scholarly journals Opportunities and Obstacles Associated With Sequential Immune Reconstitution Therapy for Multiple Sclerosis: A Case Report

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Riccardo Garbo ◽  
Daniela Cutuli ◽  
Simone Lorenzut ◽  
Gian Luigi Gigli ◽  
Daniele Bagatto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Disease Activity ◽  
Immune Reconstitution ◽  
Severe Disease ◽  
Good Control ◽  
Clinical Problem ◽  
Infectious Complications ◽  
Relapsing Remitting ◽  
Disease Modifying Treatment ◽  
Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis

Cladribine is an effective disease-modifying treatment for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis that acts as an immune reconstitution therapy and is administered in a pulsed manner. Despite its efficacy, severe disease reactivation early after treatment represents a serious clinical problem, and clear evidence to guide the management of such a situation is lacking. Here, we describe the case of a patient experiencing considerable disease activity during the 1st year after the initiation of cladribine treatment. The patient was switched to alemtuzumab and, therefore, received double immune reconstitution therapy. Data regarding this approach are lacking, and real-world observations may be of interest. Despite achieving good control of disease activity, we observed several serious infectious complications. Our results suggest that sequential immune reconstitution therapies may be effective; however, at the price of higher susceptibility to infections.

Discontinuation of disease-modifying therapies in multiple sclerosis – Clinical outcome and prognostic factors

2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (9) ◽  
pp. 1241-1248 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriel Bsteh ◽  
Julia Feige ◽  
Rainer Ehling ◽  
Michael Auer ◽  
Harald Hegen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Clinical Outcome ◽  
Disease Activity ◽  
Cox Regression ◽  
Disability Progression ◽  
Hazard Ratios ◽  
Relapsing Remitting ◽  
Disease Modifying ◽  
Disease Modifying Treatment ◽  
Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis

Background: Stable disease course may prompt consideration of disease-modifying treatment (DMT) discontinuation in relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Objective: To investigate the clinical outcome after DMT discontinuation and to identify predictive factors supporting decision-making. Methods: We included 221 RRMS patients, who discontinued DMT after ⩾12 months and had documented follow-up ⩾2 years after discontinuation. Hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) regarding relapse and disability progression after DMT discontinuation were calculated from Cox regression models. Results: Age >45 years at discontinuation (HR = 0.47, CI = 0.23–0.95, p = 0.038), absence of relapses for ⩾4 years on DMT before discontinuation (HR = 0.29, CI = 0.10–0.82, p = 0.020) and absence of contrast enhancing lesions (HR = 0.46, CI = 0.28–0.78, p = 0.004) were independent predictors of absence of relapse after discontinuation. Age >45 years and absence of relapses ⩾4 years on DMT combined had an HR of 0.06 (CI = 0.01–0.44, p < 0.001). Higher Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) at discontinuation, age >45 years and longer disease duration were significantly associated with disability progression after discontinuation. Conclusion: While freedom from further disease activity is generally unpredictable, there is a subset of patients (age ⩾45 years, DMT intake ⩾4 years without evidence of clinical or radiological disease activity) having a high likelihood of remaining relapse-free after DMT discontinuation. However, close clinical monitoring for recurrent disease activity is mandatory after discontinuing treatment.

scholarly journals Discontinuation and dose reduction of rituximab in relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Malin Boremalm ◽  
Peter Sundström ◽  
Jonatan Salzer
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Disease Activity ◽  
Dose Reduction ◽  
Inflammatory Disease ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Full Dose ◽  
Reduced Dose ◽  
Relapsing Remitting ◽  
Remitting Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis

Abstract Background Rituximab is safe and effective for treating relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) according to phase II and observational studies. There are limited data on disease activity after discontinuation and dose reduction. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects on inflammatory disease activity after discontinuation or dose reduction of rituximab in patients with RRMS or clinically isolated syndrome (CIS). Methods In this retrospective observational study, we included all RRMS and CIS patients ever treated with rituximab at the University Hospital of Umeå who had either; (1) discontinued treatment at any time or (2) reduced the dose to a mean of < 1000 mg yearly. The patients served as their own controls by contributing patient years on full dose, reduced dose, and off treatment. Results A total of 225 patients treated with mean (SD) 6256 (2456) mg rituximab during mean (SD) 6.5 (2.0) years were included. There were no differences regarding the annualized relapse rates during full dose versus reduced dose or off treatment (0.02 versus < 0.01 and 0.02, p = 0.09), neither regarding proportion MRI scans with new or enlarged T2 lesions (0.03 versus 0.01 and 0.03, p = 0.37) or contrast-enhancing lesions (< 0.01 versus 0 and 0.02, p = 0.22). Conclusions This study indicates that rituximab has long-term effects on inflammatory disease activity and that disease reactivation is rare in MS patients who discontinued treatment for any reason. It also suggests that treatment with low-dose rituximab (< 1000 mg yearly) is sufficient to maintain suppression of inflammatory disease activity in patients with stable disease.

