| 1. |
- de Flon, Pierre, 1966-, et al.
(författare)
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Comparison of plasma and cerebrospinal fluid neurofilament light in a multiple sclerosis trial.
- 2019
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Ingår i: Acta neurologica Scandinavica. - : Hindawi Limited. - 1600-0404 .- 0001-6314. ; 139:5, s. 462-468
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The main objective of this study was to evaluate the axonal component neurofilament light protein (NFL) in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) as an outcome measure in a clinical trial on disease-modifying treatments in multiple sclerosis.Seventy-five patients with clinically stable relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) participating in the clinical trial "Switch-To RItuXimab in MS" (STRIX-MS) were switched to rituximab from first-line injectable therapy and then followed up for 2years. Thirty patients from the extension trial (STRIX-MS extension), accepting repeated lumbar punctures, were followed up for an additional 3years. Plasma and CSF samples were collected yearly during the follow-up. NFL concentration in plasma was measured by an in-house NF-light assay on the Simoa platform with a Homebrew kit. NFL concentration in CSF was measured by sandwich ELISA.The mean levels of NFL, in both CSF and plasma, were low. The reduction of CSF-NFL was 25% during the first year of follow-up (from a mean of 471 [SD 393] to 354 [SD 174]pg/mL; P=0.006) and was statistically significant. The corresponding reduction in plasma NFL was 18% (from 9.73 [SD 7.04] to 7.94 [SD 3.10]pg/mL; P=0.055) and did not reach statistical significance.This study indicates that NFL in plasma is less sensitive as an endpoint in group comparisons than NFL in CSF. Given that plasma NFL is far easier to access, it is a promising and awaited method but further studies are needed to optimize the use in clinical trials.
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| 2. |
- de Flon, Pierre, 1966-, et al.
(författare)
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Comparison of plasma and CSF Neurofilament light as outcome in a multiple sclerosis trial
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Annan publikation (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Objective: The main objective of this study was to evaluate the axonal component neurofilament light protein (NFL) in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) as an outcome measure in a clinical trial on disease-modifying treatments in multiple sclerosis.Method: Seventy-five patients with clinically stable relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) participating in the clinical trial “Switch-To RItuXimab in MS” (STRIX-MS) were switched to rituximab from first-line injectable therapy and then followed for two years. Thirty patients from the extension trial (STRIX-MS extension), accepting repeated lumbar punctures, were followed for an additional three years. Plasma and CSF samples were collected yearly during the follow-up. NFL concentration in plasma was measured by an in-house NF-light assay on the Simoa platform with a Homebrew kit. NFL concentration in CSF was measured by sandwich ELISA.Results: The mean levels of NFL, in both CSF and plasma, were low. The reduction of CSF-NFL with 25% during the first year of follow-up (from a mean of 471 (SD 393) to 354 (SD 174) pg/mL; p=0.006) was statistically significant. The corresponding reduction in plasma-NFL was 18% (from 9.73 (SD 7.04) to 7.94 (SD 3.10) pg/mL; p=0.055) and did not reach the level of statistical significance.Conclusion: This study indicates that NFL in plasma is less sensitive as an endpoint in group comparisons than NFL in CSF. Given that plasma NFL is far easier to access, it is a promising and awaited method but further studies are needed to optimise the use in clinical trials.
