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Epidemiology and Pathophysiology of MS
Epidemiology and Pathophysiology of MS
Epidemiology and
C O N T I N UU M A UD I O
I NT E R V I E W A V AI L A B L E
ONLINE
Pathophysiology of
Multiple Sclerosis
By Melanie Ward, MD; Myla D. Goldman, MD, MSc, FAAN
CITE AS:
CONTINUUM (MINNEAP MINN)
2022;28(4, MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS
ABSTRACT
AND RELATED DISORDERS):988–1005.
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This article provides an overview of genetic,
Address correspondence to environmental, and lifestyle risk factors affecting the disease course of
Dr Melanie Ward, One Medical multiple sclerosis (MS) and reviews the pathophysiologic characteristics of
Center Dr, Ste 1310, Morgantown,
WV 26506, mward9@hsc.wvu.edu.
both relapsing and progressive MS.
RELATIONSHIP DISCLOSURE: RECENT FINDINGS: The prevalence of MS has increased in recent decades,
Dr Ward has received personal
compensation in the range of and costs of care for patients with MS have risen dramatically. Black,
$500 to $4999 for serving as a Asian, and Hispanic individuals may be at risk for more severe MS-related
consultant for Bristol-Myers disability. Multiple genetic MS risk factors have been identified. Factors
Squibb Company, Celgene
Corporation, EMD Serono, such as low vitamin D levels and a history of Epstein-Barr virus, smoking,
Genentech, Inc, and Novartis AG. and obesity, especially during childhood, also influence MS risk.
The institution of Dr Ward has
received research support from
Traditionally thought to be a T-cell–mediated disease, recent research has
Genentech, Inc. Dr Goldman has highlighted the additional roles of B cells and microglia in both relapsing
received personal compensation and progressive MS.
in the range of $500 to $4999 for
serving as a consultant for
Greenwich Biosciences, Inc, SUMMARY: Complex interactions between genetic, environmental, and
Merck & Co, Inc, and Novartis AG lifestyle factors affect the risk for MS as well as the disease course. People
and as a data safety monitoring
board member for BrainStorm of color have historically been underrepresented in both MS clinical trials
Cell Limited; has received and literature, but current research is attempting to better clarify unique
personal compensation in the
considerations in these groups. MS pathology consists of the focal
range of $5000 to $9999 for
serving as a consultant for inflammatory lesions that have been well characterized in relapsing MS, as
Biogen, EMD Serono, Inc, well as a more widespread neurodegenerative component that is posited
Genentec, Inc, Immunic
Therapeutics, and Sanofi; and
to drive progressive disease. Recent advances in characterization of both
has received personal the inflammatory and neurodegenerative aspects of MS pathophysiology
compensation in the range of have yielded potential targets for future therapeutic options.
$10,000 to $49,999 for serving as
a consultant for Adamas
Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
M
PRODUCTS/INVESTIGATIONAL ultiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune demyelinating disease
USE DISCLOSURE:
of the central nervous system (CNS) with both inflammatory
Drs Ward and Goldman discuss
the unlabeled/investigational and neurodegenerative components and is the most common
use of rituximab, Bruton tyrosine nontraumatic disabling neurologic condition in young adults.1,2
kinase inhibitors, and vitamin D
supplementation for the
Although initial disease descriptions date to hundreds of
treatment of multiple sclerosis. years ago, therapeutic options were limited until the past several decades.
Unprecedented advances in understanding pathogenesis and treatment of MS
© 2022 American Academy have occurred in recent years, and this article reviews both historical descriptions
of Neurology. of MS as well as current understanding of disease expression and pathophysiology.