scholarly journals Patients with neuromyelitis optica have a more severe disease than patients with relapsingremitting multiple sclerosis, including higher risk of dying of a demyelinating disease

2013 ◽  
Vol 71 (5) ◽  
pp. 275-279 ◽  
Author(s):  
Denis Bernardi Bichuetti ◽  
Enedina Maria Lobato de Oliveira ◽  
Nilton Amorin de Souza ◽  
Mar Tintoré ◽  
Alberto Alain Gabbai
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Neuromyelitis Optica ◽  
Disease Duration ◽  
Demyelinating Disease ◽  
Age Of Onset ◽  
Severe Disease ◽  
Expanded Disability Status Scale ◽  
Disability Status ◽  
Relapsing Remitting ◽  
Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis

Although neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is known to be a more severe disease than relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), few studies comparing both conditions in a single center have been done.Methods:Comparison of our previously published cohort of 41 NMO patients with 177 RRMS patients followed in the same center, from 1994 to 2007.Results:Mean age of onset was 32.6 for NMO and 30.2 for RRMS (p=0.2062) with mean disease duration of 7.4 years for NMO and 10.3 years for RRMS. Patients with NMO had a higher annualized relapse rate (1.0 versus 0.8, p=0.0013) and progression index (0.9 versus 0.6, p≪0.0001), with more patients reaching expanded disability status scale (EDSS) 6.0 (39 versus 17%, p=0.0036). The odds ratio for reaching EDSS 6.0 and being deceased due to NMO in comparison to RRMS were, respectively, 3.14 and 12.15.Conclusion:Patients with NMO have a more severe disease than patients with RRMS, including higher risk of dying of a demyelinating disease.

scholarly journals Efficacy of Cladribine Tablets in high disease activity subgroups of patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis: A post hoc analysis of the CLARITY study

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 819-827 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gavin Giovannoni ◽  
Per Soelberg Sorensen ◽  
Stuart Cook ◽  
Kottil W Rammohan ◽  
Peter Rieckmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Disease Activity ◽  
High Disease Activity ◽  
Study Entry ◽  
T2 Lesions ◽  
Relapsing Remitting ◽  
Study Population ◽  
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Mri ◽  
Post Hoc ◽  
Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis

Background: In the CLARITY (CLAdRIbine Tablets treating multiple sclerosis orallY) study, Cladribine Tablets significantly improved clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) outcomes (vs placebo) in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. Objective: Describe two clinically relevant definitions for patients with high disease activity (HDA) at baseline of the CLARITY study (utility verified in patients receiving placebo) and assess the treatment effects of Cladribine Tablets 3.5 mg/kg compared with the overall study population. Methods: Outcomes of patients randomised to Cladribine Tablets 3.5 mg/kg or placebo were analysed for subgroups using HDA definitions based on high relapse activity (HRA; patients with ⩾2 relapses during the year prior to study entry, whether on DMD treatment or not) or HRA plus disease activity on treatment (HRA + DAT; patients with ⩾2 relapses during the year prior to study entry, whether on DMD treatment or not, PLUS patients with ⩾1 relapse during the year prior to study entry while on therapy with other DMDs and ⩾1 T1 Gd+ or ⩾9 T2 lesions). Results: In the overall population, Cladribine Tablets 3.5 mg/kg reduced the risk of 6-month-confirmed Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) worsening by 47% vs placebo. A risk reduction of 82% vs placebo was seen in both the HRA and HRA + DAT subgroups (vs 19% for non-HRA and 18% for non-HRA + DAT), indicating greater responsiveness to Cladribine Tablets 3.5 mg/kg in patients with HDA. There were consistent results for other efficacy endpoints. The safety profile in HDA patients was consistent with the overall CLARITY population. Conclusion: Patients with HDA showed clinical and MRI responses to Cladribine Tablets 3.5 mg/kg that were generally better than, or at least comparable with, the outcomes seen in the overall CLARITY population.

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