Publications by authors named "Peter Vestergaard Rasmussen"
Differentiation of MS lesions through analysis of microvascular distribution.
Imaging Neurosci (Camb)
November 2024
Conventional MRI is crucial for diagnosing multiple sclerosis (MS) but lacks precision, leading to the clinico-radiological paradox and misdiagnosis risk, especially when confronted with unspecific lesions not related to MS. Advancements in perfusion-weighted imaging (PWI) with an algorithm designed for diseases with anticipated contrast agent extravasation offer insight into microvascular impairment and flow heterogeneity. Our study aimed to assess these factors in MS patients and their association with clinically relevant white matter injury and disease course.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPediatric Onset Multiple Sclerosis (POMS): Exploring phenotypic characterization and pubertal influences in modulating the disease activity from the Danish MS Registry (DMSR).
Mult Scler
August 2025
Background: Pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis (POMS) constitutes ~5% of multiple sclerosis (MS) cases and presents distinct clinical and diagnostic challenges. Puberty, characterized by significant hormonal changes, may influence disease presentation, relapse rates, and long-term outcomes.
Objectives: To investigate the impact of pubertal stages on clinical characteristics, relapse activity and disability progression in POMS using data from the Danish MS Registry (DMSR).
Currently, there are limited therapeutic options for patients with non-active secondary progressive multiple sclerosis. Therefore, real-world studies have investigated differences between patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, non-active secondary progressive multiple sclerosis and active secondary progressive multiple sclerosis. Here, we explore patterns and predictors of transitioning between these phenotypes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- Teriflunomide, a medication for multiple sclerosis (MS), is linked to a higher risk of developing hypertension compared to another MS treatment, dimethyl fumarate.
- A study involving nearly 5,000 adult patients over 10 years showed that hypertension events occurred significantly more in those on teriflunomide (40.6 per 1000 person-years) than in those on dimethyl fumarate (13.1 per 1000 person-years).
- The findings indicate that patients on teriflunomide are 2.8 times more likely to develop hypertension, with a concerning "number needed to harm" of 16 at 3 years and 9 at 5 years.
Article Synopsis
- Inpatient rehabilitation improves health-related quality of life (HRQOL) for multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, but the benefits often lessen after returning home, prompting a study on monthly telecoaching to sustain improvements.
- A one-year study compared two telecoaching methods (telephone and web-based) to see if they could help maintain HRQOL post-discharge, using a neuropsychological group and a physical group for analysis.
- Results showed that the neuropsychological group experienced long-term HRQOL benefits from telecoaching, particularly with one-on-one phone support, while the physical group did not see any significant improvement.
Article Synopsis
- The study explored the effectiveness of multidisciplinary rehabilitation (MDR) for individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS), highlighting the complexities of their symptoms and diverse treatment needs.
- A randomized controlled trial was conducted with follow-up assessments focused on five main areas: Resilience, Cognitive Function, Energy, Physical Function, and Personal Needs, measuring outcomes using the Functional Assessment of Multiple Sclerosis (FAMS) tool.
- Results showed significant improvements in FAMS scores at discharge for all focus areas, though the extent and durability of these improvements varied, underscoring the importance of tailored goal-setting in MDR for better health outcomes.
Article Synopsis
- The study aims to identify predictors of treatment switching in patients with relapsing-remitting MS using data from multiple national registries.
- A total of 269,822 treatment episodes from 110,326 patients were analyzed, focusing on those who started disease-modifying treatments during their RRMS phase.
- Key findings indicate that higher disability scores (EDSS), being female, and older age increase the likelihood of treatment switching, with certain DMTs initiated between 2007 and 2012 showing even higher rates of switching.
Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of cannabis-based medicine in a patient population included in a randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical trial.
Clin Transl Sci
January 2024
Article Synopsis
- The study explores the pharmacokinetics (how the drug moves in the body) and pharmacodynamics (the effects of the drug) of cannabis-based medicine (CBM) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) suffering from neuropathic pain and spasticity.
- Out of 134 participants in a larger trial, 23 were focused on in this substudy, receiving either THC, CBD, a combination, or a placebo, with significant variability in dosages and individual responses observed.
- Though the pharmacokinetic data was similar to previous findings in healthy individuals, no significant effects on the pain and spasticity parameters were noted, although adverse events were more common in the treatment groups compared to placebo.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigated the effect of cannabis-based medicine (CBM) on neuropathic pain (NP) and spasticity in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and spinal cord injury (SCI) through a randomized, placebo-controlled trial in Denmark.
- A total of 134 patients were assigned to either THC, CBD, a combination of both, or a placebo for six weeks, but the results showed no significant differences in pain or spasticity levels between the active treatments and placebo.
- Recruitment challenges due to COVID-19 led to fewer participants than planned, and ultimately, the findings indicated that CBM had no evident impact on NP or spasticity in the studied patient groups.
Article Synopsis
- Ocrelizumab, a targeted monoclonal antibody for treating relapsing-remitting MS, significantly reduces relapse rates and disability compared to interferon beta 1a, while rituximab is often used off-label as an alternative.
- This study aimed to determine if rituximab's effectiveness is comparable (noninferior) to that of ocrelizumab in treating relapsing-remitting MS.
- The observational study included over 1600 patients from MS registries with matched baseline characteristics, focusing on annual relapse rates as the primary outcome measure.
Background: Natalizumab is a widely used high-efficacy treatment in multiple sclerosis (MS). Real-world evidence regarding long-term effectiveness and safety is warranted. We performed a nationwide study evaluating prescription patterns, effectiveness, and adverse events.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFReal-world experience of cladribine treatment in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: A Danish nationwide study.