PREVALENCE
The prevalence of MS in the adult population in the United States was estimated
at 309 per 100,000 population in 2010, and the extrapolated prevalence in 2017
was 337 to 362 per 100,000 population.1 This translates to more than 900,000
individuals living with MS in the United States.1 In contrast, estimated
prevalence in 1990 was 58 per 100,000, with an estimated 300,000 total US
patients.1 Female predominance, with a female to male ratio of approximately
three to one has held steady in this time period1 and persists across racial
populations.5,6 Several factors may contribute to increased MS prevalence,
including widespread access to MRI, changes to diagnostic criteria allowing for
diagnosis earlier in disease presentation, and population aging accompanied by
longer survival.1
CONTINUUMJOURNAL.COM 989
DMTs may at least partially relate to shifting T cell differentiation from TH1 and
TH17 to TH2 phenotypes, which have a less inflammatory profile.7
Although MS was historically thought to be a primarily T cell–driven disease,
the role of B cells in MS pathophysiology has been increasingly recognized and
characterized in recent years. CSF-specific oligoclonal IgG bands are antibodies
produced by B cells and have long been included in MS diagnostic criteria,9 and
peripheral B cells play a variety of roles in the pathophysiology of MS. In MS, B
cells produce proinflammatory cytokines including lymphotoxin-α, IL-6, TNF-α,
and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor. In turn, B-cell depletion
can attenuate proinflammatory activity of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells.9,10 Normally,
B cells can also generate anti-inflammatory cytokines including IL-10, IL-35, and
transforming growth factor β1, but the production of these in patients with MS
may be impaired.9 Interestingly, higher levels of IL-10–producing B cells were
previously found in patients with MS with concurrent helminth infections, and
this correlated with lower MS disease activity.11
FIGURE 1-1
Microglial involvement in neurodegeneration in multiple sclerosis (MS). Microglia and
macrophages release many cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and interleukin
(IL)-1β, which may contribute to neurodegeneration via cytokine-induced cell death, inhibition
of astrocytic glutamate reuptake, and the induction of dysfunctional RNA-binding proteins.
Microglia and macrophages can also release glutamate, potentially contributing to glutamate
excitotoxicity and neurodegeneration. Lastly, microglia and macrophages release reactive
oxygen species/reactive nitrogen species, which may contribute to neurodegeneration by
inducing oxidative stress and mitochondrial injury. Microglia can also express anti-inflammatory
phenotypes, which may contribute to remyelination, and much remains to be determined
regarding the definitive pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration in MS.
Modified from Kamma E, et al, J Neuroinflamm.17 © 2022 The Authors.
CONTINUUMJOURNAL.COM 991
RISK FACTORS
Studies in MS have identified several environmental, lifestyle, and genetic risk
factors relevant in both the risk of MS disease onset and course following
diagnosis.
Genetics
The human leukocyte antigen (HLA) complex contains multiple genes related to
immune system functioning, and HLA genotype has been increasingly well
characterized regarding MS risk.48 HLA-DRB1*15:01 is associated with increased
risk of MS and is present in up to 30% of the population in the United States and
northern Europe.49 HLA-A*02 is associated with decreased MS risk.48 Many
other normal-variant single nucleotide polymorphisms, which are located
outside the HLA complex but typically near genes associated with immune
functions, have also been associated with MS risk to varying degrees.48,49
Combinations of genetic factors also likely contribute to disease risk; for
example, the presence of HLA-DRB1*15:01 and the lack of HLA-A*02 are
CONTINUUMJOURNAL.COM 993
Epstein-Barr Virus
EBV is a herpes virus frequently acquired in childhood and is often
asymptomatic. Later-onset infection in adolescence and adulthood is more
commonly associated with clinical illness manifesting as infectious
mononucleosis.51 Following infection, latent EBV remains in host B
lymphocytes.52 Across multiple meta-analyses, EBV antibody seropositivity and
infectious mononucleosis have consistently been associated with MS risk.53 Even
more definitively, a recent large study by Bjornevik and colleagues52 indicated
that MS is almost always preceded by EBV infection and that EBV may be a
primary cause of MS. That being said, EBV seropositivity is high not only in
patients with MS but also in the general population; thus, the role of EBV in MS
pathogenesis is likely multifactorial and may include interactions between EBV,
predisposing genetic factors, and environmental risk factors.49,54
EBV nuclear antigen 1 (EBNA1) is expressed in EBV-infected B cells and
