Search

Background and Objectives To evaluate costs and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD). Methods In this multicenter cross-sectional study, data on consumption of medical and nonmedical resources and work ability were assessed via patient questionnaires. Costs were analyzed in Euros for 2018 from the societal perspective. HRQoL was captured by the EuroQoL Group 5 Dimension 5 Level Scale (EQ-5D-5L) questionnaire. Clinical data were retrieved from the Neuromyelitis Optica Study Group (NEMOS) database. Results Two hundred twelve patients (80% women, median age 50 [19-83] years, median disease duration 7 [0-43] years, median Expanded Disability Status Scale [EDSS] score 3.5 [0-8.5], 66% aquaporin-4 immunoglobulin G [IgG] positive, 22% MOG IgG positive, 12% double seronegative) were analyzed. The mean total annual per capita cost of illness accounted for €59,574 (95% CI 51,225-68,293 or US dollars [USD] 70,297, 95% CI 60,445-80,586), and the mean index value of the EQ-5D-5L was 0.693 (95% CI 0.65-0.73). The most important cost drivers were informal care costs (28% of total costs), indirect costs (23%), and drugs (16%)

Supplemental material, sj-docx-1-taj-10.1177_20406223221108391 for Associated factors of potential drug-drug interactions and drug–food interactions in patients with multiple sclerosis by Jane Louisa Debus, Paula Bachmann, Niklas Frahm, Pegah Mashhadiakbar, Silvan Elias Langhorst, Barbara Streckenbach, Julia Baldt, Felicita Heidler, Michael Hecker and Uwe Klaus Zettl in Therapeutic Advances in Chronic Disease

Background: Rituximab (RTX), a CD20 depleting agent, is a frequently used off-label treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS), while mitoxantrone (MTX) is approved, albeit rarely used for active relapsing MS (RMS). However, observational data comparing RTX and MTX effectiveness and safety are scarce. Objective: We aimed to compare effectiveness and safety of MTX and RTX in patients with active RMS. Methods: From combined retrospective clinical data of three MS centers, we selected patients who had received at least one infusion of RTX or MTX and had at least a 6-month clinical follow-up available. Treatment groups were compared by propensity score (PS)-adjusted regression and inverse PS-weighted generalized estimated equation models regarding disability progression, relapse activity, and adverse events (AEs). Results: We included 292 RMS patients (mean age 41.8 years, 71.6% female) who received RTX (119 patients, mean age 36.8 years, 74.8% female) or MTX (173 patients mean age 45.3 years, 69.4% female). Using both PS methods, we did not find a significant effect favoring RTX or MTX treatment regarding the probability of disability worsening or relapse occurrence. However, RTX treatment was associated with a significantly lower probability of severe AEs and AEs. Conclusions: RTX shows comparable effectiveness but a favorable safety profile compared with MTX in active RMS.

Supplemental material, sj-pdf-4-tan-10.1177_1756286420975642 for Therapeutic plasma exchange in steroid-refractory multiple sclerosis relapses. A retrospective two-center study by Stephan Blechinger, Johannes Ehler, Gabriel Bsteh, Alexander Winkelmann, Fritz Leutmezer, Stefanie Meister, Agnes Santer, Michael Hecker, Thomas Berger, Paulus Rommer and Uwe Klaus Zettl in Therapeutic Advances in Neurological Disorders

Supplemental material, sj-docx-2-msj-10.1177_13524585211039753 for Time to diagnosis in multiple sclerosis: Epidemiological data from the German Multiple Sclerosis Registry by Stefan J Blaschke, David Ellenberger, Peter Flachenecker, Kerstin Hellwig, Friedemann Paul, Dieter Pöhlau, Christoph Kleinschnitz, Paulus S Rommer, Maria A Rueger, Uwe K Zettl, Alexander Stahmann and Clemens Warnke in Multiple Sclerosis Journal

Supplemental material, sj-pdf-1-taj-10.1177_20406223211024366 for Rituximab versus mitoxantrone: comparing effectiveness and safety in advanced relapsing multiple sclerosis by Zrzavy Tobias, Daniels Esther, Stuka Niklas, Weber Dennis, Winkelmann Alexander, Rauschka Helmut, Hecker Michael, Aboulenein-Djamshidian Fahmy, Meister Stefanie, Leutmezer Fritz, Berger Thomas, Bsteh Gabriel, Zettl Uwe Klaus and Rommer Paulus in Therapeutic Advances in Chronic Disease

Supplemental material, sj-pdf-2-tan-10.1177_1756286420975642 for Therapeutic plasma exchange in steroid-refractory multiple sclerosis relapses. A retrospective two-center study by Stephan Blechinger, Johannes Ehler, Gabriel Bsteh, Alexander Winkelmann, Fritz Leutmezer, Stefanie Meister, Agnes Santer, Michael Hecker, Thomas Berger, Paulus Rommer and Uwe Klaus Zettl in Therapeutic Advances in Neurological Disorders

Supplemental material, sj-pdf-3-tan-10.1177_1756286420975642 for Therapeutic plasma exchange in steroid-refractory multiple sclerosis relapses. A retrospective two-center study by Stephan Blechinger, Johannes Ehler, Gabriel Bsteh, Alexander Winkelmann, Fritz Leutmezer, Stefanie Meister, Agnes Santer, Michael Hecker, Thomas Berger, Paulus Rommer and Uwe Klaus Zettl in Therapeutic Advances in Neurological Disorders