Post-intervention Status in Patients With Refractory Myasthenia Gravis Treated With Eculizumab During REGAIN and Its Open-Label Extension

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether eculizumab helps patients with anti-acetylcholine receptor-positive (AChR+) refractory generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) achieve the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA) post-intervention status of minimal manifestations (MM), we assessed patients' status throughout REGAIN (Safety and Efficacy of Eculizumab in AChR+ Refractory Generalized Myasthenia Gravis) and its open-label extension. METHODS: Patients who completed the REGAIN randomized controlled trial and continued into the open-label extension were included in this tertiary endpoint analysis. Patients were assessed for the MGFA post-intervention status of improved, unchanged, worse, MM, and pharmacologic remission at defined time points during REGAIN and through week 130 of the open-label study. RESULTS: A total of 117 patients completed REGAIN and continued into the open-label study (eculizumab/eculizumab: 56; placebo/eculizumab: 61). At week 26 of REGAIN, more eculizumab-treated patients than placebo-treated patients achieved a status of improved (60.7% vs 41.7%) or MM (25.0% vs 13.3%; common OR: 2.3; 95% CI: 1.1-4.5). After 130 weeks of eculizumab treatment, 88.0% of patients achieved improved status and 57.3% of patients achieved MM status. The safety profile of eculizumab was consistent with its known profile and no new safety signals were detected. CONCLUSION: Eculizumab led to rapid and sustained achievement of MM in patients with AChR+ refractory gMG. These findings support the use of eculizumab in this previously difficult-to-treat patient population. CLINICALTRIALSGOV IDENTIFIER: REGAIN, NCT01997229; REGAIN open-label extension, NCT02301624. CLASSIFICATION OF EVIDENCE: This study provides Class II evidence that, after 26 weeks of eculizumab treatment, 25.0% of adults with AChR+ refractory gMG achieved MM, compared with 13.3% who received placebo

Minimal Symptom Expression' in Patients With Acetylcholine Receptor Antibody-Positive Refractory Generalized Myasthenia Gravis Treated With Eculizumab

The efficacy and tolerability of eculizumab were assessed in REGAIN, a 26-week, phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody-positive (AChR+) refractory generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG), and its open-label extension

Epidemiology of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients in a centre in Buenos Aires

Sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (sALS) is considered a multifactorial disease with genetic and environmental factors causing motor neuron degeneration. OBJECTIVE: To describe the epidemiological and occupational characteristics of patients with sALS who attended the Ramos Mejía Hospital at Buenos Aires, Argentina. METHOD: We analyzed the medical records of sALS patients diagnosed between 2001 and 2008. All occupations were coded according to the International Standard Classification of Occupation (ISCO). RESULTS: 187 patients were assessed, 38.5% were women and 61.5% men. Mean age at diagnosis was 55 years. 16% of them came from rural areas; 68% of the studied population had no health insurance. 40% were employed in elementary occupations, 19 were technicians and 8 handicraftsmen. CONCLUSION: The most represented profession was elementary occupation. A large proportion of patients came from rural areas, which might suggest an increased risk of environmental exposure to an unknown agent in those regions

Multicentric epidemiological study in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires

