Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41191274›Full record

ArticleNeurology and therapy2026

Guiding Multiple Sclerosis Care: An Update to the 2013 Consensus Statement from the MS in the 21st Century Steering Group.

Raed Alroughani, Elisabeth G Celius, Helen Gray, Elisabeth Kasilingam, Paola Kruger, Amanda Montague, Celia Oreja-Guevara, Amber Plant, Maija Pontaga, Peter Rieckmann and 2 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Neurology and therapy, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Raed AlroughaniDivision of Neurology, Amiri Hospital, Sharq, Kuwait. alroughani@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5436-5804
Elisabeth G CeliusDepartment of Neurology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9127-6488
Helen GrayMerck Serono (Ireland) Ltd., Dublin, Ireland, an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany.
Elisabeth KasilingamEuropean Multiple Sclerosis Platform (EMSP), Brussels, Belgium.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4030-9291
Paola KrugerEuropean Patients' Academy on Therapeutic Innovation (EUPATI), Rome, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6225-2161
Amanda MontagueMultiple Sclerosis Association of America (MSAA), New York, NY, USA.
Celia Oreja-GuevaraDepartment of Neurology, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9221-5716
Amber PlantShift.ms, Leeds, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0004-7250-2576
Maija PontagaLatvian Multiple Sclerosis Association (LMSA), Riga, Latvia.
Peter RieckmannCenter for Clinical Neuroplasticity, Medical Park Loipl, Bischofswiesen, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6921-0135
Leslie RitterHealthcare Access, National Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society, Washington, DC, USA.
Marja-Liisa SumelahtiNeuroimmunology Research Group, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6581-0483

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionIn 2013, the "MS in the 21st Century" (MS21) initiative established a consensus statement for multiple sclerosis (MS) standards of care, with an overall vision including "Full access to personalised treatment, with reimbursement, to achieve freedom from disease." This update considers progress made since 2013 and priority areas for further improvement.

methodsA Delphi process with two rounds of anonymised voting was used to develop updated consensus statements based on three key themes: (1) optimising current MS care provision; (2) facilitating shared decision-making and patient education; and (3) continuing MS research and development. Voting panels (n = 30), including people living with MS (PwMS), MS patient advocacy group (PAG) representatives and healthcare professionals (HCPs) indicated agreement using a sliding scale [1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree)] and free-text feedback. Statements were revised after each voting round, with the consensus threshold set a priori as ≥ 75% agreement. There was a 70% response rate at each round of voting, with respondents representing 13 countries.

resultsSeven original principles were expanded to 14, with emerging themes including unmet care needs in ageing PwMS, MS prevention, and treatments for progressive MS and remyelination. The top priority for both HCPs and PwMS/PAG representatives was "access to quick and decisive treatment after diagnosis."

conclusionFor PwMS to be unburdened by symptoms, professionals and stakeholders within the MS community should work together to meet the updated MS21 vision, including access to appropriate care, greater PwMS involvement in decisions, and further research and development to address unmet needs in MS.

Indexed as

AgeingCareConsensus statementDelphi consensusDiagnosisManagementMultiple sclerosis (MS) progression

Identifiers

PMID41191274
PMCPMC12804581

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.