Paediatric Demyelinating and Multiple Sclerosis

SUMMARY

About 5% of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients experience their first MS attack during childhood. Paediatric neurologists are making this diagnosis in an increasing number of children. As with other autoimmune disorders, there appears to be an increase in new cases, possibly related to environmental factors.This education session will review Pediatric MS and demyelinating disorders– from the differential diagnosis and mimics of the disease, to rational therapies

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

This education session will review Pediatric MS and demyelinating disorders– from the differential diagnosis and mimics of the disease, to rational therapies.
* apply diagnostic criteria 
* recognize the mimics of the disease (differential diagnosis)
* understand environmental factors
* be able to use the various therapies, understanding dosing and special issues of therapy in the pediatric population

INVITED SPEAKERS

Pediatric MS and demyelinating disorders
Silvia Tenembaum
Department of Neurology, National Paediatric Hospital Dr. J.P. Garrahan
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Summary: This lecture will review the similarities and differences between pediatric MS and other demyelinating disorders. It will review diagnostic criteria and its applicability.Pediatric MS is rare and there are a number of differential diagnoses and mimics of the disease (including metabolic disorders). This lecture will provide a review of these disorders and the steps to make a diagnosis of pediatric MS.

Environmental and Genetic Factors in Pediatric MS
Daniela Pohl
Division of Neurology
Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario
Summary: Environmental and genetic factors have been extensively studied. A review of the environmental and genetic factors implicated in MS will be discussed.

The Neuropsychology of Pediatric MS
Lauren Krupp
Professor of Neurology and Psychology at the
State University of New York and Stony Brook Medical Center
Summary:The impact of recurrent inflammation on developing white matter is profound. This lecture will provide information on the neuropsychological impact of pediatric MS, and detail the work in progress on the neuropsychology of MS in pediatrics and adults

Therapy in Pediatric MS
Professor Andrew J. Kornberg MB BS(Hons) Dip TA (ATAA) FRACP
Department of Neurology, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria
Summary: First and second-line MS disease-modifying treatments are used in children and adolescents. However, most medication use is off-label since therapies shown in clinical adult trials to have efficacy and which have been approved for adult MS have not been formally evaluated by clinical trials in children. This lecture will discuss the various therapies used in children, dosing suggestions and special issues of therapy in the pediatric population