Comparable Efficacy and Safety of Teriflunomide versus Dimethyl Fumarate for the Treatment of Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis

Background. The aim of this observational study is to investigate the efficacy and safety of two approved oral disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) in patients with remitting-relapsing multiple sclerosis (RRMS): dimethyl fumarate (DMF) vs. teriflunomide (TRF). Methods. A total of 159 RRMS patients (82...

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Main Authors: Nasim Nehzat, Omid Mirmosayyeb, Mahdi Barzegar, Reza Vosoughi, Erfane Fazeli, Vahid Shaygannejad
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2021-01-01
Series:Neurology Research International
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/6679197
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author Nasim Nehzat
Omid Mirmosayyeb
Mahdi Barzegar
Reza Vosoughi
Erfane Fazeli
Vahid Shaygannejad
author_facet Nasim Nehzat
Omid Mirmosayyeb
Mahdi Barzegar
Reza Vosoughi
Erfane Fazeli
Vahid Shaygannejad
author_sort Nasim Nehzat
collection DOAJ
description Background. The aim of this observational study is to investigate the efficacy and safety of two approved oral disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) in patients with remitting-relapsing multiple sclerosis (RRMS): dimethyl fumarate (DMF) vs. teriflunomide (TRF). Methods. A total of 159 RRMS patients (82 on TRF and 77 on DMF) were included. The expanded disability status scale (EDSS), confirmed disability improvement (CDI), confirmed disability progression (CDP), and annualized relapse rate (ARR) were evaluated for the two-year period prior to enrollment in our study. The drug-associated adverse effects (AEs) were recorded. We conducted propensity matching score to compare the efficacy between TRF and DMF. Results. After matching for the confounders, TRF- and DMF-treated groups were not different in terms of EDSS (P value = 0.54), CDI (P value = 0.80), CDP (P value = 0.39), and ARR (P value >0.05). TRF discontinuation occurred in 2 patients (2.43%) due to mediastinitis and liver dysfunction, while a patient (1.29%) discontinued DMF due to depression. Incidence rate of AEs in the TRF-treated group was 81.4%: hair thinning (hair loss) (62.9%), nail loss (20.9%), and elevated aminotransferase (14.8%) were the most common AEs; in DMF-treated patients, AEs were 88.2% with predominance of flushing (73.2%), pruritus (16.9%), and abdominal pain (16.9%). Conclusion. Based on our findings, DMF is as efficacious and safe as TRF for the treatment of RRMS in our Iranian study population. Multicentric studies need to corroborate these findings in other populations.
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spelling doaj-art-48349cd128ee4c41bf331e50af579e512025-08-20T03:35:58ZengWileyNeurology Research International2090-18522090-18602021-01-01202110.1155/2021/66791976679197Comparable Efficacy and Safety of Teriflunomide versus Dimethyl Fumarate for the Treatment of Relapsing-Remitting Multiple SclerosisNasim Nehzat0Omid Mirmosayyeb1Mahdi Barzegar2Reza Vosoughi3Erfane Fazeli4Vahid Shaygannejad5Isfahan Neurosciences Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, IranIsfahan Neurosciences Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, IranIsfahan Neurosciences Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, IranUniversity of Toronto, St. Michael’s Hospital Multiple Sclerosis Clinic, Toronto, Ontario, CanadaIsfahan Neurosciences Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, IranIsfahan Neurosciences Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, IranBackground. The aim of this observational study is to investigate the efficacy and safety of two approved oral disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) in patients with remitting-relapsing multiple sclerosis (RRMS): dimethyl fumarate (DMF) vs. teriflunomide (TRF). Methods. A total of 159 RRMS patients (82 on TRF and 77 on DMF) were included. The expanded disability status scale (EDSS), confirmed disability improvement (CDI), confirmed disability progression (CDP), and annualized relapse rate (ARR) were evaluated for the two-year period prior to enrollment in our study. The drug-associated adverse effects (AEs) were recorded. We conducted propensity matching score to compare the efficacy between TRF and DMF. Results. After matching for the confounders, TRF- and DMF-treated groups were not different in terms of EDSS (P value = 0.54), CDI (P value = 0.80), CDP (P value = 0.39), and ARR (P value >0.05). TRF discontinuation occurred in 2 patients (2.43%) due to mediastinitis and liver dysfunction, while a patient (1.29%) discontinued DMF due to depression. Incidence rate of AEs in the TRF-treated group was 81.4%: hair thinning (hair loss) (62.9%), nail loss (20.9%), and elevated aminotransferase (14.8%) were the most common AEs; in DMF-treated patients, AEs were 88.2% with predominance of flushing (73.2%), pruritus (16.9%), and abdominal pain (16.9%). Conclusion. Based on our findings, DMF is as efficacious and safe as TRF for the treatment of RRMS in our Iranian study population. Multicentric studies need to corroborate these findings in other populations.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/6679197
spellingShingle Nasim Nehzat
Omid Mirmosayyeb
Mahdi Barzegar
Reza Vosoughi
Erfane Fazeli
Vahid Shaygannejad
Comparable Efficacy and Safety of Teriflunomide versus Dimethyl Fumarate for the Treatment of Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis
Neurology Research International
title Comparable Efficacy and Safety of Teriflunomide versus Dimethyl Fumarate for the Treatment of Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis
title_full Comparable Efficacy and Safety of Teriflunomide versus Dimethyl Fumarate for the Treatment of Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis
title_fullStr Comparable Efficacy and Safety of Teriflunomide versus Dimethyl Fumarate for the Treatment of Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis
title_full_unstemmed Comparable Efficacy and Safety of Teriflunomide versus Dimethyl Fumarate for the Treatment of Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis
title_short Comparable Efficacy and Safety of Teriflunomide versus Dimethyl Fumarate for the Treatment of Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis
title_sort comparable efficacy and safety of teriflunomide versus dimethyl fumarate for the treatment of relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/6679197
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