A protein fragment called 12.5 kda cystatin may generate first simple test for multiple sclerosis
EurekAlert! Fri, 03 Mar 2006 5:48 AM PST
Johns Hopkins scientists report the discovery of a protein found only in cerebrospinal fluid that they say might be useful in identifying a subgroup of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) or identifying those at risk for the debilitating autoimmune disorder.

Studies Suggest Controversial Multiple Sclerosis Drug Is Safe HealthCentral.com Thu, 02 Mar 2006 10:21 PM PST WEDNESDAY, March 1 (HealthDay News) -- New data on a controversial multiple sclerosis drug pulled from the market a year ago found that the drug actually appears to be effective and safe, at least for the short term.

Stanford doctors spotlight fatal flaw in multiple sclerosis drug trial EurekAlert! Thu, 02 Mar 2006 4:03 PM PST When Anita Louise Smith enrolled in an experimental drug trial in 2002 in Colorado, she had a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis but no symptoms and was looking to reduce the chances of being ravaged by the disease. Last year, she died at the age of 46 from an infection linked to the drug.

Controversial MS Drug Trial Flawed, Experts Say HealthDay via Yahoo! News Fri, 03 Mar 2006 6:02 AM PST FRIDAY, March 3 (HealthDay News) -- Two experts are questioning whether a woman who died of a rare infection after participating in a trial for the multiple sclerosis (MS) drug Tysabri should have been included in the study in the first place.

Three studies say suspended MS drug now seems safe Philly.com Fri, 03 Mar 2006 6:19 AM PST A promising multiple sclerosis drug that was suspended from the market because three people developed a rare brain disease appears relatively safe and quite effective, three studies found.

A different kind of prescription Baltimore Sun Fri, 03 Mar 2006 0:54 AM PST Suffering from multiple sclerosis, Cynthia Crowner sees her neurologist and physiatrist regularly. But the 57-year-old Annapolis resident also pays regular visits to a spacious examining room on the wooded campus of the University of Maryland's Kernan Hospital near Dickeyville.

Controversial MS Drug Trial Flawed, Experts Say Health Scout Fri, 03 Mar 2006 8:18 AM PST Woman who died from rare infection shouldn't have been part of Tysabri study, they note.

MS Drug: No More Rare Disease Cases MedicineNet.com Thu, 02 Mar 2006 12:21 PM PST Title: MS Drug: No More Rare Disease Cases Category: Health News Created: 3/2/2006 Last Editorial Review: 3/2/2006

Anti-inflammatory drug's potentially deadly side effect found to be rare Washington University School of Medicine Fri, 03 Mar 2006 7:12 AM PST St. Louis, March 1, 2006 — Scientists have completed an extensive study of more than 3,000 patients who received a promising anti-inflammatory drug, natalizumab, that was linked to three cases of a serious brain infection in large clinical trials halted in early 2005.

Digest
Baltimore Sun Fri, 03 Mar 2006 0:54 AM PST