A real-life study of alemtuzumab in persons with multiple sclerosis: Kuwait's experience

• Published in: Multiple sclerosis and related disorders 2023-06, Vol.74, p.104712-104712, Article 104712
• Main Authors: Alroughani, Raed, AlMojel, Malak, Al-Hashel, Jasem, Ahmed, Samar Farouk
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alemtuzumab; Alemtuzumab - adverse effects; Female; Humans; Kuwait; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Multiple sclerosis; Multiple Sclerosis - chemically induced; Multiple Sclerosis - diagnostic imaging; Multiple Sclerosis - drug therapy; Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting - chemically induced; Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting - diagnostic imaging; Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting - drug therapy; Real-world evidence; Treatment response
• ISSN: 2211-0348; 2211-0356
• DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2023.104712

•We studied effectiveness and safety of alemtuzumab in Kuwaiti multiple sclerosis patients.•Alemtuzumab in Kuwaiti RRMS reduce relapse 61.7%, postpone progression in 91.8%, and decreased MRI activity in 67.1%.•NEDA was achieved in 80.8% with early initiation of alemtuzumab in Kuwaiti RRMS.•AEs as infusion-related reactions secondary autoimmune were frequent among Kuwaiti MS but could be easily managed. Alemtuzumab, a humanized anti-CD52 monoclonal antibody, has been approved as a treatment in persons with active relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Real-world data in middle east is very limited. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of alemtuzumab in a real-world clinical setting. This observational, registry based study assessed persons with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) who were treated with alemtuzumab and completed at least follow up one year after second course. Baseline clinical and radiological characteristics within one year prior to alemtuzumab initiation were collected. The relapse rate, disability measures, radiological activity and adverse events at last follow-up visits were assessed. Data of seventy-three persons with multiple sclerosis (MS) was analyzed, of which 53 (72.6%) were females. Mean age and mean disease duration were 34.25 ± 7.62 and 9.23 ± 6.20 years respectively. Alemtuzumab was started in 32 (43.8%) naïve patients due to highly active disease and in 25 (34.2%) (PwMS) who were on prior therapies and  in 16 (22%) patients due to adverse events on prior medications. Mean follow-up period was 4 ± 1.67 years. In the last follow-up visits, most of our cohort was relapse free (79.5% vs. 17.8%; p