contributes to transcription regulation and viral genome maintenance.54
Proposed mechanisms by which EBV may contribute to MS pathogenesis include
molecular mimicry between EBNA1 and glial cell adhesion molecules expressed
by CNS oligodendrocytes and astrocytes resulting in cross-reactive antibodies.55
In human tissue studies, a significantly higher number of EBV-related proteins
were present in chronic MS lesions compared with non-MS controls, and 85% of
patients with MS had EBV-encoded RNA-positive B cells in their brains
compared with rare occurrence in control brains.56 In another study, EBV
infection was also demonstrated directly in astrocytes and microglia of patients
with MS and was not solely confined to B cells.57
Several other potential viral contributors to MS risk, including human herpes
virus 6, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus, and human endogenous
retroviruses, have been explored, but thus far have less well-established
associations with MS pathogenesis than EBV.49
Smoking
Smoking has been associated with increased risk of MS,58 as well as
conversion from CIS to clinically definite MS33 and conversion of relapsing
to secondary progressive MS.59,60 Smoking may also reduce efficacy of at
least some DMTs including interferon and natalizumab.61,62 Passive smoke
exposure has also been associated with increased MS risk.48 Interestingly, use
of oral tobacco has been associated with decreased risk of MS, suggesting that
lung inflammation from smoking may be the driver of increased MS risk
in smokers.48
Genetic factors may influence the effect of smoking on MS risk. For example,
one Swedish study found that among patients who had HLA-DRB1*15:01 and
lacked HLA-A*02, smoking contributed to development of MS in 41% of cases.63
This illustrates the importance of smoking, including passive exposure, as a
modifiable risk factor both for disease development and disease course in MS.
CONTINUUMJOURNAL.COM 995
Race-specific Considerations
Data regarding people of color have historically been underrepresented in the MS
literature.90 MS has long been considered to predominantly affect White people
of Northern European ancestry, but this assumption has been challenged in
recent demographic data. Studies suggest a higher incidence of MS in the US
Black population than previously characterized (CASE 1-2) and up to a 47%
higher risk of MS in Black women compared with White women in the US.6,91,92
Black patients are more likely than White patients to present with multifocal
symptoms, more frequently develop transverse myelitis, and may have worse
visual impairment from acute optic neuritis and more rapid retinal nerve fiber
loss leading to greater vision dysfunction.5,93,94 Rates of relapsing versus
progressive disease are similar between Black patients and White patients.5 MS
occurs more frequently in Black Americans than Africans, which may relate to
Vitamin D Increased risk of multiple sclerosis (MS)/clinically Consider assessing serum total vitamin D level for
deficiency isolated syndrome (CIS)31,35,36 patients with MS/CIS
Increased risk of MS relapse31,38,39 Definitive goal level for patients with MS not yet
established; Endocrine Society guidelines
recommend goal level of 30 ng/mL for the general
population,46 and some MS specialists recommend
goal level of 40-60 ng/mL47
Smoking Associated with increased risk of MS/CIS58,60 Encourage cessation and educate patients regarding
and increased risk of disease progression59,60 MS-specific smoking risks, consider referral to
smoking cessation support services64,65
Obesity Childhood/adolescent obesity associated with Counsel patients regarding MS-specific obesity
increased MS risk66,67 concerns, encourage healthy weight67
Abdominal obesity associated with worse MS
disability67
Diet and Gut microbiome may contribute to systemic Discuss potential role of higher quality diet in MS
microbiome inflammation71,73 symptom management
Unifying ideal MS diet has not yet emerged, but
diet may contribute to symptom management74-77
Comorbid Systemic and psychiatric comorbidities may Inform patients of importance of managing
conditions contribute to relapse risk,78 degree of disability,84,87 comorbidities
and adherence to treatment85,86
LGBTQAI Populations
Limited data exist regarding lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (or
questioning), asexual (or allied), and intersex (LGBTQAI)-specific
considerations in MS. In a prior analysis of 5604 patients with MS enrolled in the
CONTINUUMJOURNAL.COM 997
COMMENT Recent studies suggest that the incidence of MS in Black patients in the
United States is higher than previously characterized and similar to the
incidence in White patients. Black patients may be more likely to have visual
and spinal cord disease involvement and may develop ambulatory
dysfunction earlier than White patients. Patients of color have historically
been underrepresented in clinical trials of MS disease-modifying
therapies.
