Systematic review of immunomodulatory drugs for the treatment of people with multiple sclerosis: is there good quality evidence on effectiveness and cost?
Systematic review of immunomodulatory drugs for the treatment of people with multiple sclerosis: is there good quality evidence on effectiveness and cost?
OBJECTIVE: To review the clinical effectiveness and costs of a range of disease modifying drugs in multiple sclerosis. Drugs included are azathioprine, cladribine, cyclophosphamide, intravenous immunoglobulin, methotrexate, and mitoxantrone. METHODS: Electronic databases and bibliographies of related papers were searched for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and systematic reviews, and experts and pharmaceutical companies were contacted for further information. Inclusion and quality criteria were assessed, data extraction undertaken by one reviewer and checked by a second reviewer, with discrepancies being resolved through discussion. Costs were obtained and cost-effectiveness papers sought. RESULTS: Seventeen studies met the inclusion criteria for the review. Evidence for the clinical effectiveness of the drugs showed some reductions in relapse rates and/or progression to disability for people with MS, although benefits may be lessened by wide ranging side effects. Annual drug costs/patient are estimated to range from 60 pounds to 10200 pounds. No cost effectiveness studies were found. CONCLUSION: Evidence for the effectiveness of these drugs in multiple sclerosis is problematic because there are few good quality trials for each drug. Trials often have methodological limitations and use different treatment regimes, patient groups, and outcome measures. Well conducted trials using outcome measures with clinical significance for groups of patients with different types of multiple sclerosis and long term follow up are needed if the evidence base of treatment for the disease is to be improved.
multiple sclerosis, immunomodulatory drugs, effectiveness
574-579
Bryant, J.
508f497c-8b5a-468f-a37d-be9c26e4e49d
Clegg, A.
838091f5-39df-4dbe-a369-675b26f2301b
Milne, R.
bd90470b-bba2-49a1-aa12-f1319d78afc2
2001
Bryant, J.
508f497c-8b5a-468f-a37d-be9c26e4e49d
Clegg, A.
838091f5-39df-4dbe-a369-675b26f2301b
Milne, R.
bd90470b-bba2-49a1-aa12-f1319d78afc2
Bryant, J., Clegg, A. and Milne, R.
(2001)
Systematic review of immunomodulatory drugs for the treatment of people with multiple sclerosis: is there good quality evidence on effectiveness and cost?
Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, 70 (5), .
(doi:10.1136/jnnp.70.5.574).
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To review the clinical effectiveness and costs of a range of disease modifying drugs in multiple sclerosis. Drugs included are azathioprine, cladribine, cyclophosphamide, intravenous immunoglobulin, methotrexate, and mitoxantrone. METHODS: Electronic databases and bibliographies of related papers were searched for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and systematic reviews, and experts and pharmaceutical companies were contacted for further information. Inclusion and quality criteria were assessed, data extraction undertaken by one reviewer and checked by a second reviewer, with discrepancies being resolved through discussion. Costs were obtained and cost-effectiveness papers sought. RESULTS: Seventeen studies met the inclusion criteria for the review. Evidence for the clinical effectiveness of the drugs showed some reductions in relapse rates and/or progression to disability for people with MS, although benefits may be lessened by wide ranging side effects. Annual drug costs/patient are estimated to range from 60 pounds to 10200 pounds. No cost effectiveness studies were found. CONCLUSION: Evidence for the effectiveness of these drugs in multiple sclerosis is problematic because there are few good quality trials for each drug. Trials often have methodological limitations and use different treatment regimes, patient groups, and outcome measures. Well conducted trials using outcome measures with clinical significance for groups of patients with different types of multiple sclerosis and long term follow up are needed if the evidence base of treatment for the disease is to be improved.
This record has no associated files available for download.
More information
Published date: 2001
Keywords:
multiple sclerosis, immunomodulatory drugs, effectiveness
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 45426
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/45426
ISSN: 0022-3050
PURE UUID: 984a136a-01e1-4946-94fc-e2e657fffd67
Catalogue record
Date deposited: 28 Mar 2007
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 02:59
Export record
Altmetrics
Contributors
Author:
J. Bryant
Download statistics
Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.
View more statistics
