Neurology Xagena
New disease-modifying treatment strategies in multiple sclerosis offer possibilities for individualised treatment.
In a study, researchers evaluated patient-reported outcome measures before and after a switch in therapy from first-line injectable treatments to Rituximab ( MabThera ).
A total of 75 patients with clinically stable relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis ( RRMS ) receiving ongoing first-line injectable treatment at three Swedish centres had their treatment switched to Rituximab in this open-label phase II multicentre study.
Assessment of treatment satisfaction, patient-perceived impact of the disease on daily life, fatigue, cognitive symptoms and disease progression was performed 3 months before and at the time of the treatment shift and then for a subsequent 2-year period.
The overall treatment satisfaction rating improved significantly from a mean of 4.8 ( scale range: 1-7 ), while on injectable therapies, to a mean of 6.3 after 1 year of Rituximab treatment ( p less than 0.001 ).
This improvement was sustained after 2 years.
There was no significant change in scores for patient-perceived impact of disease, fatigue or disease progression.
In conclusion, a shift in therapy from first-line injectables to Rituximab in a cohort of clinically stable RRMS patients was followed by improved treatment satisfaction.
This is clinically relevant as it may influence long-term adherence to immunomodulating therapy. ( Xagena )
de Flon P et al, Mult Scler 2016; Epub ahead of print
XagenaMedicine_2016
