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Gudesblatt M, Bumstead B, Buhse M, Zarif M, Morrow SA, Nicholas JA, Hancock LM, Wilken J, Weller J, Scott N, Gocke A, Lewin JB, Kaczmarek O, Mendoza JP, Golan D. De-escalation of Disease-Modifying Therapy for People with Multiple Sclerosis Due to Safety Considerations: Characterizing 1-Year Outcomes in 25 People Who Switched from Ocrelizumab to Diroximel Fumarate. Adv Ther 2024:10.1007/s12325-024-02902-0. [PMID: 38861218 DOI: 10.1007/s12325-024-02902-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Switching disease-modifying therapy (DMT) may be considered for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) if a patient's current therapy is no longer optimal. This was particularly important during the recent COVID-19 pandemic because of considerations around immune deficiency and impaired vaccine response associated with B cell-depleting DMTs. This real-world, single-center study aimed to evaluate change or decline in functional ability and overall disease stability in people with RRMS who were switched from B cell-depleting ocrelizumab (OCRE) to diroximel fumarate (DRF) because of safety concern related to the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS Adults with RRMS were included if they had been clinically stable for ≥ 1 year on OCRE. Data collected at baseline and 1 year post switch included relapse rate, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), blood work for assessment of peripheral immune parameters, the Cognitive Assessment Battery (CAB), optical coherence tomography (OCT), and patient-reported outcomes (PROs). RESULTS Participants (N = 25) had a mean (SD) age of 52 (9) years, and a mean (SD) duration of 26 (8) months' treatment with OCRE before the switch to DRF. Median washout duration since the last OCRE infusion was 7 months (range 4-18 months). No participants relapsed on DRF during follow-up, and all remained persistent on DRF after 1 year. There were no significant changes in peripheral immune parameters, other than an increase in the percentage of CD19+ cells 1 year after switching (p < 0.05). Similarly, there were no significant changes in CAB, OCT, and PROs. CONCLUSION These preliminary findings suggest that transition to DRF from OCRE may be an effective treatment option for people with RRMS who are clinically stable but may need to switch for reasons unrelated to effectiveness. Longer follow-up times on larger samples are needed to confirm these observations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Gudesblatt
- NYU Langone South Shore Neurologic Associates, PC, 77 Medford Ave, Patchogue, NY, 11772, USA.
| | - Barbara Bumstead
- NYU Langone South Shore Neurologic Associates, PC, 77 Medford Ave, Patchogue, NY, 11772, USA
| | - Marijean Buhse
- NYU Langone South Shore Neurologic Associates, PC, 77 Medford Ave, Patchogue, NY, 11772, USA
| | - Myassar Zarif
- NYU Langone South Shore Neurologic Associates, PC, 77 Medford Ave, Patchogue, NY, 11772, USA
| | - Sarah A Morrow
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Jacqueline A Nicholas
- OhioHealth Multiple Sclerosis Center, Riverside Methodist Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Laura M Hancock
- Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Jeffrey Wilken
- Washington Neuropsychology Research Group, Fairfax, VA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Joanna Weller
- NYU Langone South Shore Neurologic Associates, PC, 77 Medford Ave, Patchogue, NY, 11772, USA
| | | | | | | | - Olivia Kaczmarek
- NYU Langone South Shore Neurologic Associates, PC, 77 Medford Ave, Patchogue, NY, 11772, USA
| | | | - Daniel Golan
- Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology Center, Lady Davis Carmel Medical Center, Haifa, Israel
- Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
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Virtanen S, Piehl F, Frisell T. Impact of previous treatment history and B-cell depletion treatment duration on infection risk in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: a nationwide cohort study. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2024:jnnp-2023-333206. [PMID: 38744458 DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2023-333206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND B-cell depletion displays striking effectiveness in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), but is also associated with increased infection risk. To what degree previous treatment history, disease-modifying therapy (DMT) switching pattern and time on treatment modulate this risk is unknown. The objective here was to evaluate previous DMT use and treatment duration as predictors of infection risk with B-cell depletion. METHODS We conducted a nationwide RRMS cohort study leveraging data from the Swedish MS registry and national demographic and health registries recording all outpatient-treated and inpatient-treated infections and antibiotics prescriptions from 1 January 2012 to 30 June 2021. The risk of infection during treatment was compared by DMT, treatment duration, number and type of prior treatment and adjusted for a number of covariates. RESULTS Among 4694 patients with RRMS on B-cell depletion (rituximab), 6049 on other DMTs and 20 308 age-sex matched population controls, we found higher incidence rates of inpatient-treated infections with DMTs other than rituximab used in first line (10.4; 95% CI 8.1 to 12.9, per 1000 person-years), being further increased with rituximab (22.7; 95% CI 18.5 to 27.5), compared with population controls (6.6; 95% CI 6.0 to 7.2). Similar patterns were seen for outpatient infections and antibiotics prescriptions. Infection rates on rituximab did not vary between first versus later line treatment, type of DMT before switch or exposure time. CONCLUSION These findings underscore an important safety concern with B-cell depletion in RRMS, being evident also in individuals with shorter disease duration and no previous DMT exposure, in turn motivating the application of risk mitigation strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suvi Virtanen
- Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Fredrik Piehl
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Thomas Frisell
- Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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Elgenidy A, Abdelhalim NN, Al-kurdi MAM, Mohamed LA, Ghoneim MM, Fathy AW, Hassaan HK, Anan A, Alomari O. Hypogammaglobulinemia and infections in patients with multiple sclerosis treated with anti-CD20 treatments: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 19,139 multiple sclerosis patients. Front Neurol 2024; 15:1380654. [PMID: 38699050 PMCID: PMC11063306 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1380654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Recent years have seen the emergence of disease-modifying therapies in multiple sclerosis (MS), such as anti-cluster of differentiation 20 (anti-CD20) monoclonal antibodies, aiming to modulate the immune response and effectively manage MS. However, the relationship between anti-CD20 treatments and immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels, particularly the development of hypogammaglobulinemia and subsequent infection risks, remains a subject of scientific interest and variability. We aimed to investigate the intricate connection between anti-CD20 MS treatments, changes in IgG levels, and the associated risk of hypogammaglobulinemia and subsequent infections. Method PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Cochrane, and Web of Science databases have been searched for relevant studies. The "R" software utilized to analyze the occurrence of hypogammaglobulinemia, infections and mean differences in IgG levels pre- and post-treatment. The subgrouping analyses were done based on drug type and treatment duration. The assessment of heterogeneity utilized the I2 and chi-squared tests, applying the random effect model. Results Thirty-nine articles fulfilled our inclusion criteria and were included in our review which included a total of 20,501 MS patients. The overall prevalence rate of hypogammaglobulinemia was found to be 11% (95% CI: 0.08 to 0.15). Subgroup analysis based on drug type revealed varying prevalence rates, with rituximab showing the highest at 18%. Subgroup analysis based on drug usage duration revealed that the highest proportion of hypogammaglobulinemia occurred in individuals taking the drugs for 1 year or less (19%). The prevalence of infections in MS patients with a focus on different infection types stratified by the MS drug used revealed that pulmonary infections were the most prevalent (9%) followed by urinary tract infections (6%), gastrointestinal infections (2%), and skin and mucous membrane infections (2%). Additionally, a significant decrease in mean IgG levels after treatment compared to before treatment, with a mean difference of 0.57 (95% CI: 0.22 to 0.93). Conclusion This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the impact of anti-CD20 drugs on serum IgG levels in MS patients, exploring the prevalence of hypogammaglobulinemia, based on different drug types, treatment durations, and infection patterns. The identified rates and patterns offer a foundation for clinicians to consider in their risk-benefit. Systematic review registration https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=518239, CRD42024518239.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anas Elgenidy
- Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
- Karl-Jaspers-Klinik, Bad Zwischenahn, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Ahmed Anan
- Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt
| | - Omar Alomari
- Hamidiye International School of Medicine, University of Health Sciences, Istanbul, Türkiye
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Freeman SA, Zéphir H. Anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies in multiple sclerosis: Rethinking the current treatment strategy. Rev Neurol (Paris) 2024:S0035-3787(24)00474-0. [PMID: 38599976 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurol.2023.12.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 12/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
Anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies are highly-effective B-cell-depleting therapies in multiple sclerosis (MS). These treatments have expanded the arsenal of highly effective disease-modifying therapies, and have changed the landscape in understanding the pathophysiology of MS and the natural course of the disease. Nevertheless, these treatments come at the cost of immunosuppression and risk of serious infections, diminished vaccination response and treatment-related secondary hypogammaglobulinemia. However, the COVID pandemic has given way to a possibility of readapting these therapies, with most notably extended dosing intervals. While these new strategies show efficacy in maintaining inflammatory MS disease control, and although it is tempting to speculate that tailoring CD20 therapies will reduce the negative outcomes of long-term immunosuppression, it is unknown whether they provide meaningful benefit in reducing the risk of treatment-related secondary hypogammaglobulinemia and serious infections. This review highlights the available anti-CD20 therapies that are available for treating MS patients, and sheds light on encouraging data, which propose that tailoring anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies is the next step in rethinking the current treatment strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- S A Freeman
- Department of Neurology, CRC-SEP, CHU of Toulouse, Toulouse, France; University Toulouse III, Inserm UMR1291, CHU Purpan, Toulouse Institute for Infectious and Inflammatory Diseases (INFINITY), 59000 Toulouse, France.
