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Abstract Background Mucopolysaccharidosis II (MPS II) is a rare lysosomal storage disease characterized by iduronate-2-sulfatase gene (IDS) deficiency and downstream glycosaminoglycan accumulation. Two-thirds of patients present with neuronopathic disease and evaluating cognitive function in these patients is challenging owing to limitations of currently available tests. During the clinical development of intrathecal idursulfase (idursulfase-IT), regulatory authorities requested qualitative data to further understand the neurocognitive changes observed by the investigators through the clinical trials. Results This qualitative study consisted of semi-structured interviews with all nine of the principal investigators who participated in the idursulfase-IT phase 2/3 (NCT02055118) and extension (NCT02412787) trials. These investigators enrolled the 56 patients with neuronopathic MPS II who qualified for the extension phase of the trial. The investigators were asked to rate the disease status of their patients. Of the 56 patients, 49 (88%) were rated as having disease that was improved/improving, stabilized or slowing progression compared with the expected outcomes with no treatment. Three patients were rated as worsening, while the remaining four patients were considered to have slowing progression or worsening disease. Similar results were demonstrated for patients aged from 3 to under 6 years at baseline, with 33 of 39 patients (85%) rated as having disease that was improved/improving, stabilized or slowing progression. Of the seven patients rated with slowing progression/worsening or worsening disease, five of them had an IDS variant other than missense, while two had a missense class variant. All the assigned improved/improving ratings were in patients receiving idursulfase-IT from the start of the phase 2/3 trial. Moreover, patients under 3 years of age at baseline were all rated as either improved/improving or stabilized disease. In a blinded review of patient profiles, investigators were requested to assign a disease status rating to 18 patients with large IDS deletions; 67% of these patients were rated as improved/improving or stabilized disease. Conclusions This qualitative analysis provides a snapshot of clinicians’ considerations when evaluating treatment in patients with neuronopathic MPS II, compared with the expected decline in cognitive function in the absence of treatment. The results highlight the importance of robust assessment tools in treatment evaluation.

Pulmonary hypertension resulting from chronic lung disease such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and interstitial lung disease is categorized by the World Health Organization as Group 3 pulmonary hypertension. To identify the symptoms and impacts of World Health Organization Group 3 pulmonary hypertension and to capture data related to the patient experience of this disease, qualitative research interviews were undertaken with 3 clinical experts and 14 individuals with pulmonary hypertension secondary to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or interstitial lung disease. Shortness of breath, fatigue, cough, and swelling were the most frequently reported symptoms of pulmonary hypertension due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or interstitial lung disease, and shortness of breath was further identified as the single most bothersome symptom for most patients (71.4%). Interview participants also described experiencing a number of impacts related to pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary hypertension symptoms, including limitations in the ability to perform activities of daily living and impacts on physical functioning, family life, and social life as well as emotional impacts, which included frustration, depression, anxiety, isolation, and sadness. Results of these qualitative interviews offer an understanding of the patient experience of pulmonary hypertension due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or interstitial lung disease, including insight into the symptoms and impacts that are most important to patients in this population. As such, these results may help guide priorities in clinical treatment and assist researchers in their selection of patient-reported outcome measures for clinical trials in patients with pulmonary hypertension due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or interstitial lung disease.