Clinical Response and Tolerability of Fampridine in Clinical Practice

Abstract

Background: Gait disorder is very prevalent in multiple sclerosis. After 15 years of disease progression, 50% of patients need assistive devices for walking. Materials & methods: We performed a multicenter observational study, including multiple sclerosis patients with an Expanded Disability Status Scale score between 4.0 and 7.0, normal kidney function and no previous history of seizures. Results: The study sample comprised 138 patients with average age of 50.3 years median Expanded Disability Status Scale of 6.0. After treatment, a significant reduction was observed in both the Timed 25-Foot Walk test (baseline, 20.3 s; 14 days, 13.2 s; p < 0.001; 3 months, 12.1 s; p < 0.001) and the 12-Item Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale score (baseline, 82.3; 14 days, 59.4; p < 0.001; 3 months, 57.2; p < 0.001). Adverse events were recorded in 39.9% of patients.

KEYWORDS :

• efficacy
• gait disorder
• multiple sclerosis
• prolonged-release fampridine
• safety

Financial & competing interests disclosure

E Costa Arpín has served as a speaker and member of a speakers bureaufor Biogen Idec Inc., Merck Serono, and Genzyme Corporation. She also has received grants for clinical research from H. Lundbeck A/S. A Pato has served as a speaker and member of a speakers bureau for Biogen Idec Inc., Novartis Pharmaceutical Corporation, Almirall Prodesfarma, and Genzyme Corporation. A Rodríguez Regal has served as a speaker or member of a speakers bureau for Almirall Prodesfarma, Biogen Idec Inc., Merck Serono, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, and Teva Pharmaceuticals. R Yañez has served as speaker or member of a speakers bureau for Biogen Idec, Genzyme Corporation, ABBVIE and UCB Pharma. She has also served as consultant for ABBVIE. MC Amigo has served as a speaker or member of a speakers bureau for Almirall Prodesfarma, Biogen Idec Inc., Merck Serono, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, and Teva Pharmaceuticals. J Prieto González has served as an advisor, consultant, and speaker for Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, Biogen Idec Inc., Genzyme Corporation, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Sanofi Aventis, and Teva Pharmaceuticals. He has also received grants for clinical research from Biogen Idec Inc. and Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation.

Writing assistance has been provided by Content Ed Net (Madrid, Spain), with funding from Biogen.

Ethical conduct of research

The authors state that they have obtained appropriate institutional review board approval or have followed the principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki for all human or animal experimental investigations. In addition, for investigations involving human subjects, informed consent has been obtained from the participants involved.