Real-life evidence of treatment with alemtuzumab in patients diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis in Colombia

Background: Physical disability, cognitive impairment, depression, and fatigue are poorly understood in Latin American patients with multiple sclerosis following alemtuzumab infusion. Objectives: To describe Sustained changes in physical disability in an average 22-month follow-up period after alemtuzumab infusion, and which demographical or clinical variables modulate change in EDSS, and adverse events, changes in cognition, fatigue, and depressive symptoms after an average 15-month follow-up period. Method: Retrospective cohort observational study. Following the review of medical records, 23 patients with Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis treated with alemtuzumab were identified; of these, 17 had a baseline neuropsychological assessment and 12 had at least one follow-up neuropsychological assessment. Results: Most of the patients presented a low level of physical disability, depression, fatigue, and cognitive impairment, which was more pronounced in the processing speed and visuospatial memory at baseline. Fifteen of 23 (65.2%) of patients showed disability improvement, 7 (30.1%) patients remained stable, and 1 (4.3%) patient worsened, and change was not influenced by age or baseline disability score. Twenty (87%) patients remained free of clinical relapses. Performance improved on the BVMT-R visual memory test, 9 (75%) remained stable or improved on the BICAMS, and 66.6% perceived decreased fatigue on the D-FIS. Adverse events occurred in 7 (30.1%) of patients, the most common were opportunistic infections in 2 (8.6%) patients, and one 29-year-old patient presented papillary thyroid carcinoma after infusion of the second course of alemtuzumab. Conclusions: Results suggest that treatment with alemtuzumab has a beneficial impact on disability, cognitive impairment, and perception of fatigue. The percentage and type of adverse events observed in the cohort are similar to those reported for other real-life studies.

Automated summary

This study reveals the changes in physical disability, cognitive impairment, depression, and fatigue in Latin American patients with multiple sclerosis after alemtuzumab infusion. The results show that treatment with alemtuzumab has a beneficial impact on disability, cognitive impairment, and perception of fatigue.