title: Real-life experience with fampridine (Fampyra®) for patients with multiple sclerosis and gait disorders.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Fampridine is a broad-spectrum voltage-dependent potassium channel blocker that enhances synaptic transmission. The drug has been shown to be able to ameliorate conduction in demyelinated axons, thereby leading to improved gait in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the "real-life" efficacy and safety of fampridine prescribed for gait disorders in MS. This was an observational and prospective study carried out at MS Units participating in the Brazilian Multiple Sclerosis Study Group.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with MS and gait disorders were prescribed fampridine (10 mg twice a day), irrespectively of the degree of disability determined by MS. Neurological disability determined by MS was assessed with the expanded disability scale score (EDSS). Outcomes for efficacy and safety of the drug were evaluated by the 25 foot-walk test and by the adverse events of fampridine.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The time taken to walk 25 feet decreased by 20% or more in 62 patients (70%). Twenty-five patients were considered to be non-responders to this treatment. Improvement in walking speed was independent of improvement of disability. Mild or moderate adverse events were reported in 8% of patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fampridine is an efficient and safe therapeutic option for patients with MS and gait disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Universidade Metropolitana de Santos, Santos, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Yara Dadalti
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Fragoso
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Hospital Sirio Libanes, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Tarso
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Adoni
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Soniza Vieira
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Alves-Leon
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Samira Luisa
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Apostolos-Pereira
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Universidade de Sao Paulo campus Ribeirao Preto, Ribeirao Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Amilton Antunes
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Barreira
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Universidade Metropolitana de Santos, Santos, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Joseph Bruno Bidin
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Brooks
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rinaldo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Claudino
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, CLINEN, Brasilia, DF, Brazil.
authors.forename: Eber Castro
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Correa
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Hospital da Restauracao, Recife, PE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Lucia Brito
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Finkelsztejn
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Juliana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Finkelsztejn
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Pontificia Universidade Catolica Campus Sorocaba, Sorocaba, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paulo Diniz
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: da Gama
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Centro Hospitalar Unimed, Joinville, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcus Vinicius Magno
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Goncalves
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Universidade de Sao Paulo campus Ribeirao Preto, Ribeirao Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carlos Tostes
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Guerreiro
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niteroi, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Andre Palma
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: da Cunha Matta
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Universidade de Sao Paulo campus Ribeirao Preto, Ribeirao Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vanessa Daccach
authors.initials: VD
authors.lastname: Marques
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Universidade Federal de Uberlandia, Uberlandia, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rogerio
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rizo Morales
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Neurology Clinic, Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Monica Fiuza Koncke
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Parolin
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Universidade Federal de Ciencias da Saude de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marlise
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Castro Ribeiro
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Universidade Federal de Goias, Goiania, Brazil.
authors.forename: Taysa Alexandrino Gonsalves Jube
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Faculdade de Medicina de Jundiai, Jundiai, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Heloisa Helena
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Ruocco
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Neurological Institute Curitiba, Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Henry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Scherpenhuijzen
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Universidade Regional de Blumenau, Blumenau, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Siquineli
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Hospital Universitario Getulio Vargas, Manaus, AM, Brazil.
authors.forename: Nise Alessandra
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: de Carvalho Sousa
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Servico de Neurologia e Neurocirurgia de Passo Fundo, Passo Fundo, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Daniel Lima
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Varela
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Hospital de Base do Distrito Federal, Brasilia, DF, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carlos Bernardo
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Tauil
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Universidade Positivo, Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Thereza Cristina
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Winckler
mesh_terms: D015761:4-Aminopyridine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers; D015761:4-Aminopyridine
keywords: Multiple sclerosis; fampridine; gait; walking