Summary Background Diagnosis and treatment of cerebral and retinal transient ischaemic attacks (TIAs) are often delayed by the lack of immediate access to a dedicated TIA clinic. We evaluated the ...effects of rapid assessment of patients with TIA on clinical decision making, length of hospital stay, and subsequent stroke rates. Methods We set up SOS-TIA, a hospital clinic with 24-h access. Patients were admitted if they had sudden retinal or cerebral focal symptoms judged to relate to ischaemia and if they made a total recovery. Assessment, which included neurological, arterial, and cardiac imaging, was within 4 h of admission. A leaflet about TIA with a toll-free telephone number for SOS-TIA was sent to 15 000 family doctors, cardiologists, neurologists, and ophthalmologists in Paris and its administrative region. Endpoints were stroke within 90 days, and stroke, myocardial infarction, and vascular death within 1 year. Findings Between January, 2003, and December, 2005, we admitted 1085 patients with suspected TIA; 574 (53%) were seen within 24 h of symptom onset. 701 (65%) patients had confirmed TIA or minor stroke, and 144 (13%) had possible TIA. 108 (17%) of the 643 patients with confirmed TIA had brain tissue damage. Median duration of symptoms was 15 min (IQR 5–75 min). Of the patients with confirmed or possible TIA, all started a stroke prevention programme, 43 (5%) had urgent carotid revascularisation, and 44 (5%) were treated for atrial fibrillation with anticoagulants. 808 (74%) of all patients seen were sent home on the same day. The 90-day stroke rate was 1·24% (95% CI 0·72–2·12), whereas the rate predicted from ABCD2 scores was 5·96%. Interpretation Use of TIA clinics with 24-h access and immediate initiation of preventive treatment might greatly reduce length of hospital stay and risk of stroke compared with expected risk.
Background:
In relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), early identification of suboptimal responders can prevent disability progression.
Objective:
We aimed to develop and validate a dynamic ...score to guide the early decision to switch from first- to second-line therapy.
Methods:
Using time-dependent propensity scores (PS) from a French cohort of 12,823 patients with RRMS, we constructed one training and two validation PS-matched cohorts to compare the switched patients to second-line treatment and the maintained patients. We used a frailty Cox model for predicting individual hazard ratios (iHRs).
Results:
From the validation PS-matched cohort of 348 independent patients with iHR ⩽ 0.69, we reported the 5-year relapse-free survival at 0.14 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.09–0.22) for the waiting group and 0.40 (95% CI 0.32–0.51) for the switched group. From the validation PS-matched cohort of 518 independent patients with iHR > 0.69, these values were 0.37 (95% CI 0.30–0.46) and 0.44 (95% CI 0.37–0.52), respectively.
Conclusions:
By using the proposed dynamic score, we estimated that at least one-third of patients could benefit from an earlier switch to prevent relapse.
Moderately effective therapies (METs) have been the main treatment in pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis (POMS) for years. Despite the expanding use of highly effective therapies (HETs), treatment ...strategies for POMS still lack consensus.
To assess the real-world association of HET as an index treatment compared with MET with disease activity.
This was a retrospective cohort study conducted from January 1, 2010, to December 8, 2022, until the last recorded visit. The median follow-up was 5.8 years. A total of 36 French MS centers participated in the Observatoire Français de la Sclérose en Plaques (OFSEP) cohort. Of the total participants in OFSEP, only treatment-naive children with relapsing-remitting POMS who received a first HET or MET before adulthood and at least 1 follow-up clinical visit were included in the study. All eligible participants were included in the study, and none declined to participate.
HET or MET at treatment initiation.
The primary outcome was the time to first relapse after treatment. Secondary outcomes were annualized relapse rate (ARR), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) activity, time to Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) progression, tertiary education attainment, and treatment safety/tolerability. An adapted statistical method was used to model the logarithm of event rate by penalized splines of time, allowing adjustment for effects of covariates that is sensitive to nonlinearity and interactions.
