europe who fulfill 2009 RIS Criteria.

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