MSBase publication in Journal of the Neurological Sciences: congratulations Ilya Kister & the MSBase Investigators

Predictors of relapse and disability progression in MS patients who discontinue disease-modifying therapy.

Kister, I., T. Spelman, F. Patti, P. Duquette, M. Trojano, G. Izquierdo, A. Lugaresi, P. Grammond, P. Sola, D. Ferraro, F. Grand’Maison, R. Alroughani, M. Terzi, C. Boz, R. Hupperts, J. Lechner-Scott, L. Kappos, E. Pucci, S. Hodgkinson, C. Solaro, H. Butzkueven. J Neurol Sci (Aug 2018) 391: 72-76http://dx.org/10.1016/j.jns.2018.06.001

 

Highlights

  • 4842 patients in MSBase Registry stopped disease modifying therapy (DMT) for >6 months
  • During post-DMT period, the annualized relapse rate was 0.22 and confirmed disability (CDP) progression rate was 8.23 per 100 person-years
  • Younger and moderately disabled patients were at highest risk of post-DMT relapse
  • Patients who entered the progressive phase or were severely impaired at baseline were at highest risk for CDP during post-DMT follow up
  • Former natalizumab users had elevated relapse and CDP rates during follow up compared to other DMTs

 

Abstract

Background

Discontinuation of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) for MS is common. MSBase, a large global observational registry, affords a unique opportunity to investigate predictors of ‘post-DMT’ relapses and confirmed disability progression (CDP) in a diverse group of patients exposed to different DMTs.

Materials/methods

Main inclusion criteria: clinician-confirmed MS diagnosis (2010 McDonald criteria); age ≥ 18 at index DMT start; ≥12 months on index DMT prior to discontinuation; ≥24 months of follow-up post-discontinuation; did not restart DMT for ≥6 months. Predictors of time to first relapse and 3-month CDP were analyzed using Cox proportional hazards regression adjusted for age, gender, baseline EDSS, EDSS stability and relapse-free period for ≥1 year prior to discontinuation, calendar epoch, index DMT and reason for discontinuation.

Results

4842 patients (74.2% female) from 20 MSBase Centers met our inclusion criteria. 3556 (73%) discontinued one of IFNβ preparations, 849 (18%) - glatiramer acetate, 308 (6%) - natalizumab and 129 (3%) – fingolimod; other DMTs were excluded because too few records were available. Overall post-discontinuation annualized relapse rate (95% CI) was 0.224 (0.219, 0.229) and CDP rate was 8.23 (7.72, 8.76) per 100 person-years. Risk of post-DMT relapse was higher in younger patients, female patients, those with moderate disability and a relapse within 1 year of discontinuation. Hazard of CDP increased with increasing disability at baseline and disease progression within 3 years prior to stopping DMT. Of all the DMTs, only natalizumab was associated with increased risk of both post-DMT relapse and CDP.

Conclusions

Knowledge of post-DMT relapse and disability progression rates and predictors of post-DMT disease activity allows for a more informed discussion of DMT discontinuation in those patients who are considering this option.

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