ECTRIMS 2023 | DMTs, long-term outcomes and transition to progressive MS

Dejan Jakimovski, MD, PhD, Buffalo Neuroimaging Analysis Center, Buffalo, NY, delves into a recent study conducted by the New York State MS Consortium, aiming to understand the long-term factors influencing disability progression in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, particularly focusing on the role of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs). Analyzing 1,893 MS patients, the research discovered that those never treated with DMTs had the best outcomes, largely attributed to their benign cases. Contrarily, patients who commenced but later discontinued therapy demonstrated a faster progression towards disability milestones and were more likely to transition to secondary progressive MS. The study also underscored the significance of patient-reported outcomes, revealing that patients who felt worse at baseline typically showed increased disability progression. This finding highlights the importance of considering patients’ subjective well-being in clinical evaluations. This interview took place at the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS) Congress 2023 in Milan, Italy.

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