BG-12 reduces evolution of new enhancing lesions to T1-hypointense lesions in patients with multiple sclerosis

• Authors: MACMANUS D. G; MILLER D. H.; KAPPOS L.; GOLD R.; HAVRDOVA E.; LIMMROTH V.; POLMAN C. H.; SCHMIERER K.; YOUSRY T. A.; ERAKSOY M.; MELUZINOVA E.; DUFEK Michal; YANG M.; O'NEILL G.N.; DAWSON K.
• Year of publication: 2011
• Type: Article in Periodical
• Magazine / Source: JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY
• MU Faculty or unit: Faculty of Medicine
• Doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00415-010-5777-z
• Field: Neurology, neurosurgery, neurosciences
• Keywords: Clinical trial; Multiple sclerosis; MRI; Dimethyl fumarate; BG-12; Hypointense lesions
• Description: BG-12, an immunomodulatory agent, reduces frequency of new gadolinium-enhancing (Gd+) lesions in relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS). This study reports the effect of 240 mg BG-12 orally three times daily (tid) for 24 weeks on the evolution of new Gd+ lesions to T1-hypointense lesions. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans from patients in placebo and 240 mg BG-12 tid arms of a phase 2b study were examined retrospectively. Included patients had at least one new Gd+ lesion from weeks 4 to 12. Week 24 scans were analyzed for number and proportion of new Gd+ lesions that evolved to T1-hypointense lesions. Eighteen patients receiving BG-12 and 38 patients receiving placebo were included in the analysis. The analysis tracked 147 new Gd+ lesions in patients from the BG-12 group and 221 Gd+ lesions in patients from the placebo group. The percentage of Gd+ lesions that evolved to T1-hypointense lesions was 34% lower with BG-12 treatment versus placebo (29%, BG-12; 44%, placebo; odds ratio 0.51; 95% confidence interval 0.43, 0.61; p < 0.0001). In addition to reducing frequency of new Gd+ lesions, BG-12 significantly reduced probability of their evolution to T1-hypointense lesions in patients with MS compared with placebo.