037 Treating secondary progressive multiple sclerosis in the UK: use of guidelines and stopping criteria

Abstract

BackgroundAs new treatment approaches emerge for progressive forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), it is important to understand the factors underlying current practice.MethodsWe used a structured questionnaire to interview 59 healthcare professionals (HCPs) from geo- graphically-dispersed UK MS centres about current disease modifying therapy (DMT) management of patients with suspected/confirmed secondary progressive MS (SPMS).ResultsOf 43 HCPs (73%) who follow guidelines for DMT management of patients transitioning from relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) to SPMS, most (n=37/43, 86%) use the NHS England (NHSE) algorithm; 7/43 (16%) use ABN guidance. Fifty-eight (98%) HCPs use DMTs to treat patients with RRMS whom they suspect may be transitioning to SPMS and 30 (51%) for (a minority of) patients with newly- diagnosed SPMS. Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) 7.0 was the most frequently-reported criterion used for stopping DMTs (n=29, 49%), however, a variety of other criteria were used and a small majority of HCPs reported continuing DMTs beyond EDSS 7.0 in certain circumstances (most commonly recent relapse activity [n=32, 54%] or in younger patients [n=20, 34%]).ConclusionsAlthough most HCPs follow NHSE guidelines, a range of DMT stopping criteria are employed in clinical practice and treatment decisions may be based on individual patient circumstances.katherine.rhys@novartis.com