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Effectiveness and safety of dimethyl fumarate in progressive multiple sclerosis
Vanessa F Moreira Ferreira1, Yanqing Liu1, Brian C Healy1
1Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Brigham MS Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Background:
There is limited data analyzing the safety and effectiveness of dimethyl fumarate (DMF) in the progressive multiple sclerosis (PMS) population.
Objective:
To analyze the safety and effectiveness of DMF in patients with PMS.
Methods:
We used Cox proportional hazards models to compare the time to confirmed worsening and improvement on the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and timed 25-foot walk (T25FW) between patients treated with DMF and glatiramer acetate (GA) for at least one year.
Results:
We included 46 patients treated with DMF and 42 patients treated with GA. The safety and tolerability of GA and DMF were consistent with established profiles. There was no difference in confirmed EDSS progression. A trend towards reduced T25FW was seen in the DMF compared to GA after adjustment (HR = 0.86; 95% CI:0.37, 1.98; p = 0.72 and HR = 0.60; 95% CI:0.27, 1.34; p = 0.21, respectively).
Conclusion:
Dimethyl fumarate showed a trend towards reduction in T25FW but no evidence of clinically significant impact on EDSS. The small sample precluded definitive determination.
Insights
Dimethyl fumarate (DMF) showed a trend towards improving walking speed in progressive multiple sclerosis (PMS) patients but did not significantly impact disability scores. Further research is needed due to the small sample size.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimmunology
- Clinical Neurology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Limited data exists on the safety and efficacy of dimethyl fumarate (DMF) specifically within the progressive multiple sclerosis (PMS) patient population.
- Understanding treatment effects in PMS is crucial for managing disease progression and patient outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of dimethyl fumarate (DMF) in patients diagnosed with progressive multiple sclerosis (PMS).
- To compare DMF's impact on disability progression and walking ability against glatiramer acetate (GA).
Main Methods:
- Cox proportional hazards models were employed to analyze time-to-event data.
- Outcomes assessed included confirmed worsening/improvement on the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and the timed 25-foot walk (T25FW).
- Comparison was made between patients treated with DMF and glatiramer acetate (GA) for at least one year.
Main Results:
- The study included 46 patients on DMF and 42 patients on GA; safety profiles were consistent with known data.
- No statistically significant difference was observed in confirmed Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) progression between the two treatment groups.
- A trend towards reduced timed 25-foot walk (T25FW) times was noted in the DMF group compared to the GA group, though not statistically significant.
Conclusions:
- Dimethyl fumarate (DMF) demonstrated a trend towards improving walking speed (T25FW) in progressive multiple sclerosis (PMS) patients.
- DMF did not show a clinically significant impact on Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) progression in this cohort.
- The small sample size limited the ability to draw definitive conclusions regarding DMF's efficacy in PMS.
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