Low vitamin D levels have been associated with an increased risk of MS,
and although the role of supplementation has not been clearly defined, it is
often considered in clinical practice. Consensus has not yet been reached
regarding goal vitamin D levels for patients with MS, but levels of at least
40 ng/mL to 60 ng/mL have been suggested. Smoking has been associated
with both risk of MS and disease course, and education regarding
MS-specific risks of smoking may influence the likelihood of cessation.
Another modifiable risk factor for MS that did not apply in this case
includes obesity, especially in adolescence and childhood. Abdominal
obesity in particular may have associations with the degree of MS-related
disability. Nonmodifiable MS risk factors include Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)
infection (at least currently, given widespread seropositivity in the general
population and lack of definitive treatment for EBV) and genotype.
FIGURE 1-2
Imaging from the patient in CASE 1-1. Brain axial (A) and sagittal (B) fluid-attenuated inversion
recovery (FLAIR) MRI demonstrating periventricular lesions consistent with multiple
sclerosis. Axial T2-weighted MRI (C) of cervical spine demonstrating a demyelinating lesion.
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KEY POINTS orientation and gender identity may be an opportunity for optimization of
comprehensive MS care, and more data are needed regarding LGBTQAI-specific
● Physician awareness
regarding patients’ gender
considerations in MS.
identity and sexual
orientation is an important Socioeconomic Status
opportunity for improved Socioeconomic factors, including income, employment, access to health
comprehensive care and
insurance, and education are increasingly recognized as contributors to clinical
patient satisfaction.
outcomes in MS.111 Lower socioeconomic status has been associated with worse
● Socioeconomic factors disability,112-114 and adjusting for socioeconomic status attenuates some racial
contribute to MS outcomes, differences in degree of disability.95 Lower socioeconomic status has also been
and costs of care related to associated with worse MS-related symptoms including fatigue, depression, and
MS have steadily increased.
Many patients with MS anxiety.110,113 Nearly three-fourths of patients at one MS center experienced
experience financial worry, financial worry, and cost of care contributed to nonadherence to clinic visits,
and costs may affect patient imaging, or medications in more than one-third of patients at the same center.115,116
adherence and quality On a larger population level, the 2019 total estimated US economic burden
of life.
of MS was $85 billion, and prescription medications (DMT and non-DMT)
accounted for almost $40 billion of direct MS medical costs.117 In recent years,
costs of DMT have risen significantly, drastically out of proportion to the rate of
inflation, and far outpace spending for clinical services.118 Costs of care rise with
increasing disability, and in prior meta-analyses MS ranked second only to
congestive heart failure in direct cost of care for chronic medical conditions.119
Cooperative efforts between physicians and health insurance plans may provide
opportunities for improvements in cost stewardship as well as equity and quality
of care.120
CONCLUSION
MS occurs in patients of all backgrounds and can develop in childhood through
adulthood. The prevalence of MS has increased in recent decades, and the
economic impacts of the disease on both individual patients and the health care
system at large are considerable. MS pathogenesis likely results from complex
interactions between genetic and environmental risk factors. Recent decades
have yielded marked advances regarding understanding of MS disease processes,
and treatment options have also significantly expanded. Still, much remains to be
elucidated regarding MS disease mechanisms, including the importance of
individual variation in inflammatory dysfunction, early and sustained impact of
risk factor and comorbid disease mitigation, and pathobiologic differences
between relapsing and progressive disease. Further understanding of these areas
will have important and meaningful implications for disease prevention and
individual therapeutic options. Future studies are needed, especially regarding
the discussed unique subgroups of patients with MS who have historically been
underrepresented in MS-related research and clinical trials.
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