Dr. Clare Walton, head of research at the MS Society, stated that a genetic tool could assist in making an early diagnosis of sclerosis. She described this as a breakthrough for patients with sclerosis, a condition affecting nearly 130,000 individuals in the U.K alone.
"Currently, 130,000 people live with MS in the UK and one in five will have experienced optic neuritis at the start of their MS journey," said Walton. "This research shows how using genetic scores could be a useful way to predict who will likely continue to an MS diagnosis. Using immunotherapies in people at high risk of MS could significantly delay the onset of the condition, but these drugs come with side effects. This exciting study opens up the possibility of finding people in which the benefits will outweigh the risks."
News Medical reports that optic neuritis is a condition affecting people of all ages and causing painful vision due to swelling in the optic nerve. Half of those affected by optic neuritis subsequently develop MS-related neuritis. The challenge lies in distinguishing between sole optic neuritis and MS optic neurosis, which can make it difficult for medical professionals to determine the most effective treatment approach. This is particularly challenging because harmful steroids are often used to prevent damage to the optic nerve in cases of MS optic neurosis.
According to News Medical, researchers at the University of Exeter analyzed 300 genetic forms associated with developing MS. The team also examined over 500,000 shared genetic samples and collected data. The research project originated as a summer initiative at the University of Exeter and has since expanded into a large-scale collaboration funded by the Royal College of Ophthalmologists and Fight for Sight. The research findings have been published in Nature Communications under the title 'Applying a genetic risk score model to enhance prediction of future Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis at first presentation with optic neuritis.'
News Medical was established with the aim of disseminating medical and scientific research to its readership to make a positive impact. It brings together healthcare workers, doctors, researchers, and medical professionals from around the world to provide 'access content' in hopes of fostering communication within the medical community. They offer an array of knowledge through interviews with Nobel-prize winners, insightful articles written by experts, among other resources.
