Background: Dalfampridine extended release 10mg tablets (D-ER) have demonstrated improvement in walking for ambulatory persons with multiple sclerosis (pwMS), termed "responders."
Objective: This study examined the extent additional aspects of gait and dexterity change for patients prescribed D-ER.
Methods: Over 14-weeks, walking endurance, dynamic gait, self-report walking ability and fine and gross dexterity were examined in pwMS prescribed D-ER as a part of routine clinical care.
Results: The final results (n=39) validate that a subset of pwMS improve walking speed (Time 25-Foot Walk Test, p<0.0001). Significant improvements in gait and dexterity were observed even among participants who did not improve walking speed. Improvements were evident in gait and dexterity domains including Six Minute Walk Test, p=0.007, Six-Spot Step Test, p<0.0001, Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale-12, p<0.0001, Nine Hole Peg Test, p<0.0001 dominant and non-dominant sides, and Box and Blocks Test, p=0.005 and 0.002, dominant and non-dominant sides, respectively.
Conclusions: These findings suggest that D-ER may be a potential treatment for gait impairments, beyond walking speed and dexterity in pwMS. Further investigation regarding D-ER response is warranted.
Keywords: Dalfampridine; Dexterity; Gait; Multiple Sclerosis; Walking.
Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.