BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: There is a lack of evidence guiding discontinuation of disease-modifying therapy (DMT) in relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS). Thus, the objective of this study was to generate and validate a risk score for disease reactivation after DMT discontinuation in RMS. METHODS: We drew a generation and validation dataset from two separate prospectively collected observational databases including RMS patients who received interferon-β or glatiramer acetate for ≥12 months, then discontinued DMT for ≥6 months and had ≥2 years of follow-up available. In the generation sample (n = 168), regression analysis was performed to identify clinical or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) variables independently predicting disease reactivation after DMT discontinuation. A predictive score was calculated using the variables included in the multivariable model and applied to the validation sample (n = 98). RESULTS: The variables included in the final model as independent predictors of disease reactivation were age at discontinuation, MRI activity at discontinuation, and duration of clinical stability (all p < 0.001). The resulting score was able to robustly identify patients at high (83%-85%), moderate (36%-38%), and low risk (7%) of disease reactivation within 5 years after DMT discontinuation in both cohorts. CONCLUSIONS: The composite VIAADISC score is a valuable tool to inform and support patients and neurologists in the process of decision making to discontinue injectable DMTs.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: There is a lack of evidence guiding discontinuation of disease-modifying therapy (DMT) in relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS). Thus, the objective of this study was to generate and validate a risk score for disease reactivation after DMT discontinuation in RMS. METHODS: We drew a generation and validation dataset from two separate prospectively collected observational databases including RMS patients who received interferon-β or glatiramer acetate for ≥12 months, then discontinued DMT for ≥6 months and had ≥2 years of follow-up available. In the generation sample (n = 168), regression analysis was performed to identify clinical or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) variables independently predicting disease reactivation after DMT discontinuation. A predictive score was calculated using the variables included in the multivariable model and applied to the validation sample (n = 98). RESULTS: The variables included in the final model as independent predictors of disease reactivation were age at discontinuation, MRI activity at discontinuation, and duration of clinical stability (all p < 0.001). The resulting score was able to robustly identify patients at high (83%-85%), moderate (36%-38%), and low risk (7%) of disease reactivation within 5 years after DMT discontinuation in both cohorts. CONCLUSIONS: The composite VIAADISC score is a valuable tool to inform and support patients and neurologists in the process of decision making to discontinue injectable DMTs.
Authors: Nik Krajnc; Gabriel Bsteh; Gregor Kasprian; Tobias Zrzavy; Barbara Kornek; Thomas Berger; Fritz Leutmezer; Paulus Rommer; Hans Lassmann; Simon Hametner; Assunta Dal-Bianco Journal: Front Neurol Date: 2022-06-29 Impact factor: 4.086
Authors: Gabriel Bsteh; Katharina Riedl; Nik Krajnc; Barbara Kornek; Fritz Leutmezer; Stefan Macher; Paulus Rommer; Gudrun Zulehner; Thomas Berger Journal: Mult Scler Relat Disord Date: 2022-05-23 Impact factor: 4.808
Authors: Massimiliano Mirabella; Pietro Annovazzi; Wallace Brownlee; Jeffrey A Cohen; Christoph Kleinschnitz; Christian Wolf Journal: Front Neurol Date: 2022-04-15 Impact factor: 4.086
Authors: Gabriel Bsteh; Harald Hegen; Katharina Riedl; Patrick Altmann; Franziska Di Pauli; Rainer Ehling; Gudrun Zulehner; Paulus Rommer; Fritz Leutmezer; Florian Deisenhammer; Thomas Berger Journal: Front Neurol Date: 2022-01-17 Impact factor: 4.003