Objective
Pivotal trial have shown that patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) receiving ocrelizumab had better outcomes. However, data on ocrelizumab in clinical practice are limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the preliminary safety profile and effectiveness of ocrelizumab treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS) in a real‐world clinical setting.
Methods
We conducted a retrospective study including consecutive patients from nine public hospitals in south‐eastern Spain who received ocrelizumab after it was approved.
Results
A total of 228 MS patients were included (144 with relapsing–remitting MS [RRMS], 25 secondary progressive MS [SPMS], and 59 primary progressive MS [PPMS]). Median follow‐up period was 12 months (range, 1‐32). No evidence of disease activity (NEDA) status at year 1 was achieved in 91.2% of the relapsing MS (RMS) population, while disability progression was detected in 37.5% of the PPMS patients (median follow‐up period, 19 months). The most common adverse events reported were infusion‐related reactions and infections, with the most common infections being urinary tract infections followed by upper respiratory infections and COVID‐19.
Interpretation
The preliminary results in our real‐world setting show that ocrelizumab presented excellent results in suppressing disease activity with a favorable and consistent safety profile.
Background: Available screening tests for dementia are of limited usefulness because they are influenced by the patient's culture and educational level. The Eurotest, an instrument based on the knowledge and handling of money, was designed to overcome these limitations. The objective of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the Eurotest in identifying dementia in customary clinical practice.
Chronic lymphocytic inflammation with pontine perivascular enhancement responsive to steroids (CLIPPERS) is a recently defined inflammatory central nervous system disorder responsive to steroids with characteristic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features. We report a 69-year-old man presenting with gait ataxia with the characteristic MRI features of CLIPPERS and describe the clinical, MRI, and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) follow-up after treatment with glucocorticosteroids. Brain and spine MRI showed punctate enhancement peppering the brainstem, cerebellar peduncles, and upper cervical cord. In MRS, the ratio of N-acetyl aspartate to creatine (NAA/Cr) was significantly decreased in the pons and both thalami. An extensive evaluation found no alternative diagnoses. Treatment with steroids led to rapid clinical improvement. Repeat MRI and MRS showed complete resolution of gadolinium-enhancing lesions and recovery of NAA/Cr levels in the pons and thalami. After 1 month of tapering oral steroids, weekly oral methotrexate was started and the patient has remained stable for the past 6 months.
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