Of the 3841 children (5.2% of 74 367 total participants in OFSEP), 530 patients (mean SD age, 16.0 1.8 years; 364 female 68.7%) were included in the study. In study patients, both treatment strategies were associated with a reduced risk of first relapse within the first 2 years. HET dampened disease activity with a 54% reduction in first relapse risk (adjusted hazard ratio HR, 0.46; 95% CI, 0.31-0.67; P < .001) sustained over 5 years, confirmed on MRI activity (adjusted odds ratio OR, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.18-0.66; P = .001), and with a better tolerability pattern than MET. The risk of discontinuation at 2 years was 6 times higher with MET (HR, 5.97; 95% CI, 2.92-12.20). The primary reasons for treatment discontinuation were lack of efficacy and intolerance. Index treatment was not associated with EDSS progression or tertiary education attainment (adjusted OR, 0.51; 95% CI, 0.24-1.10; P = .09).
Results of this cohort study suggest that compared with MET, initial HET in POMS was associated with a reduction in the risk of first relapse with an optimal outcome within the first 2 years and was associated with a lower rate of treatment switching and a better midterm tolerance in children. These findings suggest prioritizing initial HET in POMS, although long-term safety studies are needed.
The question of the long-term safety of pregnancy is a major concern in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), but its study is biased by reverse causation (women with higher disability are less ...likely to experience pregnancy). Using a causal inference approach, we aimed to estimate the unbiased long-term effects of pregnancy on disability and relapse risk in patients with MS and secondarily the short-term effects (during the perpartum and postpartum years) and delayed effects (occurring beyond 1 year after delivery).
We conducted an observational cohort study with data from patients with MS followed in the Observatoire Français de la Sclérose en Plaques registry between 1990 and 2020. We included female patients with MS aged 18-45 years at MS onset, clinically followed up for more than 2 years, and with ≥3 Expanded Disease Status Scale (EDSS) measurements. Outcomes were the mean EDSS score at the end of follow-up and the annual probability of relapse during follow-up. Counterfactual outcomes were predicted using the longitudinal targeted maximum likelihood estimator in the entire study population. The patients exposed to at least 1 pregnancy during their follow-up were compared with the counterfactual situation in which, contrary to what was observed, they would not have been exposed to any pregnancy. Short-term and delayed effects were analyzed from the first pregnancy of early-exposed patients (who experienced it during their first 3 years of follow-up).
We included 9,100 patients, with a median follow-up duration of 7.8 years, of whom 2,125 (23.4%) patients were exposed to at least 1 pregnancy. Pregnancy had no significant long-term causal effect on the mean EDSS score at 9 years (causal mean difference 95% CI = 0.00 -0.16 to 0.15) or on the annual probability of relapse (causal risk ratio 95% CI = 0.95 0.93-1.38). For the 1,253 early-exposed patients, pregnancy significantly decreased the probability of relapse during the perpartum year and significantly increased it during the postpartum year, but no significant delayed effect was found on the EDSS and relapse rate.
Using a causal inference approach, we found no evidence of significantly deleterious or beneficial long-term effects of pregnancy on disability. The beneficial effects found in other studies were probably related to a reverse causation bias.
Risk of developing progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is the major barrier to using natalizumab for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). To date, the association of risk ...stratification with PML incidence has not been evaluated.
To describe the temporal evolution of PML incidence in France before and after introduction of risk minimization recommendations in 2013.
This observational study used data in the MS registry OFSEP (Observatoire Français de la Sclérose en Plaques) collected between April 15, 2007, and December 31, 2016, by participating MS expert centers and MS-dedicated networks of neurologists in France. Patients with an MS diagnosis according to current criteria, regardless of age, were eligible, and those exposed to at least 1 natalizumab infusion (n = 6318) were included in the at-risk population. A questionnaire was sent to all centers, asking for a description of their practice regarding PML risk stratification. Data were analyzed in July 2018.
Time from the first natalizumab infusion to the occurrence of PML, natalizumab discontinuation plus 6 months, or the last clinical evaluation.
Incidence was the number of PML cases reported relative to the person-years exposed to natalizumab. A Poisson regression model for the 2007 to 2016 period estimated the annual variation in incidence and incidence rate ratio (IRR), adjusted for sex and age at treatment initiation and stratified by period (2007-2013 and 2013-2016).
