Description
AIM
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neuroinflammatory disease that primarily affects young adults, leading to neurological impairment and disability. Traditionally, MS has been categorized into forms such as relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), primary progressive MS (PPMS), and secondary progressive MS (SPMS). However, it is now acknowledged that the disease should be viewed as a continuum, as inflammation and neurodegeneration coexist from the early phases of the disease.
Disease worsening can be triggered by both acute and chronic inflammatory processes, or it may occur independently of inflammation. Consequently, new concepts have recently emerged, such as smoldering-associated worsening (SAW) and progression independent of relapse activity (PIRA).
New biomarkers have been identified to assess smoldering inflammation, including paramagnetic rim lesions (PRLs) and slowly expanding lesions (SELs) visible on MRI. Additionally, fluid biomarkers are under evaluation for their potential to monitor disease evolution and predict progression in advance.
In recent years, a global effort by researchers has focused on defining the immunopathology, clinical and radiological metrics, and biomarkers specific to progressive MS. The goal is to identify, as early as possible, individuals at higher risk of disability, quantify smoldering damage, and evaluate the effectiveness of new treatments—such as BTK inhibitors—which can cross the blood-brain barrier and target the local innate and adaptive immune systems.
TARGET AUDIENCE
The International Conference is dedicated to a global audience of healthcare professionals and biologists with a special interest or focus on MS, including:
- Neurologists
- Nurses
- Physiotherapists
- Pharmacologists
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
The International Conference aims to achieve the following learning objectives:
- Identify the immunopathological hallmarks of progressive MS.
- Quantify disease severity and establish prognosis based on innovative prognostic markers.
- Describe new immunological treatment targets, considering the immune players involved in MS.
- Detect early symptoms and signs of progression using conventional and digital assessments.
- Discuss the results of clinical trials exploring the efficacy of new treatments, such as BTK inhibitors, targeting compartmentalized inflammation in MS.