The MS clinic at Aarhus University Hospital examines around 6,000 patients per year with the major part being multiple sclerosis (MS) and then to a smaller extent clinically isolated syndrome (CIS), transverse myelitis and neuromyelitis optica (NMO).
Depending on the results of neurological and clinical examinations, various diagnostic tests are performed including cerebrospinal fluid sampling, MRI of the central nervous system, neurophysiological registrations and blood sampling.
Approximately half of the patients finally diagnosed with one of the above diagnoses receive immunomodulatory and immunosuppressive treatment and many more patients receive symptomatic and rehabilitating treatments. We are responsible for the treatment of children with MS, NMOSD and progressive mutifocal leucoencephalopathy (PML) in patients with MS in the western part of Denmark and we have the regional responsibility for lemtrada and intrathecal baclofen treatment.
Primary research interests are early examination and treatment of MS, optic neuritis and NMO and evaluation of biomarkers in relation to diagnosis, prognosis and treatment response. Examination of environmental factors in the pathogenesis of MS (EBV, human endogenous retrovirus, D-vitamin) and co-morbidity related to other autoimmune disorders. Clinical trials evaluating new immunomodulatory treatments and studies on quality of life and general health status in relation to dynamic physiotherapy and multidisciplinary rehabilitation are conducted.
Contacts
Associate Professor Thor Petersen e.mail. thopet@rm.dk