ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The influence of pregnancy on Multiple Sclerosis (MS) has been extensively studied but such influence on Latin American women with MS has not been characterized. Our objective was to describe the course of pregnancy and birth outcome in Argentinean MS patients and the evolution of MS during pregnancy and after delivery. METHOD: We used a retrospective design in eight MS centers in Argentina and administered a survey to women with definite MS (Mc Donald) with pregnancies during or after MS onset. We contacted 355 women of which 81 met inclusion criteria. We recorded 141 pregnancies. RESULTS: Involuntary abortion was observed in 16% of pregnancies (95% CI = 10-23). Thirty five women received immunomodulatory therapy (IMT) before 42 pregnancies. Twenty three (55%) out of 42 pregnancies were exposed to IMT. The mean time of IMT discontinuation before conception in 19 (45.2%) pregnancies without exposure, was 104 days (95% CI = 61.0-147.0). There were 103 deliveries: 79% full term. Birth defects were detected in 19% of pregnancies exposed to IMT (95% CI = 4-46) and in 2% of non-exposed (95% CI = 0.3-8.0). The mean relapse rate was: pre-pregnancy year: 0.22 (95% CI = 0.12-0.32); pregnancy: 0.31 in 1st (95% CI = 0.10-0.52), 0.19 (95% CI = 0.03-0.36) in 2nd, and 0.04 in 3rd trimester (95% CI = -0.04-0.12); 1st trimester post delivery: 0.82 (95% CI = 0.42-1.22). CONCLUSION: We observed a higher rate of birth defects among infants exposed to immunomodulators in utero than those not exposed. The reduction in MS relapses during 2nd and 3rd trimester of pregnancy and its increase during postpartum is consistent with previous reports.
Subject(s)
Congenital Abnormalities/epidemiology , Delivery, Obstetric/statistics & numerical data , Multiple Sclerosis/epidemiology , Pregnancy Complications/epidemiology , Pregnancy Outcome/epidemiology , Adult , Aged , Argentina/epidemiology , Breast Feeding/statistics & numerical data , Data Collection , Female , Humans , Immunosuppressive Agents/therapeutic use , Infant, Newborn , Middle Aged , Multiple Sclerosis/drug therapy , Postpartum Period , Pregnancy , Pregnancy Trimester, Second , Pregnancy Trimester, Third , Retrospective Studies , Risk Factors , Young AdultABSTRACT
Switching treatment may be beneficial in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) who respond inadequately to first-line immunomodulatory therapy. The objective of this study was to evaluate clinical outcomes after switching treatment in such patients. This prospective longitudinal observational study included 114 patients with RRMS who failed first-line monotherapy and were switched treatments after 3 years. Every 3 months, patients underwent a full neurological examination. Outcome was compared between the 3-year Before Switch and After Switch treatment periods. The primary outcome measure was the annualized relapse rate; secondary outcome measures were the proportion of relapse-free patients and the median change in Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). Patients were switched either from low-dose to high-dose interferon-beta (IFNbeta; n = 31), from IFNbeta to glatiramer acetate (GA; n = 52) or mitoxantrone (n = 13), or from GA to IFNbeta (n = 16). In 3 years after switching, annualized relapse rates fell by 57-78% according to the group. The proportion of relapse-free patients varied from 56% to 81%. Least improved was observed in patients switching between INFbeta preparations. Median EDSS scores remained stable in all groups except the GA to IFNbeta switchers. In conclusion, patients who fail first-line immunomodulatory therapy generally benefit from switching to another class of immunomodulatory therapy.
Subject(s)
Immunologic Factors/therapeutic use , Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting/drug therapy , Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting/immunology , Adult , Argentina/epidemiology , Disability Evaluation , Female , Glatiramer Acetate , Humans , Interferon-beta/therapeutic use , Longitudinal Studies , Male , Middle Aged , Mitoxantrone/therapeutic use , Neurologic Examination , Peptides/therapeutic use , Time Factors , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
We performed an observational, retrospective analysis of outcome in a sequential cohort of patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) in Argentina. Patients treated for 16 months with interferon beta-1a (Avonex; 30 micrograms intramuscularly, once a week), interferon beta-1a (Rebif); 44 micrograms subcutaneously, thrice weekly), interferon beta-1b (Betaferon; 250 micrograms subcutaneously, every other day) or glatiramer acetate (Copaxone; 20 mg subcutaneously daily) were compared with a non-treated group of patients. The different treatment groups were similar in baseline demographic and clinical variables. A significant fall in the annual relapse rate was observed for all four treatments, with the largest effect observed with glatiramer acetate (81% reduction in relapse rate, compared with pre-treatment values). The proportion of patients remaining relapse-free for the entire 16-month treatment period varied from 37% in untreated patients to 83% in the glatiramer acetate treated group. No statistically significant changes in disability scores were observed over the treatment period. This first such comparative study in Latin America shows that treatment of multiple sclerosis patients with immunomodulatory therapies in the context of current standards of care in Argentina provides clinically important benefit, and suggest that some of these therapies may be better than others.
Subject(s)
Adjuvants, Immunologic/therapeutic use , Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/therapeutic use , Immunotherapy , Interferon Type I/therapeutic use , Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting/therapy , Peptides/therapeutic use , Adult , Argentina , Disease Progression , Female , Glatiramer Acetate , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Neuropsychological Tests , Recombinant Proteins , Recurrence , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
Presentamos un paciente de 38 años, quien consultó por presentar desde 6 años antes impotencia sexual, diarrea, hipotensión postural y parestesias en miembros inferiores. Tenía antecedentes familiares de cuadros similares. El diagnóstico clínico de neuropatía amiloidea hereditaria fue sospechado frente a una neuropatía periférica, con disautonomía y antecedentes familiares. La biopsia de nervio periférico confirmó el diagnóstico. Nosotros nos preguntamos si la disfunción disautonómica tan severa de nuestro paciente es otra variedad de neuropatía amiloidea hereditaria o sólo una variante del tipo I de Corino Andrade
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Adult , Amyloidosis/complications , Hereditary Sensory and Motor Neuropathy/diagnosis , Peripheral Nerves/pathology , Amyloidosis/diagnosis , Amyloidosis/pathology , Hereditary Sensory and Motor Neuropathy/genetics , Hereditary Sensory and Motor Neuropathy/pathology , Erectile Dysfunction/etiology , Diarrhea/etiology , Paresthesia/etiology , Urinary Incontinence/etiologyABSTRACT
Presentamos un paciente de 38 años, quien consultó por presentar desde 6 años antes impotencia sexual, diarrea, hipotensión postural y parestesias en miembros inferiores. Tenía antecedentes familiares de cuadros similares. El diagnóstico clínico de neuropatía amiloidea hereditaria fue sospechado frente a una neuropatía periférica, con disautonomía y antecedentes familiares. La biopsia de nervio periférico confirmó el diagnóstico. Nosotros nos preguntamos si la disfunción disautonómica tan severa de nuestro paciente es otra variedad de neuropatía amiloidea hereditaria o sólo una variante del tipo I de Corino Andrade
