ObjectivesTo determine the temporal changes in incidence rates of multiple sclerosis (MS) over the past 15 years in Lithuania with prediction up to 2020, and to estimate female‐to‐male sex ratio and its changes among MS patients.Materials and MethodsWe conducted a descriptive incidence study. The crude incidence rates (CIR) were calculated using 15‐year period, sex, age‐groups, and the number of newly registered MS patients. Standardized incidence rates (SIR) were calculated using European standard in order to evaluate the influence of resident structure changes on incidence of MS during the last 15 years. The data were processed using Minitab set to estimate a linear trend model for the temporal changes of 16 parameters.ResultsThe data showed a substantial growth of the incidence rate of MS in Lithuania during the period of 2001–2015. In 2001, MS was diagnosed to 162 new individuals, whereas 343 new cases of MS were diagnosed in 2015. During 2001–2015, the incidence of MS was on average 6.5 (95% CI 5.70–7.30) cases per 100,000 residents, and 4.9 (95% CI 4.46–5.34) and 8.1 (5.86–9.34) for 100,000 male and female, respectively. Female‐to‐male sex ratio in MS in Lithuania had a tendency to increase over the period. Females were affected from 1.5 to 2 times more often than males.ConclusionsIn 2020, the incidence rate of MS is estimated to reach 13 cases per 100,000 persons and females are expected to be diagnosed with MS two times more often than males.
To assess the Natalizumab efficacy and safety in cohort of MS patients treated in Eastern region of Abu Dhabi Emirate.
MethodsRetrospective charts review of MS patients at Tawam hospital from January 2010 till May 2019.
ResultsThey were 34 females and 20 males, mean age 33 years, received Natalizumab in Tawam hospital. Natalizumab was a first DMT for twelve patients, while others used from 1 to 4 DMT before Natalizumab. Six patients had positive JCV antibodies before starting Natalizumab. The number of infusions ranged from 1 to 104 (an average 34). Annualized relapse rate before starting the drug was 1.12 (0-4) which decreased to 0.032 on Natalizumab. Brain MRI follow up revealed six patients (11.1%) who had new or active lesions after first 6 months of treatment. The average EDSS remain the same (2.66 before and after DMT), but in eleven patients (20.4%) EDSS improvement ranged from 0.5 to 3.5 points. Five patients (9.3%) had a clinical MS relapse on Natalizumab and nine (16.7%) had a progression in EDSS (from 1 to 6 points), most of them progressed to SPMS (average EDSS before DMT was 4.3 and after 6.3).
ConclusionDMT with Natalizumab in our MS cohort revealed a high efficacy in patients who were carefully selected for treatment.
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