Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38715245›Full record

Observational studyAnnals of clinical and translational neurology2024

Alemtuzumab treatment for multiple sclerosis in Austria: An observational long-term outcome study.

Tobias Moser, Fabian Foettinger, Wolfgang Hitzl, Bianka Novotna, Thomas Berger, Gabriel Bsteh, Franziska Di Pauli, Harald Hegen, Barbara Kornek, Dieter Langenscheidt and 1 more

Abstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in Annals of clinical and translational neurology, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Therapeutic Advances in Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis.Children (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Tobias MoserDepartment of Neurology, Christian Doppler Medical Center, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria.ORCID 0000-0002-5397-5595
Fabian FoettingerDepartment of Neurology, Christian Doppler Medical Center, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria.
Wolfgang HitzlDepartment of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Paracelsus Medical University/Salzburger Landeskliniken (SALK), Salzburg, Austria.
Bianka NovotnaDepartment of Neurology, Landesklinikum Mistelbach-Gänserndorf, Mistelbach, Austria.
Thomas BergerDepartment of Neurology and Comprehensive Center for Clinical Neurosciences and Mental Health, both Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Gabriel BstehDepartment of Neurology and Comprehensive Center for Clinical Neurosciences and Mental Health, both Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.ORCID 0000-0002-0825-0851
Franziska Di PauliDepartment of Neurology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
Harald HegenDepartment of Neurology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
Barbara KornekDepartment of Neurology and Comprehensive Center for Clinical Neurosciences and Mental Health, both Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.ORCID 0000-0002-1851-6967
Dieter LangenscheidtDepartment of Neurology, Landeskrankenhaus Rankweil, Rankweil, Austria.
Johann SellnerDepartment of Neurology, Christian Doppler Medical Center, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria.ORCID 0000-0001-8749-5533

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND/

objectiveObservational real-world study to analyze the clinical effects of alemtuzumab (ALEM) and subsequent disease-modifying therapy (DMT) usage in multiple sclerosis (MS).

methodsData retrieved from the Austrian MS treatment registry (AMSTR) included baseline (BL) characteristics (at ALEM start), annualized relapse rate (ARR), 6-month confirmed progression independent of relapse activity (PIRA; ≥ 0.5-point Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score increase), 6-month confirmed disability improvement (CDI; ≥ 0.5-point EDSS decrease), and safety outcomes until initiation of a subsequent DMT. The EDSS was re-baselined at 30 days from ALEM start (BL EDSS).

resultsEighty-seven ALEM-treated patients (median age: 32 years, 72% female, 14% treatment-naïve) were followed for a median of 55 (interquartile range 31-68) months. We found significant reductions in the ARR from 1.16 before ALEM to 0.15 throughout Years 1-9 (p < 0.001). Subsequent DMTs were initiated in 19 patients (22%, 74% anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies). At Year 5 (n = 53), more patients achieved CDI (58%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 45%-71%) than had experienced PIRA (14%, CI 7.5%-24%), and 58% remained relapse-free. Shorter MS duration (p < 0.001, hazard ratio (HR) 0.86 (CI 0.80-0.93)) and no previous high-efficacy treatment (p < 0.001, HR 5.16 (CI 2.66-10.0)) were the best predictors of CDI, while PIRA was associated with a higher number of previous DMTs (p = 0.04, HR 3.06, CI 1.05-8.89). We found no new safety signals.

interpretationALEM had long-lasting beneficial effects on the ARR and disability improvement, especially when initiated early in the course of the disease. Only a subset of patients received subsequent DMTs.

Indexed as

AlemtuzumabAdultAustriaDisease ProgressionFemaleHumansImmunologic FactorsMaleMiddle AgedMultiple SclerosisMultiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-RemittingRegistriesTreatment OutcomeAlemtuzumabImmunologic Factors

Identifiers

PMID38715245
PMCPMC11187963

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.