Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42220502›Full record

ReviewFrontiers in immunology2026

Case Report: Marburg variant of multiple sclerosis and review of its complicated treatment.

Anjan Bhattarai, Ahmad Awwad, Anwar Zahran, Mustafa Abdul Kareem, Aakriti Subedi, Anna V Bite

Abstract readCase ReportsReview
In one paragraph

Review in Frontiers in immunology, 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

6 authors.

Anjan BhattaraiDepartment of Neurology, St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center, Toledo, OH, United States.
Ahmad AwwadDepartment of Neurology, St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center, Toledo, OH, United States.
Anwar ZahranDepartment of Medicine, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine.
Mustafa Abdul KareemDepartment of Neurology, St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center, Toledo, OH, United States.
Aakriti SubediDepartment of Nursing, Owens Community College, Toledo, OH, United States.
Anna V BiteDepartment of Neurology, St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center, Toledo, OH, United States.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Marburg variant of multiple sclerosis (MS) is a rare, fulminant demyelinating disorder characterized by rapid neurological decline and notable lack of established standardized treatment guidelines. We describe a 46-year-old woman presenting with progressive cognitive and behavioral changes and multifocal CNS lesions initially refractory to corticosteroids, plasmapheresis (PLEX), and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg). Brain biopsy confirmed aggressive MS-spectrum demyelination. Escalation to high-dose cyclophosphamide resulted in radiologic stabilization but was limited by severe, refractory cytopenia. Given persistent disease activity and intolerance to infusion-based therapy, transition from ocrelizumab to subcutaneous ofatumumab was planned as a pragmatic maintenance strategy; however, treatment initiation was delayed. The patient subsequently experienced rapid clinical deterioration marked by recurrent aspiration events and functional decline, ultimately leading to death following transition to comfort-focused care. This case highlights the therapeutic challenges of Marburg MS, including treatment-limiting toxicity, logistical barriers to anti-CD20 therapy, and the critical importance of timely, individualized immunosuppressive strategies.

Indexed as

Multiple SclerosisCyclophosphamideFatal OutcomeFemaleHumansImmunosuppressive AgentsMiddle AgedCyclophosphamideImmunosuppressive Agentsbiopsyhigh dose cyclophosphamide (HiCy)immunotherapiesMarburg variant of MSoutcomes

Identifiers

PMID42220502
PMCPMC13216227

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.