title: Evaluating the response to glatiramer acetate in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), a scoring system based on new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) active lesions, relapses and sustained disability progression after a 1-year treatment with IFNβ predicted patient disability progression over time; however, this score had not been tested in patients receiving glatiramer acetate (GA).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to evaluate whether this previous scoring system can also be applied to patients treated with GA.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective, longitudinal study of 151 RRMS patients treated with GA. Their scores were constructed, based on the clinical and MRI activity after 1 year of therapy. Regression analysis was performed, in order to identify the response variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The total possible score range was 0-3. Patients with a score of ≥ 2 and those with clinical activity (with or without MRI activity) during their first year of treatment were at increased risk of continuing with relapses and/or sustained disability in the next 2 years (odds ratio (OR): 38.8; p < 0.0001 and OR: 7.8; p < 0.009, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In RRMS patients treated with GA, a combination of clinical activity measures may have prognostic value for identifying patients with disease activity in the next 2 years of therapy.
authors.affiliation: Centre d'esclerosi múltiple de Catalunya (CEM-Cat), Servei de Neurologia-Neuroimmunologia, Hospital Universitario Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain jrio@vhebron.net.
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Río
authors.affiliation: Unitat de Ressonància Magnètica (IDI), Servei de Radiologia, Hospital Universitario Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rovira
authors.affiliation: Centre d'esclerosi múltiple de Catalunya (CEM-Cat), Servei de Neurologia-Neuroimmunologia, Hospital Universitario Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Mar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tintoré
authors.affiliation: Centre d'esclerosi múltiple de Catalunya (CEM-Cat), Servei de Neurologia-Neuroimmunologia, Hospital Universitario Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Jaume
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sastre-Garriga
authors.affiliation: Centre d'esclerosi múltiple de Catalunya (CEM-Cat), Servei de Neurologia-Neuroimmunologia, Hospital Universitario Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Joaquín
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Castilló
authors.affiliation: Centre d'esclerosi múltiple de Catalunya (CEM-Cat), Servei de Neurologia-Neuroimmunologia, Hospital Universitario Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain Unitat de Ressonància Magnètica (IDI), Servei de Radiologia, Hospital Universitario Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Auger
authors.affiliation: Centre d'esclerosi múltiple de Catalunya (CEM-Cat), Servei de Neurologia-Neuroimmunologia, Hospital Universitario Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nos
authors.affiliation: Centre d'esclerosi múltiple de Catalunya (CEM-Cat), Servei de Neurologia-Neuroimmunologia, Hospital Universitario Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Comabella
authors.affiliation: Centre d'esclerosi múltiple de Catalunya (CEM-Cat), Servei de Neurologia-Neuroimmunologia, Hospital Universitario Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tur
authors.affiliation: Centre d'esclerosi múltiple de Catalunya (CEM-Cat), Servei de Neurologia-Neuroimmunologia, Hospital Universitario Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Ángela
authors.initials: Á
authors.lastname: Vidal
authors.affiliation: Centre d'esclerosi múltiple de Catalunya (CEM-Cat), Servei de Neurologia-Neuroimmunologia, Hospital Universitario Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Montalbán
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D000068717:Glatiramer Acetate; D006801:Humans; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010455:Peptides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D010455:Peptides; D000068717:Glatiramer Acetate; D016899:Interferon-beta
keywords: Disability; glatiramer acetate; magnetic resonance imaging; multiple sclerosis; predictive model; relapse; relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis; risk assessment; treatment response