Timing of high-efficacy therapy in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: A systematic review

Bernd Merkel; Helmut Butzkueven; Anthony L Traboulsee; Eva Havrdova; Tomas Kalincik

Journal article

Timing of high-efficacy therapy in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: A systematic review

Bernd Merkel, Helmut Butzkueven, Anthony L Traboulsee, Eva Havrdova, Tomas Kalincik

AUTOIMMUNITY REVIEWS | ELSEVIER | Published : 2017

DOI: 10.1016/j.autrev.2017.04.010

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Immunotherapy initiated early after first presentation of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis is associated with improved long-term outcomes. One can therefore speculate that early initiation of highly effective immunotherapies, with an average efficacy that is superior to the typical first-line therapies, could further improve relapse and disability outcomes. However, the most common treatment strategy is to commence first-line therapies, followed by treatment escalation in patients who continue to experience on-treatment disease activity. While this monitoring approach is logical, the current lack of effective regenerative or remyelinating therapies behoves us to consider hi..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Helmut Butzkueven Author Medicine - Royal Melbourne Hospital

Tomas Kalincik Author Medicine - Royal Melbourne Hospital

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Grants

Awarded by Multiple Sclerosis Society (UK)

Awarded by National Health and Medical Research Council

Awarded by Czech Ministry of Education

Funding Acknowledgements

This work was comissioned by the Multiple Sclerosis Society (UK) [programme award nr. 46]. The authors have received funding from National Health and Medical Research Council [project grants 1083539, 1032484 and 1129189, practitioner fellowship 1080518, and centre for research excellence 1001216], University of Melbourne [Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences research fellowship] and the Czech Ministry of Education [project grant PRVOUK-P26/LF1/4].