Improved treatment satisfaction after switching therapy to rituximab in relapsing-remitting MS.
Mult Scler
; 23(9): 1249-1257, 2017 Aug.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-27780912
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
New disease-modifying treatment strategies in multiple sclerosis offer possibilities for individualised treatment. In this study, we evaluated patient-reported outcome measures before and after a switch in therapy from first-line injectable treatments to rituximab.METHOD:
A total of 75 patients with clinically stable relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) receiving ongoing first-line injectable treatment at three Swedish centres had their treatment switched to rituximab in this open-label phase II multicentre study. Assessment of treatment satisfaction, patient-perceived impact of the disease on daily life, fatigue, cognitive symptoms and disease progression was performed 3 months before and at the time of the treatment shift and then for a subsequent 2-year period.RESULTS:
The overall treatment satisfaction rating improved significantly from a mean of 4.8 (scale range 1-7), while on injectable therapies, to a mean of 6.3 after 1 year of rituximab treatment ( p < 0.001). This improvement was sustained after 2 years. There was no significant change in scores for patient-perceived impact of disease, fatigue or disease progression.CONCLUSION:
A shift in therapy from first-line injectables to rituximab in a cohort of clinically stable RRMS patients was followed by improved treatment satisfaction. This is clinically relevant as it may influence long-term adherence to immunomodulating therapy.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Patient Satisfaction
/
Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting
/
Drug Substitution
/
Rituximab
/
Patient Reported Outcome Measures
/
Immunologic Factors
Type of study:
Clinical_trials
/
Observational_studies
Limits:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Language:
En
Journal:
Mult Scler
Journal subject:
NEUROLOGIA
Year:
2017
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Sweden