R Alroughani1, S F Ahmed2, R Behbehani3, J Al-Hashel4. 1. Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Amiri Hospital, Sharq, Kuwait; Neurology Clinic, Department of Medicine, Dasman Diabetes Institute, Dasman, Kuwait. Electronic address: alroughani@gmail.com. 2. Department of Neurology, Ibn Sina Hospital, Kuwait City, Kuwait; Department of Neurology & Psychiatry, Al-Minia University Hospital, Minia, Egypt. 3. Neurology Clinic, Department of Medicine, Dasman Diabetes Institute, Dasman, Kuwait. 4. Department of Neurology, Ibn Sina Hospital, Kuwait City, Kuwait; Department of Medicine, Kuwait University, Jabriya, Kuwait.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Post-marketing studies are important to confirm what was established in clinical trials, and to assess the intermediate and long-term efficacy and safety. OBJECTIVE: To assess efficacy and safety of fingolimod in multiple sclerosis (MS) in Kuwait. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated MS patients using the MS registries in 3 MS clinics. Relapsing remitting MS patients according to revised 2010 McDonald criteria who had been treated with fingolimod for at least 12 months were included. Primary endpoint was proportion of relapse-free patients at last follow-up. Secondary endpoints were mean change in EDSS and proportion of patients with MRI activity (gadolinium-enhancing or new/enlarging T2 lesions). RESULTS: 76 patients met the inclusion criteria. Mean age and mean disease duration were 34.43 and 7.82 years respectively. Mean duration of exposure to fingolimod was 18.50 months. Proportion of relapse-free patients was 77.6% at last follow-up. Mean EDSS score significantly improved (2.93 versus 1.95; p<0.0001) while 17.1% of patients continued to have MRI activity versus 77.6% at baseline (p<0.0001). Four patients stopped fingolimod due to disease breakthrough (n=3) and lymphadenitis (n=1). CONCLUSION: Fingolimod is safe and effective in reducing clinical and radiological disease activity in relapsing remitting MS patients. Our results are comparable to reported results of phase III studies.
BACKGROUND: Post-marketing studies are important to confirm what was established in clinical trials, and to assess the intermediate and long-term efficacy and safety. OBJECTIVE: To assess efficacy and safety of fingolimod in multiple sclerosis (MS) in Kuwait. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated MSpatients using the MS registries in 3 MS clinics. Relapsing remitting MSpatients according to revised 2010 McDonald criteria who had been treated with fingolimod for at least 12 months were included. Primary endpoint was proportion of relapse-free patients at last follow-up. Secondary endpoints were mean change in EDSS and proportion of patients with MRI activity (gadolinium-enhancing or new/enlarging T2 lesions). RESULTS: 76 patients met the inclusion criteria. Mean age and mean disease duration were 34.43 and 7.82 years respectively. Mean duration of exposure to fingolimod was 18.50 months. Proportion of relapse-free patients was 77.6% at last follow-up. Mean EDSS score significantly improved (2.93 versus 1.95; p<0.0001) while 17.1% of patients continued to have MRI activity versus 77.6% at baseline (p<0.0001). Four patients stopped fingolimod due to disease breakthrough (n=3) and lymphadenitis (n=1). CONCLUSION:Fingolimod is safe and effective in reducing clinical and radiological disease activity in relapsing remitting MSpatients. Our results are comparable to reported results of phase III studies.
Authors: C Zecca; S Roth; O Findling; G Perriard; V Bachmann; M L Pless; A Baumann; C P Kamm; P H Lalive; A Czaplinski Journal: Eur J Neurol Date: 2018-03-06 Impact factor: 6.089