Introduction: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease of unknown cause, characterized by the simultaneous involvement of the upper and lower motor neurons. Epidemiological studies have estimated its annual incidence between 0.31 and 3.2 and its prevalence between 0.8 and 8.5 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. The epidemiological information in our country is limited to specialized centers. The present study presents the results of an epidemiological study in ELA performed in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires (CABA). Methods: A multicentric retrospective study was conducted. Patients with defined and probable ALS according to the El Escorial Criteria, evaluated between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2013, who lived in the CABA at the onset of symptoms, were included. The calculation of the incidence was based on the 2010 census. Results: We included 103 patients (55 men), with a mean age of 64 years. The onset of symptoms was in the lower limbs at 39%, upper extremities at 25% and bulbar at 26%. The initial symptom was weakness in 58% and dysarthria in 20%; 9% had dementia associated with ALS. The mean time to diagnosis was 14.5 months. Thirty new cases/patients were diagnosed between 01/06/2012 and 01/06/2013, with an incidence rate of 1.04 per 100,000 inhabitants. Conclusions: The epidemiological characteristics of ALS in CABA are similar to those reported in the universal literature. Further studies are needed to determine if these findings are applicable to the rest of the Argentine population.Introduction: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease of unknown cause, characterized by the simultaneous involvement of the upper and lower motor neurons. Epidemiological studies have estimated its annual incidence between 0.31 and 3.2 and its prevalence between 0.8 and 8.5 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. The epidemiological information in our country is limited to specialized centers. The present study presents the results of an epidemiological study in ELA performed in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires (CABA). Methods: A multicentric retrospective study was conducted. Patients with defined and probable ALS according to the El Escorial Criteria, evaluated between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2013, who lived in the CABA at the onset of symptoms, were included. The calculation of the incidence was based on the 2010 census. Results: We included 103 patients (55 men), with a mean age of 64 years. The onset of symptoms was in the lower limbs at 39%, upper extremities at 25% and bulbar at 26%. The initial symptom was weakness in 58% and dysarthria in 20%; 9% had dementia associated with ALS. The mean time to diagnosis was 14.5 months. Thirty new cases/patients were diagnosed between 01/06/2012 and 01/06/2013, with an incidence rate of 1.04 per 100,000 inhabitants. Conclusions: The epidemiological characteristics of ALS in CABA are similar to those reported in the universal literature. Further studies are needed to determine if these findings are applicable to the rest of the Argentine population.Fil: Pérez Akly, Manuel. Sociedad Neurológica; ArgentinaFil: Schiava, Marianela. Unidad Asistencial Doctor César Milstein; ArgentinaFil: Melcom, Mario. Fundación para la Investigación en Neuroepidemiología; ArgentinaFil: Rodríguez, Gabriel. Sociedad Neurológica; ArgentinaFil: Gargiulo Monachelli, Gisella Mariana. Sociedad Neurológica; ArgentinaFil: Bettini, Mariela. Sociedad Neurológica; ArgentinaFil: Reisin, Ricardo. Sociedad Neurológica; ArgentinaFil: Bendersky, Mariana. Sociedad Neurológica; ArgentinaFil: Barroso, Fabio. Sociedad Neurológica; ArgentinaFil: Brand, Patricio. Fundación para la Lucha Contra las Enfermedades Neurológicas de la Infancia. Instituto de Investigaciones Neurológicas "Raúl Carrea"; ArgentinaFil: de Ambrosi, Bruno. Sociedad Neurológica; ArgentinaFil: Di Egidio, Marianna. Sociedad Neurológica; ArgentinaFil: Fiorotto, Luis. Sociedad Neurológica; ArgentinaFil: Jáuregui, Agustín. Sociedad Neurológica; ArgentinaFil: Landriscina, Paula. Sociedad Neurológica; ArgentinaFil: Marchesoni, Cintia. Sociedad Neurológica; ArgentinaFil: Mazia, Claudio. Sociedad Neurológica; ArgentinaFil: Rey, Roberto. Sociedad Neurológica; ArgentinaFil: Rugiero, Marcelo. Sociedad Neurológica; ArgentinaFil: Salutto, Valeria Luján. Sociedad Neurológica; ArgentinaFil: Tillard, Belén. Sociedad Neurológica; ArgentinaFil: Fulgenzi, Ernesto. Sociedad Neurológica; Argentin

Argentine consensus on late-onset Pompe's disease

Pompe's disease (PD) is an infrequent metabolic autosomic recessive disorder produced by the lack or deficiency of the acid alpha-glucosidase lysosomal enzyme in tissues of involved individuals. Delayed-onset PD is considered whenever symptoms onset start after one year of age. We present an update of the recommendations for the management of delayed-onset PD, taking as reference the guidelines from the Argentine Consensus for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of PD published in 2013. The present consensus gathered several experts in PD in the areas of internal medicine, laboratory diagnosis, neuropathology, pulmonology, nutrition, neurology, metabolic and neuromuscular disorders as well as rehabilitation to perform an update of the literature of delayed-onset PD, with special attention on relevant information published within the last 4 years. The entire working group approved the final version of the consensus. Each participant provided a declaration of conflict of interest. As a result, it is an update of the previous Argentine PD Consensus with focus on the delayed-onset presentation of the disease. Being such infrequent disorder, available data were rather limited and thus, the recommendations represent expert opinion

Usefulness of the identification of antibodies in peripheral neuropathies, neuronopathies and ganglionopathies: review

