These people at the University of Calgary studied 1,471 RRMS patients on either Copaxone or Betaseron (565 on Copaxone, 906 on Betaseron) between 1996 and 2011 (follow-up until 2014) and found that the median time until stopping all DMDs was 11.1 years, with those on Copaxone lasting somewhat longer than those on Betaseron.
Within 90 days after stopping one of these DMDs, 54% of the patients either resumed DMT [disease-modifying therapy] or switched to some other treatment.
This means that a surprising (to me) 46% stayed off of DMT.
From PubMed, April 14, 2015:
Quote
The abstract can be seen Only registered and activated users can see links., Click Here To Register....
Within 90 days after stopping one of these DMDs, 54% of the patients either resumed DMT [disease-modifying therapy] or switched to some other treatment.
This means that a surprising (to me) 46% stayed off of DMT.
From PubMed, April 14, 2015:
Quote
PLoS One. 2015 Apr 13;10(4):e0123824.
Long-Term Persistence with Injectable Therapy in Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis: An 18-Year Observational Cohort Study
Zhornitsky S1, Greenfield J1, Koch MW1, Patten SB2, Harris C1, Wall W1, Alikhani K1, Burton J1, Busche K1, Costello F1, Davenport JW1, Jarvis SE1, Lavarato D2, Parpal H1, Patry DG1, Yeung M1, Metz LM1.
Author information
1Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary; Calgary, Canada; Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.
2Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada; Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.
Disease modifying therapies (DMTs) reduce the frequency of relapses and accumulation of disability in multiple sclerosis (MS). Long-term persistence with treatment is important to optimize treatment benefit.
This long-term, cohort study was conducted at the Calgary MS Clinic. All consenting adults with relapsing-remitting MS who started either glatiramer acetate (GA) or interferon-β 1a/1b (IFN-β) between January 1st, 1996 and July 1st, 2011 were included. Follow-up continued to February 1st, 2014.
Time-to-discontinuation of the initial and subsequently-prescribed DMTs (switches) was analysed using Kaplan-Meier survival analyses. Group differences were compared using log-rank tests and multivariable Cox regression models.
Analysis included 1471 participants; 906 were initially prescribed GA and 565 were initially prescribed IFN-β. Follow-up information was available for 87%; 29 (2%) were lost to follow-up and 160 (11%) moved from Southern Alberta while still using DMT.
Median time-to-discontinuation of all injectable DMTs was 11.1 years. Participants with greater disability at treatment initiation, those who started treatment before age 30, and those who started between 2006 and 2011 were more likely to discontinue use of all injectable DMTs. Median time-to-discontinuation of the initial DMT was 8.6 years. Those initially prescribed GA remained on treatment longer. Of 610 participants who discontinued injectable DMT, 331 (54%) started an oral DMT, or a second-line DMT, or resumed injectable DMT after 90 days.
Persistence with injectable DMTs was high in this long-term population-based study. Most participants who discontinued injectable DMT did not remain untreated.
Further research is required to understand treatment outcomes and outcomes after stopping DMT.
Long-Term Persistence with Injectable Therapy in Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis: An 18-Year Observational Cohort Study
Zhornitsky S1, Greenfield J1, Koch MW1, Patten SB2, Harris C1, Wall W1, Alikhani K1, Burton J1, Busche K1, Costello F1, Davenport JW1, Jarvis SE1, Lavarato D2, Parpal H1, Patry DG1, Yeung M1, Metz LM1.
Author information
1Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary; Calgary, Canada; Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.
2Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada; Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.
Disease modifying therapies (DMTs) reduce the frequency of relapses and accumulation of disability in multiple sclerosis (MS). Long-term persistence with treatment is important to optimize treatment benefit.
This long-term, cohort study was conducted at the Calgary MS Clinic. All consenting adults with relapsing-remitting MS who started either glatiramer acetate (GA) or interferon-β 1a/1b (IFN-β) between January 1st, 1996 and July 1st, 2011 were included. Follow-up continued to February 1st, 2014.
Time-to-discontinuation of the initial and subsequently-prescribed DMTs (switches) was analysed using Kaplan-Meier survival analyses. Group differences were compared using log-rank tests and multivariable Cox regression models.
Analysis included 1471 participants; 906 were initially prescribed GA and 565 were initially prescribed IFN-β. Follow-up information was available for 87%; 29 (2%) were lost to follow-up and 160 (11%) moved from Southern Alberta while still using DMT.
Median time-to-discontinuation of all injectable DMTs was 11.1 years. Participants with greater disability at treatment initiation, those who started treatment before age 30, and those who started between 2006 and 2011 were more likely to discontinue use of all injectable DMTs. Median time-to-discontinuation of the initial DMT was 8.6 years. Those initially prescribed GA remained on treatment longer. Of 610 participants who discontinued injectable DMT, 331 (54%) started an oral DMT, or a second-line DMT, or resumed injectable DMT after 90 days.
Persistence with injectable DMTs was high in this long-term population-based study. Most participants who discontinued injectable DMT did not remain untreated.
Further research is required to understand treatment outcomes and outcomes after stopping DMT.
The abstract can be seen Only registered and activated users can see links., Click Here To Register....
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