In total, 6318 patients were exposed to natalizumab during the study period, of whom 4682 (74.1%) were female, with a mean (SD range) age at MS onset of 28.5 (9.1 1.1-72.4) years; 45 confirmed incident cases of PML were diagnosed in 22 414 person-years of exposure. The crude incidence rate for the whole 2007 to 2016 period was 2.00 (95% CI, 1.46-2.69) per 1000 patient-years. Incidence significantly increased by 45.3% (IRR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.15-1.83; P = .001) each year before 2013 and decreased by 23.0% (IRR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.61-0.97; P = .03) each year from 2013 to 2016.
The results of this study suggest, for the first time, a decrease in natalizumab-associated PML incidence since 2013 in France that may be associated with a generalized use of John Cunningham virus serologic test results; this finding appears to support the continuation and reinforcement of educational activities and risk-minimization strategies in the management of disease-modifying therapies for multiple sclerosis.
In this study, we compared the effectiveness of teriflunomide (TRF) and dimethyl fumarate (DMF) on both clinical and MRI outcomes in patients followed prospectively in the Observatoire Français de la ...Sclérose en Plaques.
A total of 1,770 patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) (713 on TRF and 1,057 on DMF) with an available baseline brain MRI were included in intention to treat. The 1- and 2-year postinitiation outcomes were relapses, increase of T2 lesions, increase in Expanded Disability Status Scale score, and reason for treatment discontinuation. Propensity scores (inverse probability weighting) and logistic regressions were estimated.
The confounder-adjusted proportions of patients were similar in TRF- compared to DMF-treated patients for relapses and disability progression after 1 and 2 years. However, the adjusted proportion of patients with at least one new T2 lesion after 2 years was lower in DMF compared to TRF (60.8% vs 72.2%, odds ratio OR 0.60,
< 0.001). Analyses of reasons for treatment withdrawal showed that lack of effectiveness was reported for 8.5% of DMF-treated patients vs 14.5% of TRF-treated patients (OR 0.54,
< 0.001), while adverse events accounted for 16% of TRF-treated patients and 21% of DMF-treated patients after 2 years (OR 1.39,
< 0.001).
After 2 years of treatment, we found similar effectiveness of DMF and TRF in terms of clinical outcomes, but with better MRI-based outcomes for DMF-treated patients, resulting in a lower rate of treatment discontinuation due to lack of effectiveness.
This study provides Class III evidence that for patients with RRMS, TRF and DMF have similar clinical effectiveness after 2 years of treatment.
Summary Background The efficacy of intravenous (IV) alteplase is restricted by the speed of recanalisation and the site of the occlusion. The aim of this study was to ascertain the effect of a ...combined IV–endovascular approach (intra-arterial alteplase and, if required, additional thrombectomy) in patients with stroke due to arterial occlusion. Methods We compared recanalisation rates, neurological improvement at 24 h, and functional outcome at 3 months between two periods (February, 2002, to March, 2007, vs April, 2007, to October, 2008) in patients in a prospective registry who were treated with different regimens of alteplase within 3 h of symptom onset. Patients with confirmed occlusion who were treated before April, 2007, were treated with IV alteplase; after April, 2007, patients were treated with a systematic IV–endovascular approach. Analysis was by intention to treat. Findings 46 (87%) of 53 patients treated with the IV–endovascular approach achieved recanalisation versus 56 (52%) of 107 patients in the IV group (adjusted relative risk RR 1·49, 95% CI 1·21–1·84; p=0·0002). Early neurological improvement (NIHSS score of 0 or 1 or an improvement of 4 points or more at 24 h) occurred in 32 (60%) patients in the IV–endovascular group and 42 (39%) patients in the IV group (adjusted RR 1·36, 0·97–1·91; p=0·07). Favourable outcome (mRS of 0–2 at 90 days) occurred in 30 (57%) patients in the IV–endovascular group and 47 (44%) patients in the IV group (adjusted RR 1·16, 0·85–1·58; p=0·35). The mortality rate at 90 days was 17% in both groups, and symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage was reported in five (9%) patients in the IV–endovascular group and in 12 (11%) patients in the IV group. Better clinical outcome was associated with recanalisation in both groups and with time to recanalisation in the IV–endovascular group. Interpretation An IV–endovascular approach is associated with higher recanalisation rates than is IV alteplase in patients with stroke and confirmed arterial occlusion. In patients treated with an IV–endovascular approach, a shorter time from symptom onset to recanalisation is associated with better clinical outcomes. Funding SOS-ATTAQUE CEREBRALE.
