title: Improved treatment satisfaction after switching therapy to rituximab in relapsing-remitting MS.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  New disease-modifying treatment strategies in multiple sclerosis offer possibilities for individualised treatment. In this study, we evaluated patient-reported outcome measures before and after a switch in therapy from first-line injectable treatments to rituximab.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 75 patients with clinically stable relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) receiving ongoing first-line injectable treatment at three Swedish centres had their treatment switched to rituximab in this open-label phase II multicentre study. Assessment of treatment satisfaction, patient-perceived impact of the disease on daily life, fatigue, cognitive symptoms and disease progression was performed 3 months before and at the time of the treatment shift and then for a subsequent 2-year period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall treatment satisfaction rating improved significantly from a mean of 4.8 (scale range: 1-7), while on injectable therapies, to a mean of 6.3 after 1 year of rituximab treatment ( p < 0.001). This improvement was sustained after 2 years. There was no significant change in scores for patient-perceived impact of disease, fatigue or disease progression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A shift in therapy from first-line injectables to rituximab in a cohort of clinically stable RRMS patients was followed by improved treatment satisfaction. This is clinically relevant as it may influence long-term adherence to immunomodulating therapy.
authors: Department of Neurology, Östersund Hospital, Östersund, Sweden/Neurology Unit, Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Neuroscience, Umeå University, Östersund, Sweden.
authors: Pierre
authors: P
authors: de Flon
authors: Neurology Unit, Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Neuroscience, Umeå University, Östersund, Sweden.
authors: Katarina
authors: K
authors: Laurell
authors: Unit of Research, Education and Development, Östersund Hospital, Region Jämtland Härjedalen, Östersund, Sweden.
authors: Lars
authors: L
authors: Söderström
authors: Department of Neurology, School of Medical Sciences, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden.
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Gunnarsson
authors: Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Neuroscience, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden/Department of Clinical Sciences, Danderyd Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors: Anders
authors: A
authors: Svenningsson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D057915:Drug Substitution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000071066:Patient Reported Outcome Measures; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000069283:Rituximab / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D007155:Immunologic Factors; D000069283:Rituximab
keywords: B-cell depletion therapy; Multiple sclerosis; clinical trial; patient-reported outcome measures; rituximab; treatment satisfaction