Contributions
Abstract: EP1717
Type: ePoster
Abstract Category: Therapy - disease modifying - 28 Long-term treatment monitoring
Introduction: There is a great controversy in decision making about patients in the early phase of MS, whether to adopt escalation or induction therapy. The existence of multiple injectable therapies (interferons, glatiramer acetate) raises the question to followers of escalation therapy, whether to switch between injectable therapies after relapse or to escalate to higher efficiency drugs, such as fingolimod.
Method: We followed 80 patients, 25-35 years old, with RRMS and starting EDSS 0, who after disease relapse EDSS increased to 1. They have been divided in 2 groups of 40 patients each, age and sex matched. The first group was treated with fingolimod 0,5mgr, while the second was treated with the same or other form of interferon or glatiramer.
All patients were under clinical follow up every 3 months and MRI imaging every 6 months.
Result: Out of the 40 that escalated to higher efficiency, 33 (82.5%) did not present new relapse, and between the rest group 1 patient remained to EDSS 1, 1 ascended to 1,5 and the rest 3 had EDSS 2. From the 33 only 5 (12,5%) presented imaging relapse.
The 2nd group, showed poorer results, as only 10(25%) did not present clinical relapse. Among the remaining, 7 had EDSS 1,5, 10 EDSS 2 and 13 EDSS 3.
Discussion: It has become evident that the timely switch to higher-efficiency drugs is beneficial to patients, preserving their good clinical and imaging condition, for as long as 3 years after relapse. It seems that timely change of the immunomodulation mechanisms has a positive effect on the disease course. It is very important to note that the spinal cord remains intact for 3 years after escalation.
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose
Abstract: EP1717
Type: ePoster
Abstract Category: Therapy - disease modifying - 28 Long-term treatment monitoring
Introduction: There is a great controversy in decision making about patients in the early phase of MS, whether to adopt escalation or induction therapy. The existence of multiple injectable therapies (interferons, glatiramer acetate) raises the question to followers of escalation therapy, whether to switch between injectable therapies after relapse or to escalate to higher efficiency drugs, such as fingolimod.
Method: We followed 80 patients, 25-35 years old, with RRMS and starting EDSS 0, who after disease relapse EDSS increased to 1. They have been divided in 2 groups of 40 patients each, age and sex matched. The first group was treated with fingolimod 0,5mgr, while the second was treated with the same or other form of interferon or glatiramer.
All patients were under clinical follow up every 3 months and MRI imaging every 6 months.
Result: Out of the 40 that escalated to higher efficiency, 33 (82.5%) did not present new relapse, and between the rest group 1 patient remained to EDSS 1, 1 ascended to 1,5 and the rest 3 had EDSS 2. From the 33 only 5 (12,5%) presented imaging relapse.
The 2nd group, showed poorer results, as only 10(25%) did not present clinical relapse. Among the remaining, 7 had EDSS 1,5, 10 EDSS 2 and 13 EDSS 3.
Discussion: It has become evident that the timely switch to higher-efficiency drugs is beneficial to patients, preserving their good clinical and imaging condition, for as long as 3 years after relapse. It seems that timely change of the immunomodulation mechanisms has a positive effect on the disease course. It is very important to note that the spinal cord remains intact for 3 years after escalation.
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose