Overview

The Pre-ECTRIMS course is an annual event aimed at providing an update on the main novelties of the year in the field of MS. The 2025 edition will particularly focus on new evidence on immunopathogenetic mechanisms, imaging, and fluid biomarkers that possibly differentiate relapsing-remitting and progressive Multiple Sclerosis. Moreover, the mechanisms of action of upcoming treatments for MS will be discussed in relation to this new evidence. The ‘controversies’ session will cover the main ‘hot topics’ that are currently debated, including MS prodromes, progression independent from relapses (PIRA) as a new clinical outcome, the impact of machine learning on the improvement of MS prediction, and new evidence on late onset MS (LOMS). Since 2020, Med-Ex Learning has been providing this course in collaboration with the European Charcot Foundation, and we plan to continue this tradition in 2025 and in the future.

 

Learning objectives

• Describing the role of new immunological players in MS development and the mechanism of action of new immunomodulating drugs
•  Addressing new treatment challenges in special populations and conditions (pregnancy, elderly…)
• Understanding how to classify disease courses and estimate prognosis in relation to new biomarkers of disease progression
   

 

Accreditation

This educational activity will be submitted to the EACCME for CME accreditation.

 

 

Preliminary Programme 

 

Welcome & Opening

10.00 H.P. Hartung (Germany) and X. Montalban (Spain)

 

Session 1: Relapsing remitting and progressive MS – One or Two Diseases?           

 Chair: X. Montalban (Spain)

 

10.15 L1 – What we know about mechanistic aspects 

T. Kuhlmann, Germany 

 

10.45 L2 – Imaging biomarkers 

A. Rovira, Spain

 

11.15 L3 – Body fluid biomarkers 

J. Kuhle, Switzerland

 

11.35               Coffee break

 

11.55 L4 – New Diagnostic criteria and revision of the classification of courses 

X. Montalban, Spain

 

12.15 L5 – Optimization of treatments 

H.P. Hartung, Germany

                        

12.35 L6 – Future treatment target and perspectives 

A. Bar Or, US

 

12.55               Q&A

 

13.10               Lunch

 

Session 2: Controversies in MS 

Chair:  X. Montalban, Spain

 

14.10 L7 – MS prodromes: friend or foe?

R. Palladino, Italy

 

14.30 L8 – PIRA: chronic inflammation or neurodegeneration?

L. Kappos, Switzerland and C. Tur, Spain

 

14.50 L9 – Predicting disability: what’s the role of artificial intelligence?

C. Granziera, Switzerland

 

15.10 L10 – Late onset MS: a new clinical entity?

M. Tintorè, Spain

 

15.30 L11  – Treatment de-escalation: who, when, why?

H.P. Hartung, Germany

 

15.50               Q&A

 

16.10              Wrap up 

 

16.30               End of the day

 

 

Acknowledgements

 

This educational activity is made possible thanks to independent educational grants by