Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Beneficial in RRMS

Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (aHSCT) for treating relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) yields freedom from disease activity for most patients, according to a study published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry. Joachim Burman MD, PhD, and colleagues examined the efficacy and safety of aHSCT implemented into routine care for RRMS. The final analysis included 174 patients treated with aHSCT. The Kaplan-Meier estimate for no evidence of disease activity was 73% at 5 years and 65% at 10 years, with a median follow-up of 5.5 years. Among 149 patients with baseline disability, 54% improved, 37% remained stable, and 9% declined. The mean number of adverse events per patient was 1.7 for grade 3 events and 0.06 for grade 4. The most common adverse event was febrile neutropenia, which affected 68% of patients. No treatment-related mortality occurred. “aHSCT for RRMS is feasible within regular health care and can be performed without compromising safety,” Dr. Burman and colleagues wrote, adding that aHSCT “should be included as a standard of care for highly active MS.”