Yara Dadalti Fragoso1, Tarso Adoni2, Soniza Vieira Alves-Leon3, Samira Luisa Apostolos-Pereira4, Amilton Antunes Barreira5, Joseph Bruno Bidin Brooks1, Rinaldo Claudino6, Eber Castro Correa7, Maria Lucia Brito Ferreira8, Alessandro Finkelsztejn9, Juliana Finkelsztejn9, Paulo Diniz da Gama10, Marcus Vinicius Magno Goncalves11, Carlos Tostes Guerreiro5, Andre Palma da Cunha Matta12, Vanessa Daccach Marques5, Rogerio Rizo Morales13, Monica Fiuza Koncke Parolin14, Marlise de Castro Ribeiro15, Taysa Alexandrino Gonsalves Jube Ribeiro16, Heloisa Helena Ruocco17, Henry Sato18, Simone Scherpenhuijzen3, Fabio Siquineli19, Nise Alessandra de Carvalho Sousa20, Daniel Lima Varela21, Carlos Bernardo Tauil22, Thereza Cristina Winckler23. 1. Department of Neurology, Universidade Metropolitana de Santos, Santos, SP, Brazil. 2. Department of Neurology, Hospital Sirio Libanes, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil. 3. Department of Neurology, Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. 4. Department of Neurology, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil. 5. Department of Neurology, Universidade de Sao Paulo campus Ribeirao Preto, Ribeirao Preto, SP, Brazil. 6. Department of Neurology, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, SC, Brazil. 7. Department of Neurology, CLINEN, Brasilia, DF, Brazil. 8. Department of Neurology, Hospital da Restauracao, Recife, PE, Brazil. 9. Department of Neurology, Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. 10. Department of Neurology, Pontificia Universidade Catolica Campus Sorocaba, Sorocaba, SP, Brazil. 11. Department of Neurology, Centro Hospitalar Unimed, Joinville, SC, Brazil. 12. Department of Neurology, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niteroi, RJ, Brazil. 13. Department of Neurology, Universidade Federal de Uberlandia, Uberlandia, MG, Brazil. 14. Department of Neurology, Neurology Clinic, Curitiba, PR, Brazil. 15. Department of Neurology, Universidade Federal de Ciencias da Saude de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. 16. Department of Neurology, Universidade Federal de Goias, Goiania, Brazil. 17. Department of Neurology, Faculdade de Medicina de Jundiai, Jundiai, SP, Brazil. 18. Department of Neurology, Neurological Institute Curitiba, Curitiba, PR, Brazil. 19. Department of Neurology, Universidade Regional de Blumenau, Blumenau, SC, Brazil. 20. Department of Neurology, Hospital Universitario Getulio Vargas, Manaus, AM, Brazil. 21. Department of Neurology, Servico de Neurologia e Neurocirurgia de Passo Fundo, Passo Fundo, RS, Brazil. 22. Department of Neurology, Hospital de Base do Distrito Federal, Brasilia, DF, Brazil. 23. Department of Neurology, Universidade Positivo, Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Fampridine is a broad-spectrum voltage-dependent potassium channel blocker that enhances synaptic transmission. The drug has been shown to be able to ameliorate conduction in demyelinated axons, thereby leading to improved gait in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). OBJECTIVE: To assess the "real-life" efficacy and safety of fampridine prescribed for gait disorders in MS. This was an observational and prospective study carried out at MS Units participating in the Brazilian Multiple Sclerosis Study Group. METHODS: Patients with MS and gait disorders were prescribed fampridine (10 mg twice a day), irrespectively of the degree of disability determined by MS. Neurological disability determined by MS was assessed with the expanded disability scale score (EDSS). Outcomes for efficacy and safety of the drug were evaluated by the 25 foot-walk test and by the adverse events of fampridine. RESULTS: The time taken to walk 25 feet decreased by 20% or more in 62 patients (70%). Twenty-five patients were considered to be non-responders to this treatment. Improvement in walking speed was independent of improvement of disability. Mild or moderate adverse events were reported in 8% of patients. CONCLUSION: Fampridine is an efficient and safe therapeutic option for patients with MS and gait disorders.
BACKGROUND:Fampridine is a broad-spectrum voltage-dependent potassium channel blocker that enhances synaptic transmission. The drug has been shown to be able to ameliorate conduction in demyelinated axons, thereby leading to improved gait in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). OBJECTIVE: To assess the "real-life" efficacy and safety of fampridine prescribed for gait disorders in MS. This was an observational and prospective study carried out at MS Units participating in the Brazilian Multiple Sclerosis Study Group. METHODS:Patients with MS and gait disorders were prescribed fampridine (10 mg twice a day), irrespectively of the degree of disability determined by MS. Neurological disability determined by MS was assessed with the expanded disability scale score (EDSS). Outcomes for efficacy and safety of the drug were evaluated by the 25 foot-walk test and by the adverse events of fampridine. RESULTS: The time taken to walk 25 feet decreased by 20% or more in 62 patients (70%). Twenty-five patients were considered to be non-responders to this treatment. Improvement in walking speed was independent of improvement of disability. Mild or moderate adverse events were reported in 8% of patients. CONCLUSION:Fampridine is an efficient and safe therapeutic option for patients with MS and gait disorders.
Authors: Carmen Tur; Marcello Moccia; Frederik Barkhof; Jeremy Chataway; Jaume Sastre-Garriga; Alan J Thompson; Olga Ciccarelli Journal: Nat Rev Neurol Date: 2018-01-12 Impact factor: 42.937
Authors: Philipp Albrecht; Ingrid Kristine Bjørnå; David Brassat; Rachel Farrell; Peter Feys; Jeremy Hobart; Raymond Hupperts; Michael Linnebank; Jožef Magdič; Celia Oreja-Guevara; Carlo Pozzilli; Antonio Vasco Salgado; Tjalf Ziemssen Journal: Ther Adv Neurol Disord Date: 2018-10-05 Impact factor: 6.570