title: The Swiss Multiple Sclerosis Cohort-Study (SMSC): A Prospective Swiss Wide Investigation of Key Phases in Disease Evolution and New Treatment Options.
abstract: The mechanisms leading to disability and the long-term efficacy and safety of disease modifying drugs (DMDs) in multiple sclerosis (MS) are unclear. We aimed at building a prospective cohort of MS patients with standardized collection of demographic, clinical, MRI data and body fluids that can be used to develop prognostic indicators and biomarkers of disease evolution and therapeutic response. The Swiss MS Cohort (SMSC) is a prospective observational study performed across seven Swiss MS centers including patients with MS, clinically isolated syndrome (CIS), radiologically isolated syndrome or neuromyelitis optica. Neurological and radiological assessments and biological samples are collected every 6-12 months. We recruited 872 patients (clinically isolated syndrome [CIS] 5.5%, relapsing-remitting MS [RRMS] 85.8%, primary progressive MS [PPMS] 3.5%, secondary progressive MS [SPMS] 5.2%) between June 2012 and July 2015. We performed 2,286 visits (median follow-up 398 days) and collected 2,274 serum, plasma and blood samples, 152 cerebrospinal fluid samples and 1,276 brain MRI scans. 158 relapses occurred and expanded disability status scale (EDSS) scores increased in PPMS, SPMS and RRMS patients experiencing relapses. Most RRMS patients were treated with fingolimod (33.4%), natalizumab (24.5%) or injectable DMDs (13.6%). The SMSC will provide relevant information regarding DMDs efficacy and safety and will serve as a comprehensive infrastructure available for nested research projects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Regional Hospital Lugano (EOC), Lugano, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Giulio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Disanto
authors.affiliation: Clinical Trial Unit, University Hospital Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Benkert
authors.affiliation: Neurology, Departments of Medicine, Biomedicine and Clinical Research, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lorscheider
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Cantonal Hospital St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Stefanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mueller
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Cantonal Hospital St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Jochen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vehoff
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Regional Hospital Lugano (EOC), Lugano, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zecca
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Cantonal Hospital Aarau, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ramseier
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Cantonal Hospital Aarau, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Lutz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Achtnichts
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Cantonal Hospital Aarau, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Findling
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Cantonal Hospital Aarau, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Krassen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nedeltchev
authors.affiliation: Medical Image Analysis Centre, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Ernst-Wilhelm
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Radue
authors.affiliation: Neurology, Departments of Medicine, Biomedicine and Clinical Research, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland.|Medical Image Analysis Centre, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Till
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sprenger
authors.affiliation: Neuroradiology, Department of Radiology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stippich
authors.affiliation: Neurology, Departments of Medicine, Biomedicine and Clinical Research, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Derfuss
authors.affiliation: RodanoTech, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Jean-François
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Louvion
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Christian P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Kamm
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Heinrich P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Mattle
authors.affiliation: Swiss Multiple Sclerosis Society, Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lotter
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Renaud
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Du Pasquier
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Myriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schluep
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Geneva (HUG), Geneva.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pot
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Geneva (HUG), Geneva.
authors.forename: Patrice H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Lalive
authors.affiliation: Neurology, Departments of Medicine, Biomedicine and Clinical Research, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Özgür
authors.initials: Ö
authors.lastname: Yaldizli
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Regional Hospital Lugano (EOC), Lugano, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gobbi
authors.affiliation: Neurology, Departments of Medicine, Biomedicine and Clinical Research, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Ludwig
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kappos
authors.affiliation: Neurology, Departments of Medicine, Biomedicine and Clinical Research, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kuhle
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood* / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D000068876:Fingolimod Hydrochloride / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D000069442:Natalizumab / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography; D012008:Recurrence; D013557:Switzerland
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D000069442:Natalizumab; D000068876:Fingolimod Hydrochloride