| | - H Zéphir
- Department of Neurology, CRC-SEP, CHU of Lille, Lille, France; University of Lille, Inserm, CHU of Lille, Laboratory of Neuroinflammation and Multiple Sclerosis (NEMESIS), U1172, Lille, France
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Beckers L, Baeten P, Popescu V, Swinnen D, Cardilli A, Hamad I, Van Wijmeersch B, Tavernier SJ, Kleinewietfeld M, Broux B, Fraussen J, Somers V. Alterations in the innate and adaptive immune system in a real-world cohort of multiple sclerosis patients treated with ocrelizumab. Clin Immunol 2024; 259:109894. [PMID: 38185268 DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2024.109894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
B cell depletion by the anti-CD20 antibody ocrelizumab is effective in relapsing-remitting (RR) and primary progressive (PP) multiple sclerosis (MS). We investigated immunological changes in peripheral blood of a real-world MS cohort after 6 and 12 months of ocrelizumab. All RRMS and most PPMS patients (15/20) showed treatment response. Ocrelizumab not only reduced CD20+ B cells, but also numbers of CD20+ T cells. Absolute numbers of monocytes, dendritic cells and CD8+ T cells were increased, while CD56hi natural killer cells were reduced after ocrelizumab. The residual B cell population shifted towards transitional and activated, IgA+ switched memory B cells, double negative B cells, and antibody-secreting cells. Delaying the treatment interval by 2-3 months increased mean B cell frequencies and enhanced naive B cell repopulation. Ocrelizumab reduced plasma levels of interleukin(IL)-12p70 and interferon(IFN)-α2. These findings will contribute to understanding ineffective treatment responses, dealing with life-threatening infections and further unravelling MS pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Beckers
- University MS Center (UMSC), Hasselt-Pelt, Hasselt, Belgium; Department of Immunology and Infection, Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - P Baeten
- University MS Center (UMSC), Hasselt-Pelt, Hasselt, Belgium; Department of Immunology and Infection, Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - V Popescu
- University MS Center (UMSC), Hasselt-Pelt, Hasselt, Belgium; Department of Immunology and Infection, Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium; Noorderhart, Rehabilitation and MS Center, Pelt, Belgium
| | - D Swinnen
- University MS Center (UMSC), Hasselt-Pelt, Hasselt, Belgium; Department of Immunology and Infection, Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium; VIB Laboratory of Translational Immunomodulation, Center for Inflammation Research (IRC), Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - A Cardilli
- University MS Center (UMSC), Hasselt-Pelt, Hasselt, Belgium; Department of Immunology and Infection, Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium; VIB Laboratory of Translational Immunomodulation, Center for Inflammation Research (IRC), Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - I Hamad
- University MS Center (UMSC), Hasselt-Pelt, Hasselt, Belgium; Department of Immunology and Infection, Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium; VIB Laboratory of Translational Immunomodulation, Center for Inflammation Research (IRC), Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - B Van Wijmeersch
- University MS Center (UMSC), Hasselt-Pelt, Hasselt, Belgium; Department of Immunology and Infection, Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium; Noorderhart, Rehabilitation and MS Center, Pelt, Belgium
| | - S J Tavernier
- Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; Unit of Molecular Signal Transduction in Inflammation, VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research (IRC), Ghent, Belgium
| | - M Kleinewietfeld
- University MS Center (UMSC), Hasselt-Pelt, Hasselt, Belgium; Department of Immunology and Infection, Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium; VIB Laboratory of Translational Immunomodulation, Center for Inflammation Research (IRC), Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - B Broux
- University MS Center (UMSC), Hasselt-Pelt, Hasselt, Belgium; Department of Immunology and Infection, Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - J Fraussen
- University MS Center (UMSC), Hasselt-Pelt, Hasselt, Belgium; Department of Immunology and Infection, Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - V Somers
- University MS Center (UMSC), Hasselt-Pelt, Hasselt, Belgium; Department of Immunology and Infection, Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium.
