Inaugural Pre-Day on Neuroinflammatory Diseases

This year’s ECTRIMS congress will play host to the inaugural Pre-Day, giving members of the arena’s emerging research communities the chance to connect with, learn from, and support one another.

To be held on the eve of ECTRIMS 2024, in Copenhagen, Denmark, and online, it will cover the latest evidence and updates on paediatric MS, neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody disorder (MOGAD), and autoimmune encephalitis and immunotherapy complications.

ECTRIMS is one of the biggest MS congresses in the world, bringing thousands of scientists, healthcare professionals, and more together each year. Pre-Day, which will include talks from preeminent, global researchers, has been designed to give those with an interest in newer and more specialised areas of this sprawling area of research a more focused view of the content, and to connect with each other.

ECTRIMS Pre-Day will serve as an exploratory day; one that delves into specialised topics in MS and associated neuroinflammatory autoimmune diseases. The aim is to catalyse collaboration, forge connections, and provide the support each of these specialised group deserves.

– Mar Tintoré, ECTRIMS President

Specialised research communities

The three areas of focus for Pre-Day have been chosen because they each reflect a growing area of research in their own right.

Recent years have, for example, seen an increase in the number of children being diagnosed with MS. Further more, there is a growing recognition that paediatric disease is characterised by several distinctive clinical features compared to adult-onset MS. Under 18s, for example, are more likely to have more active inflammation and a higher rate of disabling relapses, yet faster and more complete relapse recovery, and slower progression, than adults [1].

NMOSD and MOGAD is another extremely interesting area of study. The conditions share a range of features with each other and with MS, making differentiating between them, and initiating the correct management strategy, challenging. Indeed, it is only relatively recently, thanks to a deeper understanding of pathophysiology, that NMOSD and MOGAD have classified as separate entities to MS [2].

At the same time, the community’s rapidly advancing knowledge of antibodies and their associated syndromes has also give rise to the emerging field of autoimmune neurology, including autoimmune encephalitis [3].

Said Tintoré, “We are, however, only at the start line in terms of how we can take the learnings from these emerging fields of research, and translate them into tangible, clinical benefits. To fill the evidence and knowledge gaps, we need to work together as a community, educate each other, and make the connections that will feed the next generation of research in these areas. Which is exactly what the ECTRIMS Pre-Day aims to do.”

What’s on

The opening sessions will look at the mechanisms and pathology of paediatric MS, NMOSD, MOGAD and encephalitis, as well as how they differ. Next, speakers will discuss the clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of autoimmune and paraneoplastic encephalitis, and explore the challenges and pitfalls of using assays to detect antibodies related to autoimmune and paraneoplastic conditions.

A topical session will explore the cognitive consequences of paediatric MS, the challenges of diagnosing seronegative autoimmune encephalitis, innovative treatments in NMOSD/MOGAD, and the neurological complications of immune checkpoint inhibitors. The day will close with a look at how novel clinical trial design is enabling the development of interventions for these rare diseases.

How to get involved

All healthcare professionals, researchers, and individuals with a keen interest in these specialised areas of MS and related neuroinflammatory autoimmune diseases are welcome to attend, either in person or online.

Tickets can be purchased here, and discounts are available for those registering for the congress and Pre-Day at the same time.

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Written by Amanda Barrell

References:

1. Teleanu, R. I., Niculescu, A. G., et al. (2023). The state of the art of paediatric multiple sclerosis. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24(9), 8251.
2. Cacciaguerra, L., & Flanagan, E. P. (2024). Updates in NMOSD and MOGAD Diagnosis and Treatment: A Tale of Two Central Nervous System Autoimmune Inflammatory Disorders. Neurologic clinics, 42(1), 77-114.
3. Abboud, H., Probasco, J. C., Irani, S., Ances, B., Benavides, D. R., Bradshaw, M., … & Titulaer, M. J. (2021). Autoimmune encephalitis: proposed best practice recommendations for diagnosis and acute management. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, 92(7), 757-768.