The coronavirus pandemic has generated an enormous amount of research, with over 40,000 papers published in the first six months of 2020.

The MS Trust has been sifting through the research up to the end of June to bring you a round-up of the studies that give an idea of what coronavirus means for people with MS.

Click here to read their summary here

Warning: most of the studies so far have reported data on single cases or on small numbers of people. They do give a general indication but we need to interpret them with caution.

This is a rapidly evolving topic. We will share any updates with you but if you want any further news first hand you can sign up for future issues of Research Update straight from the MS Trust: www.mstrust.org.uk/keepintouch.

NICE* has announced it will not be recommending Siponimod (Mayzent) as an NHS treatment for active Secondary Progressive MS (SPMS) in England and Wales.

NICE acknowledges that there are very limited treatment options for people with SPMS and clinical trials have shown that Siponimod can slow the worsening of disability.

However, NICE has concluded that they are unable to recommend Siponimod as a cost-effective treatment for the NHS for England and Wales without more detailed evidence and analysis of the data.
David Martin, the CEO of the MS Trust, has said:  

We are hugely disappointed by this initial decision. Time and time again, we hear from people with secondary progressive MS struggling at home, feeling like they have been forgotten. Just earlier this month, a new report has highlighted the significant gaps in support and services for people with SPMS. Not everybody will be eligible for siponimod, but we hope that the availability of a new treatment will lead to a renewed focus on the needs of all people with SPMS.

The MS Trust is reviewing NICE’s decision and is continuing to make the strongest possible case for NHS approval.

*  NICE stands for National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and they provide clinical guidelines that are used nationally. These are recommendations on how healthcare and other professionals should care for people with specific conditions. The recommendations are based on the best available evidence. 

Source: The MS Trust Website – https://www.mstrust.org.uk/news/siponimod-active-secondary-progressive-ms-rejected-nice

MS and the menopause share some common symptoms including bladder weakness, hot flushes and difficulty sleeping. In fact, there are 20 widely recognised symptoms of menopause are also symptoms of MS. Over the last few weeks both the MS Trust and the MS Society have run articles about the menopause and MS and here we share a round-up of the information.

According to the MS Society, women are three times as likely to have MS than men. (The MS Society have a section on their website dedicated to MS and women’s health including periods, pregnancy and sex which you can find here: https://www.mssociety.org.uk/about-ms/what-is-ms/women-and-ms).

As so many more women are diagnosed with MS than men, hormones have been a key area of research in MS. There have been a few small studies into MS and the menopause and they show that there was a worsening of disability after the menopause which could not be linked to other factors such as lack of vitamin D. However we need to remember that age could play an important part in this and as these studies are so small it is not possible to draw conclusive conclusions.

There is a lot of information on the MS Society and the MS Trust websites below about the research and about managing symptoms:

Click here for the MS Society research spotlight on MS and the menopause

Click here to read about Susans experience of MS and menopause on the MS Society website

Click here for the MS Trust webpage on MS and the menopause

* Susans article speaks about a webinar about MS and menopause led by the MS Society. Sadly the date of this has passed and we didn’t know about it in time to promote it. We are trying to find out if a recording is available which will share. 

The MS Trust has put together some tips on how to manage some of the common menopause/MS symptoms although we would always recommend talking to your GP/MS nurse if you are struggling with any of your symptoms or if you start experiencing new ones. 

• Hot flushes – Wear layers of light clothing so you can remove some layers if necessary; carry a handheld fan or cooling spray with you in your bag; avoid potential triggers such as caffeine, alcohol, smoking and spicy foods; exercise regularly; and have cold drinks.
• Night sweats – Keep your room cool and well ventilated; have a cold drink by your bed; have a cool or lukewarm shower; put a towel on your bed if necessary; wear light clothing to bed; try a cooling mattress topper or pillow.
• Low mood – Make sure you’re getting enough sleep; try to exercise regularly; have a go at some relaxing activities like yoga or meditation; talk to someone about how you’re feeling; do something you enjoy every day.
• Reduced sex drive – Talk to your partner about how you’re feeling; take it slow and make more time for foreplay; try to relax by doing some breathing exercises or practising mindfulness; and explore your body through a body mapping exercise.