Introducción: En los últimos anos ˜ la identificación de anticuerpos y gammapatías monoclonales ha permitido comprender la fisiopatología y favorecer el diagnóstico y tratamiento de una multiplicidad de neuropatías inmunomediadas. Objetivo: Describir los anticuerpos de mayor relevancia clínica en las neuropatías, ganglionopatías y neuronopatías inmunomediadas caracterizando en cada caso su valor fisiopatológico o diagnóstico, así como la sensibilidad y especificidad de los métodos utilizados para su determinación. Desarrollo: Se analizarán los anticuerpos identificados en 1) síndrome de Guillain-Barré; 2) polineuropatía inflamatoria desmielinizante crónica (PDIC), 3) neuropatía motora con bloqueo multifocal (NMM); 4) CANOMAD (neuropatía atáxica crónica, oftalmoplejía, proteína IgM monoclonal, aglutininas frías y anticuerpos disialosil); 5) ganglionopatías y neuronopatías y la utilidad de identificar las gammapatías monoclonales. Conclusiones: Los anticuerpos y las gammapatías monoclonales son herramientas que han permitido mejorar el diagnóstico y la comprensión fisiopatológica de las neuropatías inmunomediadas y algunas criptogénicas, así como orientar el tratamiento más adecuado.Introduction: Over the last several years the identification of both antineural antibodies and monoclonal gammopathies allowed a better understanding of pathophysiology and improvement in the diagnosis and treatment of many different immune mediated neuropathies. Objective: To describe the antineural antibodies of greater clinical utility in the diagnosis of immune mediated neuropathies and neuronopathies. In each case we underline their value in either the pathophysiology or diagnosis of these disorders as well as the sensitivity and specificity of the diagnostic techniques currently in use. Development: We will review the antibodies identified in 1) Guillain-Barré syndrome; 2) Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP); 3) Multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN); 4) Chronic Ataxic Neuropathy Ophthalmoplegia M-protein Agglutination Disialosyl antibodies syndrome (CANOMAD); 5) Ganglionopathies and Neuropathies and the value of identifying monoclonal gammopathies. Conclusions: The antibodies and monoclonal gammopathies are useful tools in both the diagnosis and understanding of the mechanisms involved in immune mediated and cryptogenic neuropathies and orienting treatment.Fil: Reisin, Ricardo C.. Hospital Británico de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Salutto, Valeria Luján. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Aguirre, Florencia. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos; ArgentinaFil: Alvarez, Valeria. Hospital Italiano. Departamento de Medicina. Servicio de Neurologia.; ArgentinaFil: Barroso, Fabio. Fundación para la Lucha contra las Enfermedades Neurológicas de la Infancia; ArgentinaFil: Bendersky, Mariana. Hospital Italiano. Departamento de Medicina. Servicio de Neurologia.; ArgentinaFil: Berardo, Andrés. Columbia University; Estados UnidosFil: Bettini, Mariela. Hospital Italiano; ArgentinaFil: Borrelli, Mariano M.. Ministerio de Defensa. Ejército Argentino. Hospital Militar Central Cirujano Mayor "Dr. Cosme Argerich"; ArgentinaFil: Chaves, Marcelo. Hospital San Martín de Paraná; ArgentinaFil: Cisneros, Elisa M.. Complejo Medico Policial Bartolome Churruca Andres Visca; ArgentinaFil: Conti, Eugenia. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Hospital de Clínicas General San Martín; ArgentinaFil: Crespo, José M.. Hospital Británico de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: di Egidio, Mariana. Hospital Enrique Tornú; ArgentinaFil: Figueredo, María Alejandra. Gobierno de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Hospital Interzonal de Agudos San Roque de Gonnet; ArgentinaFil: Gargiulo Monachelli, Gisella Mariana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. CEMIC-CONICET. Centro de Educaciones Médicas e Investigaciones Clínicas "Norberto Quirno". CEMIC-CONICET; ArgentinaFil: Jáuregui, Agustín. Universidad Favaloro; ArgentinaFil: Landriscina, Paula. Instituto de Neurociencias Buenos Aires S. A.; ArgentinaFil: León Cejas, Luciana. Hospital Británico de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Martínez Perea, María del Carmen. Hospital Rivadavia; ArgentinaFil: Pirra, Laura. Universidad Favaloro; ArgentinaFil: Pivetta, Paola. Complejo Medico Policial Bartolome Churruca Andres Visca; ArgentinaFil: Quarracino, Cecilia. Complejo Medico Policial Bartolome Churruca Andres Visca; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Rattagan, María Lucía. Hospital Italiano; ArgentinaFil: Rey, Roberto. Gobierno de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Hospital Interzonal General de Agudos Presidente Peron; ArgentinaFil: Rodriguez, Alejandro. Instituto de Neurociencias Buenos Aires S. A.; ArgentinaFil: Rodriguez, Gabriel E.. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos "Ramos Mejía"; ArgentinaFil: Rugiero, Marcelo. Hospital Italiano; ArgentinaFil: Tillard, Belen. Fundación para la Lucha contra las Enfermedades Neurológicas de la Infancia; ArgentinaFil: Zuberhbuler, Paz. Hospital Alvarez; Argentin

Safety and efficacy of eculizumab in anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody-positive refractory generalised myasthenia gravis (REGAIN): a phase 3, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre study