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Baker D, Kang AS, Giovannoni G, Schmierer K. Neutropenia following immune-depletion, notably CD20 targeting, therapies in multiple sclerosis. Mult Scler Relat Disord 2024; 82:105400. [PMID: 38181696 DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2023.105400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2024]
Abstract
Neutropenia serves as a risk factor for severe infection and is a consequence of some immune-depleting immunotherapies. This occurs in people with multiple sclerosis following chemotherapy-conditioning in haematopoietic stem cell transplantation and potent B cell targeting agents. Whilst CD52 is expressed by neutrophils and may contribute to early-onset neutropenia following alemtuzumab treatment, deoxycytidine kinase and CD20 antigen required for activity of cladribine tablets, off-label rituximab, ocrelizumab, ofatumumab and ublituximab are not or only weakly expressed by neutrophils. Therefore, alternative explanations are needed for the rare occurrence of early and late-onset neutropenia following such treatments. This probably occurs due to alterations in the balance of granulopoiesis and neutrophil removal. Neutrophils are short-lived, and their removal may be influenced by drug-associated infections, the killing mechanisms of the therapies and amplified by immune dyscrasia due to influences on neutropoiesis following growth factor rerouting for B cell recovery and cytokine deficits following lymphocyte depletion. This highlights the small but evident neutropenia risks following sustained B cell depletion with some treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Baker
- Blizard Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, 4 Newark Street, London E1 2AT, United Kingdom.
| | - Angray S Kang
- Blizard Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, 4 Newark Street, London E1 2AT, United Kingdom; Dental Institute, Queen Mary University of London, United Kingdom
| | - Gavin Giovannoni
- Blizard Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, 4 Newark Street, London E1 2AT, United Kingdom; Clinical Board Medicine (Neuroscience), The Royal London Hospital London, BartsHealth NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Klaus Schmierer
- Blizard Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, 4 Newark Street, London E1 2AT, United Kingdom; Clinical Board Medicine (Neuroscience), The Royal London Hospital London, BartsHealth NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
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Alvarez E, Longbrake EE, Rammohan KW, Stankiewicz J, Hersh CM. Secondary hypogammaglobulinemia in patients with multiple sclerosis on anti-CD20 therapy: Pathogenesis, risk of infection, and disease management. Mult Scler Relat Disord 2023; 79:105009. [PMID: 37783194 DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2023.105009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
Hypogammaglobulinemia is characterized by reduced serum immunoglobulin levels. Secondary hypogammaglobulinemia is of considerable interest to the practicing physician because it is a potential complication of some medications and may predispose patients to serious infections. Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) treated with B-cell-depleting anti-CD20 therapies are particularly at risk of developing hypogammaglobulinemia. Among these patients, hypogammaglobulinemia has been associated with an increased risk of infections. The mechanism by which hypogammaglobulinemia arises with anti-CD20 therapies (ocrelizumab, ofatumumab, ublituximab, rituximab) remains unclear and does not appear to be simply due to the reduction in circulating B-cell levels. Further, despite the association between anti-CD20 therapies, hypogammaglobulinemia, and infections, there is currently no generally accepted monitoring and treatment approach among clinicians treating patients with MS. Here, we review the literature and discuss possible mechanisms of secondary hypogammaglobulinemia in patients with MS, hypogammaglobulinemia results in MS anti-CD20 therapy clinical trials, the risk of infection for patients with hypogammaglobulinemia, and possible strategies for disease management. We also include a suggested best-practice approach to specifically address secondary hypogammaglobulinemia in patients with MS treated with anti-CD20 therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrique Alvarez
- The Rocky Mountain MS Center at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Academic Office 1 Building, Room 5512, 12631 East 17th Avenue, B185, Aurora, CO 80045, United States
| | - Erin E Longbrake
- Department of Neurology, Yale School of Medicine, 6 Devine Street, Suite 2B, New Haven, CT 06473, United States
| | - Kottil W Rammohan
- Multiple Sclerosis Division, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 1120 NW 14th street, Suite 1322, Miami, FL 33136, United States
| | - James Stankiewicz
- Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, East Hanover, NJ, United States
| | - Carrie M Hersh
- Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, 888 W Bonneville Road, Las Vegas, NV 89106, United States.
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