OBJECTIVES: To study the self-reported impact in quality of life (QoL) of long term treatment with fampridine in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS)

METHODS: We recruited a total of 29 PwMS under treatment with fampridine prescribed by their responsible neurologists following label indications. They all completed two years of successful treatment. We followed them every six-months to prove efficacy and to assess their self-reported QoL using the Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life Questionnaire (MSQoL-54). This test offers two indexes: physical and mental QoL. We clustered PwMS by their physical disability according to the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) in two groups: up to 6 and more than 6.

RESULTS: regarding physical QoL, PwMS reported a significant improvement comparing baseline to 6 months (from 43.9 to 51.9; t(27)=-3.86; p=.001) that was also present at 12 months (from 43.9 to 50.3; t(27)=.35; p=.007) but declined when comparing 12 and 24 months (from 50.2 to 44.5; t(28)0-3.73; p=.001). Analyzing mental QoL, there was an improvement after 6m (from 64.9 to 72.8; t(27)=-2.62; p=.014) but presented a decline when comparing month 12 with 24 (from 70.3 to 59.7;t(27)=3.59; p=.001). When considering EDSS up to 6, QoL scores presented an increment when comparing baseline to 6m (Physical p=.010; Mental p=.04) and to 12m (Physical p<.000; Mental p=.030) but decreased from 12 to 24m (Physical p=.001; Mental p=.008). For PwMS with EDSS above 6, there was an increment physical QoL from baseline to 6m (p=.038) but decrement from 6 to 12m (p=.033), with no changes in mental QoL along assessments.

CONCLUSIONS: Despite proven efficacy of fampridine in PwMS it is important to consider self-report regarding the real impact in their QoL. PwMS reported an initial positive impact after one year of treatment that decreased in the second. This effect is mainly reported for physical QoL when disability is high.