Outcomes in a Modern Cohort of Treated Patients with Multiple Sclerosis from Diagnosis Up to 15 Years

Abstract

Background: Before disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) were available, the natural history of multiple sclerosis (MS) regarding attainment of accepted disability milestones was reported with fairly wide variance comparing outcomes across studies. The influence of DMTs on these outcomes is unknown. This study aimed to calculate attainment of disability milestones during the first 15 years after onset of DMTtreated relapsing forms of MS (RMS). Methods: As a retrospective study, all available disability data (collected routinely) on all newly diagnosed patients with RMS seen and initially diagnosed ina single clinic between 1989 and 2006 were reviewed. Times from first symptoms and diagnosis until first treatment with DMTs were also reviewed. Time-toevent statistics were applied using disability milestones. Results: Mean follow-up of 184 adult patients from symptom onset was 13.7 years. Of patients followed up for 15 years after onset, 16 of 86 (19%) reached an Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score of 6.0. Estimated median time to reach an EDSS score of 3.0 was 10.7 years and to reach an EDSS score of 4.0 was 18.1 years.Conclusions: There were striking differences between the present results and older data sets and similar results to the few available modern data sets. This analysis of a modern treated RMS cohort provides outcomes data that may be compared favorably with the natural history of RMS. Int J MS Care. 2020;22:110-114.

Long-Term Disability Outcomes in Relapsing–Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Patients: Impact of Clinical and Demographic Factors on Disease Progression

“…The results align with recent data reported in the literature. Scott et al, in a cohort of 184 American treated PwMS followed longitudinally for at least 14 years, demonstrated that within 10.7 years from onset, half of the patients reached an EDSS score of 3.0 [ 55 ].…”

“…The results align with recent data reported in the literature. Scott et al, in a cohort of 184 American treated PwMS followed longitudinally for at least 14 years, demonstrated that within 10.7 years from onset, half of the patients reached an EDSS score of 3.0 [55]. Harari et al, in an epidemiogenetical study that spanned over 18 years and involved a cohort of 2396 Jewish PwMS (Iraqi-born Jewish patients or Israeli-born Jewish patients with both parents born in Iraq vs. those of Northern European origin, who were partially treated with DMTs), concluded that patients of Iraqi origin tended to progress faster to an EDSS of 3.0 compared to those of Northern European origin.…”