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| 3. |
- de Flon, Pierre, 1966-
(författare)
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Treatment with the monoclonal antibody rituximab in Multiple Sclerosis : a study based on an academic clinical trial
- 2018
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, inflammatory disease, affecting the central nervous system. A growing number of disease modifying treatment alternatives entails a need for an individualised risk-benefit- convenience analysis in the counselling of patients and methods to monitor the treatment effect, including markers for subclinical inflammation. Today, MRI and the biomarker neurofilament light chain (NFL) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF- NFL) are commonly used. The development of new techniques for analysing NFL in very low concentrations in serum or plasma provides a promising opportunity for a less invasive method. Rituximab is a chimeric monoclonal antibody with B- cell depleting properties vastly used in rheumatological disease and certain haematological malignancies. Phase II studies have shown a beneficial effect on inflammation also in MS, the detailed mechanisms of action yet to be explained.Aims: The aims of this thesis were to evaluate rituximab as a treatment alternative in relapsing remitting MS (RRMS) by describing the clinical effect and patient related outcome measures after a switch of therapy from first-line injectables to rituximab and to explore possible immunological mechanisms of B cell depletion as well as to evaluate the use of neurofilament in plasma (p-NFL) as an end-point in a clinical trial setting.Methods: The thesis is based on the open-label phase II multicentre clinical trial Switch-To-RItuXimab in MS (STRIX-MS; EudraCT 2010-023021-38), in which 75 patients completed a therapy switch from first-line injectables to rituximab, and, to some part, the extended follow-up study, STRIX-MS extension (EudraCT 2013-002378-26). The disease modifying effect was evaluated by regular clinical evaluations, MRI and analyses of CSF-NFL. The clinical outcome was evaluated by the EDSS and SDMT scales. The questionnaires MSIS-29, FSMC and TSQM were used for the evaluation of patient related outcome measures. Immunological mechanisms of the B cell depletion were explored by the analysis of a broad panel of cyto- and chemokines in CSF by an electrochemiluminiscens method before and after therapy switch, and in comparison to healthy controls. The concentration of p-NFL was measured by an in-house NF-light assay on the Simoa platform with a Homebrew kit and explored for the use as a clinical trial end-point.Results: During the follow-up, signs of inflammatory activity decreased. Both the mean number of Gd enhancing lesions (0.03 vs 0.36, p=0.029) and the number of new or enlarged T2 lesions were reduced (0.01 vs 0.28, p=0.01). The mean concentration of CSF-NFL was reduced during the first year (491 vs 387, p=0.01). The corresponding reduction in plasma did not reach the level of statistical significance. The rating of overall treatment satisfaction improved significantly (6.3 vs 4.8, scale range 1-7, p<0.001). In the explorative immunological study, the immunological profile was altered after therapy switch with the most prominent reduction observed in the concentrations of IP-10 and IL-12/23p40.Conclusions: The results indicate a disease modifying effect of rituximab in line with other studies and provide support for a superior treatment satisfaction with rituximab as compared with injectable therapies. However, the lack of control group hampers the possibility to draw definite conclusions on the therapy effect. The immunological effects of B cell depletion need to be further explored.
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| 4. |
- Hallberg, Susanna, et al.
(författare)
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Hypogammaglobulinaemia during rituximab treatment in multiple sclerosis : a Swedish cohort study
- 2024
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Ingår i: European Journal of Neurology. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 1351-5101 .- 1468-1331.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background and purpose: Mechanisms behind hypogammaglobulinaemia during rituximab treatment are poorly understood.Methods: In this register-based multi-centre retrospective cohort study of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients in Sweden, 2745 patients from six participating Swedish MS centres were identified via the Swedish MS registry and included between 14 March 2008 and 25 January 2021. The exposure was treatment with at least one dose of rituximab for MS or clinically isolated syndrome, including data on treatment duration and doses. The degree of yearly decrease in immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) levels was evaluated.Results: The mean decrease in IgG was 0.27 (95% confidence interval 0.17–0.36) g/L per year on rituximab treatment, slightly less in older patients, and without significant difference between sexes. IgG or IgM below the lower limit of normal (<6.7 or <0.27 g/L) was observed in 8.8% and 8.3% of patients, respectively, as nadir measurements. Six out of 2745 patients (0.2%) developed severe hypogammaglobulinaemia (IgG below 4.0 g/L) during the study period. Time on rituximab and accumulated dose were the main predictors for IgG decrease. Previous treatment with fingolimod and natalizumab, but not teriflunomide, dimethyl fumarate, interferons or glatiramer acetate, were significantly associated with lower baseline IgG levels by 0.80–1.03 g/L, compared with treatment-naïve patients. Switching from dimethyl fumarate or interferons was associated with an additional IgG decline of 0.14–0.19 g/L per year, compared to untreated.Conclusions: Accumulated dose and time on rituximab treatment are associated with a modest but significant decline in immunoglobulin levels. Previous MS therapies may influence additional IgG decline.
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