Background Complement is likely to have a role in refractory generalised myasthenia gravis, but no approved therapies specifically target this system. Results from a phase 2 study suggested that eculizumab, a terminal complement inhibitor, produced clinically meaningful improvements in patients with anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody-positive refractory generalised myasthenia gravis. We further assessed the efficacy and safety of eculizumab in this patient population in a phase 3 trial. Methods We did a phase 3, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre study (REGAIN) in 76 hospitals and specialised clinics in 17 countries across North America, Latin America, Europe, and Asia. Eligible patients were aged at least 18 years, with a Myasthenia Gravis-Activities of Daily Living (MG-ADL) score of 6 or more, Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA) class II-IV disease, vaccination against Neisseria meningitides, and previous treatment with at least two immunosuppressive therapies or one immunosuppressive therapy and chronic intravenous immunoglobulin or plasma exchange for 12 months without symptom control. Patients with a history of thymoma or thymic neoplasms, thymectomy within 12 months before screening, or use of intravenous immunoglobulin or plasma exchange within 4 weeks before randomisation, or rituximab within 6 months before screening, were excluded. We randomly assigned participants (1:1) to either intravenous eculizumab or intravenous matched placebo for 26 weeks. Dosing for eculizumab was 900 mg on day 1 and at weeks 1, 2, and 3; 1200 mg at week 4; and 1200 mg given every second week thereafter as maintenance dosing. Randomisation was done centrally with an interactive voice or web-response system with patients stratified to one of four groups based on MGFA disease classification. Where possible, patients were maintained on existing myasthenia gravis therapies and rescue medication was allowed at the study physician's discretion. Patients, investigators, staff, and outcome assessors were masked to treatment assignment. The primary efficacy endpoint was the change from baseline to week 26 in MG-ADL total score measured by worst-rank ANCOVA. The efficacy population set was defined as all patients randomly assigned to treatment groups who received at least one dose of study drug, had a valid baseline MG-ADL assessment, and at least one post-baseline MG-ADL assessment. The safety analyses included all randomly assigned patients who received eculizumab or placebo. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01997229. Findings Between April 30, 2014, and Feb 19, 2016, we randomly assigned and treated 125 patients, 62 with eculizumab and 63 with placebo. The primary analysis showed no significant difference between eculizumab and placebo (least-squares mean rank 56.6 [SEM 4.5] vs 68.3 [4.5]; rank-based treatment difference -11.7, 95% CI -24.3 to 0.96; p=0.0698). No deaths or cases of meningococcal infection occurred during the study. The most common adverse events in both groups were headache and upper respiratory tract infection (ten [16%] for both events in the eculizumab group and 12 [19%] for both in the placebo group). Myasthenia gravis exacerbations were reported by six (10%) patients in the eculizumab group and 15 (24%) in the placebo group. Six (10%) patients in the eculizumab group and 12 (19%) in the placebo group required rescue therapy. Interpretation The change in the MG-ADL score was not statistically significant between eculizumab and placebo, as measured by the worst-rank analysis. Eculizumab was well tolerated. The use of a worst-rank analytical approach proved to be an important limitation of this study since the secondary and sensitivity analyses results were inconsistent with the primary endpoint result; further research into the role of complement is needed

Eculizumab in refractory generalized myasthenia gravis previously treated with rituximab: subgroup analysis of REGAIN and its extension study

Introduction/Aims: Individuals with refractory generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) who have a history of rituximab use and experience persistent symptoms represent a population with unmet treatment needs. The aim of this analysis was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of eculizumab in patients with refractory anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody-positive (AChR+) gMG previously treated with rituximab. Methods: This post hoc subgroup analysis of the phase 3 REGAIN study (NCT01997229) and its open-label extension (OLE; NCT02301624) compared baseline characteristics, safety, and response to eculizumab in participants who had previously received rituximab with those who had not. Rituximab use was not permitted within the 6 months before screening or during REGAIN/OLE. Results: Of 125 REGAIN participants, 14 had received rituximab previously (7 received placebo and 7 received eculizumab). In the previous-rituximab group, 57% had used at least four other immunosuppressants compared with 16% in the no-previous-rituximab group. Myasthenia Gravis Activities of Daily Living total scores from eculizumab baseline to week 130 of eculizumab treatment improved in both the previous-rituximab and no-previous-rituximab groups (least-squares mean −4.4, standard error of the mean [SEM] 1.0 [n = 9] and least-squares mean −4.6, SEM 0.3 [n = 67], respectively; difference = 0.2, 95% confidence interval −1.88 to 2.22). In addition, in both groups, most patients who were treated with eculizumab for 130 weeks achieved a Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America post-intervention status of minimal manifestations (66.7% and 65.0%, respectively). The eculizumab safety profile was similar between groups and consistent with its established profile. Discussion: Eculizumab is an effective therapy for patients with refractory AChR+ gMG, irrespective of whether they had received rituximab treatment previously