Mult Scler Relat Disord
February 2023
Background: Cladribine is a nucleoside analogue interfering with synthesis and repair of DNA. Treatment with cladribine leads to a preferential reduction in lymphocytes, resulting in profound depletion of B-cells with a rapid recovery of naïve B-cells, while T-cell show a lesser but long-lasting depletion It is approved for treatment of relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS). Cladribine tablets 3.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFApplication of definitions for conversion to secondary progressive MS in a Danish nationwide population.
Mult Scler Relat Disord
November 2021
Background: The number of patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) who convert to secondary progressive (SP) MS is uncertain, and with emerging treatment options for SPMS, it is important to identify RRMS patients in transition to the SP phase. The objective of the present study was to characterize clinical parameters and use of disease modifying therapies in patients diagnosed with SPMS and RRMS patients already entered the SP phase by use of the Danish Multiple Sclerosis Registry (DMSR).
Methods: We used a cross-sectional design, including all living patients with MS as of June 30, 2020 from DMSR.
The Effect of Cannabis-Based Medicine on Neuropathic Pain and Spasticity in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis and Spinal Cord Injury: Study Protocol of a National Multicenter Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Trial.
Brain Sci
September 2021
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the effects of cannabis-based medicine (CBM) on spasticity and central neuropathic pain in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and spinal cord injury (SCI), who often seek such treatment for their symptoms.
- Patients are randomly assigned to receive either THC, CBD, a combination of both, or a placebo, with major outcomes focused on pain and spasticity levels reported by the patients.
- The research aims to shed light on the benefits and side effects of different cannabinoids and their dosage, while also gathering data on pharmacodynamics (PD) and pharmacokinetics (PK) for better understanding in a clinical setting.
Article Synopsis
- Natalizumab outperforms fingolimod in reducing relapses in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), but it's unclear if this holds true for all demographic groups.
- The study aimed to assess the effectiveness of these treatments across different patient subgroups, considering factors like age, sex, disease duration, and disability status.
- Results showed that natalizumab led to fewer relapses and a higher chance of improving disability in various subgroups, indicating its potential superiority, particularly in younger patients and those with less severe disease.
Importance: Treatment strategies for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) vary markedly between Denmark and Sweden. The difference in the association of these national strategies with clinical outcomes is unknown.
Objective: To investigate the association of national differences in disease-modifying treatment (DMT) strategies for RRMS with disability outcomes.
Objective: Teriflunomide is a once-daily, oral disease-modifying therapy (DMT) for relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). We studied clinical outcomes in a real-world setting involving a population-based large cohort of unselected patients enrolled in The Danish Multiple Sclerosis Registry (DMSR) who started teriflunomide treatment between 2013-2019.
Methods: This was a complete nationwide population-based cohort study with prospectively enrolled unselected cases.
Objective: To explore factors shaping the experiences of patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis with infusible disease-modifying drugs in a hospital setting.
Design And Settings: The critical incident technique served as a framework for collecting and analysing patients' qualitative account practices involving infusible disease-modifying drugs. Data were collected through semistructured interviews and one single-case study.
Article Synopsis
- - The study aimed to compare the effectiveness of high-efficacy disease-modifying therapies (heDMTs) and medium-efficacy disease-modifying therapies (meDMTs) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) who have not previously received treatment, focusing on disability worsening and relapse rates.
- - Researchers analyzed data from the Danish Multiple Sclerosis Registry, assessing a total of 388 patients, with findings showing that those on heDMT had significantly lower rates of disability worsening and first relapses compared to those on meDMT over a 4-year period.
- - The conclusion indicates that starting treatment with heDMT is associated with a reduced risk of deterioration in disability and fewer relapses in MS patients, providing Class
Background: Inpatient multidisciplinary rehabilitation (MDR) can improve health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. However, the evidence of a long-term benefit is limited.
Objectives: To investigate the long-term effectiveness of inpatient MDR on HRQoL in MS patients.
Objective: To compare on-treatment efficacy and discontinuation outcomes in teriflunomide (TFL) and dimethyl fumarate (DMF) in the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) in a real-world setting.
Methods: We identified all patients starting TFL or DMF from the Danish Multiple Sclerosis Registry and compared on-treatment efficacy outcomes between DMF using TFL, adjusted for clinical baseline variables and propensity score-based methods.
Results: We included 2,236 patients in the study: 1,469 patients on TFL and 767 on DMF.
Background: Time matters in multiple sclerosis (MS). Irreversible neural damage and cell loss occur from disease onset. The MS community has endorsed a management strategy of prompt diagnosis, timely intervention and regular proactive monitoring of treatment effectiveness and disease activity to improve outcomes in people with MS.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: In multiple sclerosis (MS), the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) reflects disease severity. Although parts of the EDSS are dependent on actual walking distance, self-reported statements are often applied.
Objectives: The purpose of the present study was, therefore, to compare self-reported walking distance to actual walking distance to outline how this influences EDSS scoring.
Patient awareness about family planning represents a major knowledge gap in multiple sclerosis.
Mult Scler Relat Disord
August 2018
Background: The purpose of the survey was to assess the knowledge of family planning issues associated with disease modifying therapies (DMTs) among patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS).
Methods: 590 Danish MS patients responded to an online questionnaire about family planning in MS, collecting demographics, disease characteristics, disease modifying treatment, knowledge of potential teratogenic effects in DMTs, number of children, occurrence of unplanned pregnancies and outcome, and sources of information.
Results: 488 females and 102 males, mean age 40 years, responded.
Background: There is insufficient evidence to support the effectiveness of multidisciplinary rehabilitation on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of MS patients.
Objectives: To evaluate the longer term effectiveness of inpatient multidisciplinary rehabilitation on the HRQoL of MS patients.
Methods: The study was a two-hospital, pragmatic, randomized controlled trial with a 6-month follow-up.