Research news

Open Door - November 2009 page 4

Vibration therapy
Viral infections, vaccinations and MS risk
Talking to children about MS
Intravenous steroids at home

Vibration therapy

Vibration therapy - exercising whilst sitting or standing on a vibrating platform - has received much publicity in recent years. To explore the effects, the MS Trust funded research in Glasgow which studied 12 people with MS over a three month period. Researchers compared the effects of an exercise programme with the same exercises done on a vibrating platform. The results showed small improvements in both groups but failed to demonstrate that vibration therapy provided any additional benefit. Comments from the participants were generally positive with people reporting fewer spasms at night, better sleep, improved ability to climb stairs and better sensation in their feet.

Schyns F, et al.
Vibration therapy in multiple sclerosis: a pilot study exploring its effects on tone, muscle force, sensation and functional performance.
Clinical Rehabilitation 2009;23(9):771-781.
Medline abstract

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Viral infections, vaccinations and MS risk

The cause of MS is believed to be a combination of a genetic susceptibility within the body and some external trigger. There has long been the belief that the trigger may be an infection of some sort.

This Swedish study looked at the medical records of 509 people with MS and 2,067 controls born between 1959 and1986. Researchers found the levels of infection with measles, mumps, rubella or chicken pox (varicella) to be similar in both groups. Similarly, the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccination showed no effect on the risk of developing MS. In contrast, people who had had glandular fever (infectious mononucleosis) were twice as likely to develop MS as those who had not. These results support previous studies that have associated the Epstein Barr virus (EBV) - the virus that causes glandular fever - with a greater risk of developing MS.

Ahlgren C, et al.
A population-based case-control study on viral infections and vaccinations and subsequent multiple sclerosis risk.
European Journal of Epidemiology 2009;24(9):541-552.
Medline abstract

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Talking to children about MS

Greek researchers have examined how the level of information given to children about a parent's MS affects the family. 56 families took part in the study which showed that children who had only partial information about their parent's illness were found to present more psychological and social problems. The researchers acknowledge the difficulties of knowing how to talk to children about MS and how much information is appropriate.

Paliokosta E, et al.
Breaking bad news: Communication around parental multiple sclerosis with children.
Families, Systems & Health 2009; 27(1):64-76.
Medline abstract

The MS Trust has books to help children and parents talk about MS.

The Kids' guide to MS is for 6-10 years olds

The Young person's guide to MS is for the 10-16 age group

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Intravenous steroids at home

French researchers have followed up an MS Trust funded study conducted by the National Hospital in London into the practicality and safety of treating people with intravenous steroids at home rather than in hospital. The experiences of 807 people around France were gathered. As in the London study, home treatment was shown to be safe, provided that people were properly assessed for likely problems in advance. The time to starting treatment was similar to or shorter than in hospital and resulted in a striking reduction of costs - more than 1 million Euros over three years. People with MS preferred treatment at home and would request this approach should they need steroids again.

Créange A, et al.
Home administration of intravenous methylprednisolone for multiple sclerosis relapses: the experience of French multiple sclerosis networks.
Multiple Sclerosis 2009;15(9):1085-1091.
Medline abstract

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