Smartest Doc
Sustained Efficacy of Natalizumab in the Treatment of Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Independent of Disease Activity and Disability at Baseline: Real-Life Data From a Swiss Cohort
Clinical Neuropharmacology, 03/30/2012
Clinical Article
Kallweit U et al. – These real–life data reinforce that natalizumab is effective over years, reduces annualized relapse rate (ARR), and stabilizes Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score independent of baseline ARR, baseline EDSS score, or baseline treatment.
Methods- An observational single-center study was carried out.
- The authors analyzed data from 64 consecutive patients with multiple sclerosis.
- After 1 year of treatment (n = 64), score on the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) decreased by 0.47 points (P = 0.047) and the annualized relapse rate (ARR) decreased by 82% (P < 0.001).
- After 2 years (n = 41), EDSS score was still reduced by 0.28 (not significant) and ARR was reduced by 69% (P < 0.001).
- After 3 years (n = 23), EDSS score was reduced by 0.26 (not significant), and ARR was reduced by 77% (P < 0.001).
- Reduction of EDSS score and ARR did not depend on baseline ARR (1-2 vs >2) or EDSS score and was not biased by exceptional high disease activity or relapses around baseline.