Ocrelizumab and Cladribine Had Similar EDSS Stability in Patients with Highly Active Multiple Sclerosis

• Published in: Multiple sclerosis and related disorders 2023-12, Vol.80, p.105330, Article 105330
• Main Authors: Alroughani, Raed, Al-Hashel, Jasem, Alshwaf, Fatmha, Rasheed, Mohammed Al, Al-Shatti, Ahmad, Qasem, Dalal, Ahmed, Samar Farouk
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 2211-0348
• DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2023.105330

Highly active relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients have a higher risk of early progression. This was a prospective study including RRMS who were treated with cladribine or ocrelizumab and had at least one-year follow-up. An Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) was reported at the initiation of treatment and at the end of the observational period. Confirmed disability progression (CDP) on EDSS was defined as an increase in the EDSS of at least 1.5 points for baseline EDSS of 0, an increase in the EDSS of at least 1 point for baseline EDSS between 1 and 5, or an increase of at least 0.5 points for a baseline EDSS at least 5.5. Improved disability was defined as any decrease in EDSS score 1 or more if baseline EDSS was 1–4.5 or 0.5 or more if EDSS was 5.0 or more. Among 200 patients with highly active MS, 72 patients received cladribine tablets and 128 received ocrelizumab infusions. Most of this cohort were females 139 (69.5%) with a mean age of 34.62 ±9.80 and a mean disease duration of 7.30 ±5.97. EDSS was stable among most of the patients who received cladribine (n=56, 77.8%) and those who received ocrelizumab (n=105, 82%); p