Key clinical point: Both rituximab and glatiramer acetate failed to stop disability progression in patients with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS). They were equally effective in relapse control.
Major finding: The mean Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score increased from 3.05 to 4.14 in the rituximab group and from 3.22 to 4.60 in the glatiramer acetate group ( P less than .001 for both). EDSS score showed no statistically significant difference between 2 groups ( P = .071). Annualized relapse rate decreased in both groups with no significant difference between them ( P = .534).
Study details: An open randomized clinical trial of 84 patients with SPMS assigned to receive rituximab (n = 43) or glatiramer acetate (n = 41) for 12 months.
Disclosures: The study was funded by vice-chancellor for research and technology of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
Citation: Cheshmavar M et al. Acta Neurol Scand. 2020 Sep 8. doi: 10.1111/ane.13344 .