Tolerability, adverse events and compliance to glatiramer acetate in 28 patients with multiple sclerosis using the drug continuously for at least six months

Abstract

-A i m: To assess tolerability, adverse events and compliance to treatment with glatiramer acetate in multiple sclero s i s . Method: Review of patient re c o rds and individual interv i e w s . Results: 30 individuals residing in the coastal region of the State of São Paulo who had been in use of glatiramer acetate for at least 6 months were identified. From this group, 28 individuals came to regular consultations and were individually assessed, their complaints being noted down in confidential re c o rds. Ten patients re p o rt e d systemic reactions to the drug. Four of them stopped the medication due to such reactions. Eight patients rep o rted local reactions to the injections. Compliance with injections was achieved, although three patients rep o rted forgetting the injection on a few days. Conclusion: We noticed a higher level of systemic adverse events in our patients than in reports in the literature.KEY WORDS: multiple sclerosis, glatiramer acetate, copaxone.Tolerabilidade, eventos adversos e aderência ao acetato de glatiramer em 28 pacientes com esclerose múltipla usando a droga continuamente por pelo menos seis meses RESUMO -O b j e t i v o:Avaliar tolerância, eventos adversos e aderência ao tratamento com acetato de glatiramer em esclerose múltipla. Método: Revisão de prontuários de pacientes e entrevistas individuais. R e s u l t ados: 30 indivíduos residentes na região do litoral do Estado de São Paulo, que fizeram tratamento com acetato de glatirâmer por pelo menos 6 meses foram identificados. Deste grupo, 28 indivíduos compare c eram a consultas re g u l a res e foram avaliados individualmente, sendo suas queixas anotadas em pro n t u á r i o confidencial. Dez pacientes relataram reações sistêmicas à droga. Quatro deles suspenderam o tratamento devido às reações. Oito pacientes relataram reação local às injeções. Aderência às injeções foi obtida, e mbora três pacientes admitam ter esquecido a injeção alguns poucos dias. Conclusão: Observamos um ín-dice maior de reações sistêmicas em nossos pacientes do que o relatado na literatura.

Adherence to Disease-Modifying Therapies in Spanish Patients with Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis: Two-Year Interim Results of the Global Adherence Project

“…The results of the Spanish GAP study, along with the studies conducted until present [6,10], confirm the need to be aware of the importance of adherence to MS therapy with DMTs. The use of questionnaires enabled assessment of the views of the neurologists and patients on factors that may influence adherence.…”

“…Few studies have compared adherence among DMTs currently available for MS [6,10]. The international GAP study, an observational, multicenter, phase IV, post- marketing, retrospective, cross-sectional study, included 2,648 patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) in 22 countries [5].…”

The Global Adherence Project (GAP): a multicenter observational study on adherence to disease‐modifying therapies in patients with relapsing‐remitting multiple sclerosis

“…Only a small number of studies have evaluated rates of adherence to prescribed treatment protocols or continuity of treatment in clinical practice [17,18]. The goals of this study were to evaluate rates of adherence to prescribed DMTs and to explore factors affecting adherence amongst patients with relapsing‐remitting MS.…”

Reacciones adversas poco frecuentes y clínicamente relevantes tras la administración subcutánea de acetato de glatirámero

“…Sin embargo, el caso expuesto es menos frecuente pero descrito en la bibliografía y ficha técnica del medicamento. Además es una de las causas de abandono del tratamiento [6][7][8] .…”