Third SPRINT Team Presentation

Investigating differences in fluid biomarkers between progressive MS subtypes 
SPRINT Team Presenters: Dr. Haritha Desu, Dr. Katherine Sawicka, Emily Wuerch (15 min)
SPRINT Mentor: Dr. Jacqueline Quandt
Multiple sclerosis has largely been divided into three main clinical subtypes: relapsing-remitting (RRMS), secondary progressive (SPMS), and primary progressive (PPMS). While RRMS is most common initially and characterized by episodes of clinical worsening followed by remission, progressive MS is typified by continuous worsening without remission. Most patients with RRMS will transition to SPMS around the fifth decade of life, similar to the age of onset for the smaller percentage who are diagnosed with PPMS from onset. While great advances have been made in the treatment of RRMS, our knowledge of the pathobiology underlying progressive MS is lacking. For instance, it is currently unclear whether SPMS and PPMS represent a similar disease with different patterns of onset but comparable pathological processes, or if they represent largely separate manifestations with varying contributions of inflammatory or reparative processes to each. This has led to a lack of standard regarding whether progressive patients should be grouped together, or if more can be learned through evaluation/distinction as different groups in clinical studies or trials. Our objective was to conduct a rapid literature review of markers associated with neuroaxonal or glial degenerative processes examined in fluid biomarkers studies, with the goal of identifying whether or not differences exist between PPMS and SPMS. This work will inform the design of future studies to address the underlying pathophysiology of progressive MS by highlighting biomarkers with similarities or differences between progressive MS subtypes.