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Background: Early identification of the transition from relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) to secondary progressive MS (SPMS) can be challenging for clinicians, as diagnostic criteria for SPMS are primarily based on physical disability and a holistic interpretation. Objective: To establish a consensus on patient monitoring to identify promptly disease progression and the most useful clinical and paraclinical variables for early identification of disease progression in MS. Methods: A RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method was used to establish the level of agreement among a panel of 15 medical experts in MS. Eighty-three items were circulated to the experts for confidential rating of the grade of agreement and recommendation. Consensus was defined when ≥66% agreement or disagreement was achieved. Results: Consensus was reached in 72 out of 83 items (86.7%). The items addressed frequency of follow-up visits, definition of progression, identification of clinical, cognitive, and radiological assessments as variables of suspected or confirmed SPMS diagnosis, the need for more accurate assessment tools, and the use of promising molecular and imaging biomarkers to predict disease progression and/or diagnose SPMS. Conclusion: Consensus achieved on these topics could guide neurologists to identify earlier disease progression and to plan targeted clinical and therapeutic interventions during the earliest stages of SPMS.
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Objetivo. Evaluar la efectividad y seguridad del fingolimod en la práctica clínica habitual en la región de Asturias y Cantabria (España). Pacientes y métodos. Estudio retrospectivo y multicéntrico de pacientes con esclerosis múltiple recurrente remitente tratados con fingolimod, según la ficha técnica. La efectividad se evaluó en los pacientes con al menos un año de tratamiento. Se calculó la tasa anualizada de brotes (TAB), el porcentaje de pacientes libres de brotes y libres de lesiones captantes de gadolinio, y los que mejoraron/mantuvieron la puntuación en la escala expandida del estado de discapacidad (EDSS). Se analizó la población total y según el tratamiento previo: inmunomodulador (interferón beta-1 o acetato de glatiramero) o natalizumab. Resultados. Un total de 138 pacientes iniciaron tratamiento con fingolimod; el 60% recibió previamente inmunomodulador; el 28%, natalizumab; y el 9%, ningún tratamiento. Noventa y nueve pacientes estuvieron al menos un año en tratamiento con fingolimod. Después de un año de tratamiento, el fingolimod disminuyó la TAB en un 67% (1,26 a 0,42; p < 0,0001), aumentó el porcentaje de pacientes libres de brotes de un 24% a un 69% (p < 0,0001), y el porcentaje de pacientes libres de lesiones captantes de gadolinio de un 70% a un 85% (p < 0,0106). El 77% de los pacientes mejoró/mantuvo la puntuación en la EDSS. Resultados similares se observaron en pacientes tratados previamente con inmunomodulador. La efectividad de los pacientes tratados previamente con natalizumab se mantuvo tras el tratamiento con fingolimod. Conclusiones. La práctica clínica habitual en las regiones de Asturias y Cantabria muestra que el fingolimod tiene resultados similares a los observados en los ensayos clínicos, al comparar las variables clinicorradiológicas utilizadas en estos últimos (AU)
Aim. To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of fingolimod in routine clinical practice in the region of Asturias and Cantabria (Spain). Patients and methods. We conducted a retrospective multicentre study of patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis treated with fingolimod, in accordance with the product data sheet. Effectiveness was evaluated in patients with at least one years treatment. The following were calculated: annualised relapse rate (ARR), the percentage of patients free from relapses and free from gadolinium-enhancing lesions, and those who improved/maintained their score on the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). Both total population and according to previous treatment: immunomodulator (interferon beta-1 or glatiramer acetate) or natalizumab, were analysed. Results. A total of 138 patients started treatment with fingolimod; 60% previously received an immunomodulator; 28% were given natalizumab; and 9% had no treatment. Ninety-nine patients were treated with fingolimod for at least one year. After one year of treatment, fingolimod decreased the ARR by 67% (1.26 to 0.42; p < 0.0001), increased the percentage of patients free from relapses from 24% to 69% (p < 0.0001) and the percentage of patients free from gadoliniumenhancing lesions from 70% to 85% (p < 0.0106). Altogether, 77% of the patients improved/maintained their score on the EDSS. Similar results were observed in patients previously treated with an immunomodulator. The effectiveness of the patients previously treated with natalizumab remained the same following treatment with fingolimod. Conclusions. Routine clinical practice in the regions of Asturias and Cantabria shows that fingolimod yields similar results to those observed in clinical trials, on comparing the clinicoradiological variables used in them (AU)
