Disease activity and disability evolution under glatiramer acetate: a clinical approach.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: By analyzing literature data regarding glatiramer acetate in the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis one might find controversial data but the majority of authors state that the clinical evolution under the treatment showed a positive course. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our goal was to analyze groups of patients, both non-treated and treated with the drug, for relapse rate, Kurtzke's Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score, Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite (MSFC) score - upper limb disability, lower limb disability and cognition, and for cognitive dysfunction, using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) test, in order to objectively quantify the clinical impact of the drug. RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS: Our results are in accordance with the literature for most of the investigated measures - relapse rate, EDSS, MSFC -, and furthermore suggest the possibility to use more extensively the MoCA test for evaluation of MS patients from the point of view of cognitive functions, after a much wider comparative assessment.