About the Authors

T. Ziemssen

Affiliation University Clinic Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Center of Clinical Neuroscience, Dresden, Germany

S. Rauer

Affiliation Albert-Ludwigs-Universitaet Freiburg, Neurologische Klinik und Poliklinik, Freiburg, Germany

C. Stadelmann

Affiliation Georg August University, University Medical Center Göttingen, Department of Neuropathology, Göttingen, Germany

T. Henze

Affiliation PASSAUER WOLF Reha-Zentrum Nittenau, Rehabilitationsklinik für Neurologie-Geriatrie-Urologie, Nittenau, Germany

J. Koehler

Affiliation Marianne-Strauß-Klinik, Behandlungszentrum Kempfenhausen, Berg, Germany

I.-K. Penner

Affiliation University of Basel, Department of Cognitive Psychology and Methodology, Basel, Switzerland

M. Lang

Affiliation Neuropoint Patient Academy, Neurological Practice Center, Ulm, Germany

D. Poehlau

Affiliation DRK Kamillus-Klinik, Asbach, Germany

M. Baier-Ebert

Affiliation Novartis Pharma GmbH, Nuremberg, Germany

H. Schieb

Affiliation Novartis Pharma GmbH, Nuremberg, Germany

S. Meuth

sven.meuth@ukmuenster.de

Affiliation University of Muenster, Department of Neurology, Muenster, Germany

Competing Interests

TZ has received compensation for consulting services from Almirall, Biogen Idec, Bayer, Genzyme, GSK, MSD, Merck Serono, Novartis, Sanofi, Teva and Synthon, and has received research support from Bayer, Biogen Idec, Hertie Foundation, Roland Ernst Foundation, German Diabetes Foundation, Merck Serono, Novartis, Teva and Sanofi Aventis. SR has received compensation for serving as speaker, consultant or member of advisory boards from Bayer, Baxter, Biogen, Merck-Serono, Novartis, RG, Sanofi Aventis,Genzyme, Teva. He received research support from Bayer, BMBF, Biogen, Hertie-Stiftung, Merck-Serono, Novartis, Teva. He is co-founder and co-owner of Ravo-Diagnostika GmbH. CS received honoraria for speaking and travel reimbursement from Novartis Pharma GmbH, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Biogen, and Bayer Health Care. She served on scientific advisory boards of Novartis and Teva. She received research support from Teva. She is a member of the editorial board of the Multiple Sclerosis Journal and Neurology: Neuroimmunology & Neuroinflammation. TH has received financial support as compensation for serving as a member of advisory boards or as a consultant or speaker from the following companies: Almirall Hermal, BiogenIdec, Merck Serono and Novartis. JK has received honoraria for lecturing, travel expenses for attending meetings from Allmiral, Bayer, Biogen Idec, Genzyme, Merck Serono, Novartis, Sanofi-Aventis, Pfizer and TEVA. Consultant for Allmiral, Genzyme and Novartis. IP received honoraria, research or travel support from Bayer Pharma AG, Biogen, Genzyme, Merck Serono, Novartis, and Teva. ML has received travel grants, speaker's honoraria, financial research support, consultancy fees from Teva, Merck Serono, Genzyme -Sanofi, Novartis, Bayer, Biogen Idec. DP has received speaker’s honoraria from Biogen, Sanofi-Aventis, Teva, Bayer-Schering, Serono, Genzyme, Novartis and Boehringer. He received research support from Teva, Biogen, Schering, and Novartis. MB and HS are associates of Novartis Pharma GmbH (funder of the study) and receive salaries. Both authors were taking their decisions independently from their employers and the study funder’s commercial interests. SM has received honoraria for lecturing and travel expenses for attending meetings and has received financial research support from Bayer, Bayer Schering, Biogen Idec, Genzyme, Merck Serono, MSD, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Sanofi-Aventis and Teva. There are no patents, products in development or marketed products to declare. This does not alter the authors' adherence to all the PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials.

Author Contributions

Wrote the paper: MB HS. Conception of the work: TZ SR CS MB HS SM. Interpretation of data: TZ SR CS TH JK IP ML DP MB HS SM. Revision for content: TZ SR CS TH JK IKP ML DP MB HS SM.