Action-MS - Effect of early treatment on disability progression in multiple sclerosis: an observational study of the OFSEP database - Emmanuelle Leray, project start: 2017

 

Treatment options for Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS) largely evolved for the last twenty years. Natural history studies, immunopathological studies and extensions of randomized clinical trials incite to act soon in disease development. Some observational studies tend to show a greater benefit of early treatment initiation on disability progression. Nevertheless, the benefit of early action remains to be confirmed by rigorous observational studies taking into account both MRI and clinical data.

The main objective of ACTION-MS study is to measure early treatment initiation effect in real-world settings on disability progression in a large cohort of French RRMS patients. The second objective is to compare patients who initiate a first line treatment with those treated with an induction treatment.

Preliminary results from a study currently performed on a series of RRMS patients from the Rennes MS expert centre tend to show the benefit of early treatment initiation on disability progression. The larger series of patients including others MS expert centers from the OFSEP network will enable to take into account heterogeneity between centers and practices in France and give a powerful global result.