Practice patterns of US neurologists in patients with SPMS and PPMS

Abstract

A modified Delphi process assessed current multiple sclerosis (MS) practice patterns for secondary and primary progressive MS (secondary progressive MS [SPMS] and primary progressive MS [PPMS]). In early 2011, 2 sequential, case-based surveys were administered to 75 US MS specialists to assess treatment practices and patient management. Respondents were from geographically diverse US academic (42%) and community (58%) treatment centers. There was consensus (≥75% agreement in responses) to switch disease-modifying therapies for a patient with SPMS with both MRI activity and disability progression (95%), but no consensus on treatment selection. For PPMS, responses supported diagnosis using spinal MRI (100%) and lumbar puncture (75%) and treatment initiation in patients with brain gadolinium-enhancing lesions with or without spinal cord lesions (85%); however, there was no consensus on treatment initiation with spinal cord lesions alone or initial therapy. The lack of agreement among US MS experts on the best treatment approaches for SPMS or PPMS highlights the need for effective therapies.