Evidence map›Paper›PMID 18317679›Full record

ReviewJournal of neurology2008

The search for a balance between short and long-term treatment outcomes in multiple sclerosis.

Ulf Baumhackl

Abstract readReview
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Journal of neurology, 2008. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
0.8field-weighted citation impact, top 26% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed, 10 citations in OpenAlex.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

1 author at 1 institution in 1 country.

Ulf BaumhacklDept. of Neurology, Landesklinikum, 3100 St. Poelten, Austria. neurologie@stpoelten.lknoe.at
Universitätsklinikum St. Pölten · AT

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis is a lifelong, immune-mediated progressive disorder. The early age of onset and the chronic nature of the disease with accumulation of physical disability, demand a long-term ("lifelong") management, including disease-modifying immunomodulatory therapies and symptomatic treatments. The ultimate goal in the long-term management of multiple sclerosis is to prevent or delay the appearance of permanent neurological disability. Due to improvements in the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, it is now possible to initiate treatment early in the disease process. To this end, first-line immunomodulatory treatments such as glatiramer acetate and beta-interferons are available that reduce the rate of relapses and disease activity as measured with magnetic resonance imaging. However, the short duration of clinical trials provides little information about long-term changes in disability over time. In the case of glatiramer acetate, a long-term, openlabel extension of the pivotal trial has provided prospective data on systematic regular follow-up of all patients who had ever received the drug during the original trial or its extension. Of 232 patients analysed, 108 were still participating in the study an average of ten years after treatment was initiated. Despite the limitations of open-label trials, this study has provided some evidence for a sustained reduction in frequency and severity of relapses and in the rate of accrual of disability. Such long-term data, which demonstrate safety, tolerability and sustained clinical benefit, help improve patient care and may contribute to patients taking a more positive view of treatment. Effective immunomodulatory treatment needs comprehensive information and education of the patient to establish long-term adherence, a critical determinant of long-term outcome. A multidisciplinary approach through a health care team is the optimal strategy, with encouragement to continue the therapy.

Indexed as

Treatment OutcomeAdjuvants, ImmunologicDisease ProgressionHumansMultiple SclerosisTime FactorsAdjuvants, Immunologic

Identifiers

PMID18317679
OpenAlexW2037762068

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.