Background and purpose
Therapeutic management of relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) has evolved towards early treatment. The objective was to assess the impact of early treatment ...initiation on disability progression amongst RRMS first‐line‐treated patients.
Methods
This study included all incident RRMS cases starting interferon or glatiramer acetate for the first time from 1 January 1996 to 31 December 2012 (N = 5279) from 10 MS expert Observatoire Français de la Sclérose en Plaques centres. The delay from treatment start to attaining an irreversible Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score of 3.0 was compared between the early group (N = 1882; treated within 12 months following MS clinical onset) and the later group using propensity score weighted Kaplan–Meier methods, overall and stratified by age.
Results
Overall, the restricted mean time before reaching EDSS 3.0 from treatment start was 11 years and 2 months for patients treated within the year following MS clinical onset and 10 years and 7 months for patients treated later. Thus, early treated patients gained 7 months (95% confidence interval CI 4–11 months) in the time to reach EDSS 3.0 compared to patients treated later (treatment start delayed by 28 months). The difference in restricted mean time was respectively 6 months (95% CI 1–10 months) and 14 months (95% CI 4–24 months) in the ≤40 years age group and in the >40 years age group, in favour of the early group.
Conclusions
Early treatment initiation resulted in a significant reduction of disability progression amongst patients with RRMS, and also amongst older patients.
Using the French MS Registry (Observatoire Français de la Sclérose En Plaques, OFSEP), the real‐life effectiveness of early first‐line treatment initiation was assessed amongst 5279 patients included over the period 1996–2012. Early treated patients, that is, patients in the first year following MS clinical onset, were compared to later treated patients, and the two groups were made comparable using propensity scores. Our work confirmed the overall benefit of early treatment on disability progression but also demonstrated such benefit in the population of patients developing MS after 40 years of age.
Background and purpose
Disease‐modifying therapies (DMTs) have an impact on relapses and disease progression. Nonetheless, many patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) remain untreated. The objectives ...of the present study were to determine the proportion of untreated patients with MS followed in expert centers in France and to determine the predictive factors of nontreatment.
Methods
We conducted a retrospective cohort study. Data were extracted from the 38 centers participating in the European Database for Multiple Sclerosis (EDMUS) on December 15, 2018, and patients with MS seen at least once during the study period (from June 15, 2016 to June 14, 2017) were included.
Results
Of the 21,189 patients with MS (age 47.1 ± 13.1 years; Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score 3.4 ± 2.4), 6,631 (31.3%; 95% confidence interval CI 30.7–31.9) were not receiving any DMT. Although patients with a relapsing‐remitting course (n = 11,693) were the most likely to receive DMT, 14.8% (95% CI 14.2–15.4) were still untreated (6.8% never treated). After multivariate analysis among patients with relapsing‐remitting MS, the main factors explaining never having been treated were: not having ≥9 lesions on brain magnetic resonance imaging (odds ratio OR 0.52 95% CI 0.44–0.61) and lower EDSS score (OR 0.78 95% CI 0.74–0.82). Most patients with progressive MS (50.4% for secondary and 64.2% for primary progressive MS) did not receive any DMT during the study period, while 11.6% of patients with secondary and 34.0% of patients with primary progressive MS had never received any DMT.
Conclusion
A significant proportion of patients with MS did not receive any DMT, even though such treatments are reimbursed by the healthcare system for French patients. This result highlights the unmet need for current DMTs for a large subgroup of patients with MS.
The objectives were to determine the proportion of untreated patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) followed in expert centers in France and to determine the predictive factors of non‐treatment. Among the 21,189 patients with MS, 31.3% were not receiving any disease‐modifying treatment and the most important predictive factor for not being treated was the disease course: 14.8% of patients with a relapsing‐remitting course were untreated, while 50.4% of those with secondary and 64.2% of those with primary progressive MS were untreated. After multivariate analysis among patients with relapsing‐remitting MS, the main factors explaining never having been treated were not having ≥9 lesions on brain magnetic resonance imaging and lower Expanded Disability Status Scale score.
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