Louise Rath

Alfred Hospital · Department of Neurology and Stroke

Background In Australia, tixagevimab/cilgavimab 150 mg/150 mg was a government-funded pre-exposure prophylaxis for COVID-19 people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) and other neuroimmunological conditions (pwNIc) treated with anti-CD20 antibodies or sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor modulators were eligible. Objective To analyse the roll-out, uptake a...

Background and objectives: The impact of immunomodulatory therapies on the risk of cervical pre-cancer and invasive cancer development is important for the health and safety of women with multiple sclerosis (wwMS). We investigate the risk of cervical abnormalities in wwMS treated with disease-modifying therapies (DMTs). Methods: This is a multic...

Introduction Cladribine (Mavenclad®) is an oral treatment for relapsing remitting MS (RRMS). In RRMS clinical trials, Cladribine has been shown to reduce brain atrophy, relapse rates, and new lesions on MRI. Cladribine is thought to produce its beneficial effects through its lymphocytic actions. Objective To investigate the mechanism of action of...

Background In Australia, Evusheld – (tixagevimab150mg and cilgavimab150mg) is currently the only pre-exposure prophylaxis for COVID-19 infection Persons with Multiple Sclerosis (pwMS) who are treated with anti-CD20 antibodies and sphingosine 1- phosphate receptor modulators have an impaired vaccine-induced immune response, resulting in an increased...

Introduction Cladribine (Mavenclad®) is an oral treatment for relapsing remitting MS (RRMS). P2X7R is a purinergic receptor implicated in neuroinflammatory processes. Objective To investigate the mechanism of action of Cladribine on peripheral monocytes. Methods This is a Phase IV, open-label, multi-centre, 3-year, translational trial. 40 RRMS pa...

Objectives To evaluate the risk of cervical abnormality in women with multiple sclerosis (MS) exposed to high efficacy-disease modifying therapies (DMTs). Methods Multi-centre retrospective cohort study in Victoria, Australia utilising data collected from 1998–2019. Data linkage matched patient data across three registries: (1) MSBase Registry (2)...

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological condition of increasing prevalence. Many people living with MS will trial various alternative therapies, including changed patterns of eating, to try to gain control over their condition. New clinical guidelines advise reducing the time between first clinical symptoms and treatment. It...

Aims To retrospectively assess factors associated with John Cunningham virus (JCV) seroconversion in natalizumab-treated patients. Background Natalizumab is highly effective for the treatment of relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), but its use is complicated by opportunistic JCV infection. This virus can result in progressive multifocal...

Background Family planning and pregnancy decisions are key considerations in the management of women with multiple sclerosis (MS), who are typically diagnosed between the ages of 20–40 years. Despite a strong evidence base that pregnancy is not harmful for women with MS, many knowledge gaps remain. These include: best management strategies through...

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic challenges multiple sclerosis services to be innovative in delivering infusible therapies. To reduce time in clinical settings, and potential staff or space losses, we implemented rapid infusion protocols for selected patients. Objective: To analyse the rate of infusion related reactions and patient experience of r...

Background: People with multiple sclerosis and neuroimmunologic disorders (herein referred to as patients) are increasingly treated with infusible monoclonal antibodies. This rise in demand has placed increased loads on current infusion services and mandates careful strategic planning. This study examined patient preferences for the timing and loca...

Importance: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is usually diagnosed in women during their childbearing years. Currently, no consensus exists on whether pregnancy can delay the first episode of demyelination or clinically isolated syndrome (CIS). Objective: To investigate the association of pregnancy with time to CIS onset. Design, setting, and participant...

Background and Objective : The global COVID-19 pandemic creates an obvious acute health care resourcing and response problem. The different timing of pandemic peak in geographically distinct locations creates a short window of response opportunity. Rapid dissemination of medical information from early affected areas to later ones is therefore cruci...

Introduction Long-term exposure of women with Multiple sclerosis (MS, wwMS) to immunomodulatory or immunosuppressive treatments may increase the risk of cervical dysplasia. However, little is known about cervical dysplasia risk and Human Papillomavirus (HPV)-vaccine coverage in wwMS. Methods Adult wwMS were recruited from two tertiary MS clinics....

Background: Alemtuzumab is a monoclonal antibody that has been approved for the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS). Alemtuzumab is associated with infusion reactions and potential autoimmune complications. Patient education and understanding are crucial to favorable outcomes. Our objective was to observe communication on a pe...

Objectives To analyse John Cunningham virus (JCV) serology in natalizumab treated patients over time and assess whether seroconversion was influenced by natalizumab treatment and prior immunosuppressive therapy. Methods Patients treated with natalizumab for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis at six tertiary hospitals in Melbourne, Australia (n...

Background: Natalizumab, a monoclonal antibody directed against α4 integrin, is a highly efficacious treatment commonly used in relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis. Natalizumab is associated with the potentially fatal, rare, demyelinating, opportunistic brain infection, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). Prognosis and disability...

The growing range of effective therapies for relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) brings with it a wider range of possible complications requiring broader considerations and greater vigilance. Alemtuzumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody against CD52 that is highly effective in the treatment of RRMS and approved in many countries around...