Clinical practice patterns in multiple sclerosis management: Mexican consensus recommendations.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis affects more than 2 million people. Clinical decisions are performed under evidence-based medicine. The appearance of new disease-modifying therapies and changes in diagnostic criteria complicates the decision-making process in clinical practice. OBJECTIVES: To characterize the criteria for radiologically isolated syndrome (RIS), clinically isolated syndrome (CIS), and relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) by Mexican neurologists in a real-world setting. METHODS: A two-round modified Delphi method (RAND/UCLA) was applied. RESULTS: In RIS, LP, spinal cord MRI and VEP should be included in diagnostic testing; DMT initiation is not necessary. A follow-up MRI within 3 months are recommended. In CIS, corticosteroid therapy should be initiated at first relapse; both simple and Gd-enhanced MRI is mandatory. LP, selective blood tests, and NMO-IgG/AQP4 antibodies should be performed as complementary. IFN beta or GA were the most suitable DMTs for treating high-risk CIS. Patients with RRMS should begin with DMT at diagnosis, include a follow-up MRI if a patient had 2 relapses within 6 months. GA and oral DMTs are the most eligible DMTs for mild RRMS. Monoclonal antibodies-based therapy is chosen when disability is present. Radiological criteria for switching DMT included >1 Gd+ lesion and >2 new T2 lesions. CONCLUSIONS: Although many coincidences, there are still many hollows in the medical attention of MS in Mexico. This consensus recommendation could be helpful to implement better evidence-based recommendations and guidelines in a real-world setting.