Background: Observational studies looking at clinical a++nd MRI outcomes of treatments in pediatric MS, could assess current treatment algorithms, and provide insights for designing future clinical trials.
Objective: To describe baseline characteristics and clinical and MRI outcomes in MS patients initiating ocrelizumab and fingolimod under 18 years of age.
Methods: MS patients seen at 12 centers of US Network of Pediatric MS were included in this study if they had clinical and MRI follow-up and started treatment with either ocrelizumab or fingolimod prior to the age of 18.
Results: Eighty-seven patients initiating fingolimod and 52 initiating ocrelizumab met the inclusion criteria. Before starting fingolimod, mean annualized relapse rate was 0.43 (95 % CI: 0.29 - 0.65) and 78 % developed new T2 lesions while during treatment it was 0.12 (95 % CI: 0.08 - 1.9) and 47 % developed new T2 lesions. In the ocrelizumab group, the mean annualized relapse rate prior to initiation of treatment was 0.64 (95 % CI: 0.38-1.09) and a total of 83 % of patients developed new T2 lesions while during treatment it was 0.09 (95 % CI: 0.04-0.21) and none developed new T2 lesions.
Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of evaluating current treatment methods and provides insights about the agents in the ongoing phase III trial comparing fingolimod and ocrelizumab.
Keywords: Fingolimod; MRI outcome; Multiple sclerosis; Ocrelizumab.
Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.