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Sustained-released fampridine in multiple sclerosis: effects on gait parameters, arm function, fatigue, and quality of life

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Abstract

Sustained-release fampridine (fampridine-SR) improves gait velocity and self-perceived capacities in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). However, little is known about the treatment’s effect on temporospatial gait parameters, walking endurance, general fatigue, hand function and quality of life (QoL). We therefore sought to evaluate these parameters in a real-world setting: 120 consecutive, eligible patients with MS were evaluated at baseline (D0) and after two weeks (D14) of fampridine-SR. Lastly, D14 responders were again evaluated after three months (M3). Response to treatment was defined as a 15 % improvement in at least one of the following tests: the Timed 25-Foot-Walk (T25FW), the 2-min walk test (2MWT) and the Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale (MSWS-12). Eighty-three patients (74 %) were found to be responders. The response rate was lower when assessed as a 20 % improvement in the T25FW (50.9 %), and this difference was particularly marked for fast-walking subjects (i.e. T25FW <8 s at baseline). Responders displayed mean improvements (at D14 and M3, respectively) of 34.5 and 35.5 % in the T25FW, 39 and 36.7 % in the 2MWT and 19 and 11.6 % in the MSWS-12. The increase in gait velocity was due to both a higher cadence and a greater step length. Responders showed also significant, lasting reductions in fatigue (visual analogue scale and the Fatigue Severity Scale; p < 10−4 at D14 and <0.01 at M3) and significant, lasting improvements in hand function (9 Hole Peg Test; p < 0.05) and QoL (SF-12; p < 0.01). In conclusion, several MS-induced symptoms other than gait velocity may be improved by fampridine-SR, even if this remains to be more specifically evaluated in future studies.

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Conflicts of interest

Professor Vermersch serves on scientific advisory boards for Biogen Idec and has received travel funding. Drs Zephir and Outteryck have received travel funding from Biogen Idec.

Ethical standards

The study was performed in accordance with the ethical standards laid down in the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its amendments. All patients provided their written, informed consent to participation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurorehabilitation, Lille University Medical Center, Hôpital Swynghedauw, Rue André Verhaeghe, 59037, Lille Cedes, France

    Etienne Allart

  2. Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Lille University Medical Centre, Lille, France

    Anne Benoit, Anne Blanchard-Dauphin, Vincent Tiffreau & André Thevenon

  3. Neuromuscular Disease Reference Centre, Lille University Medical Centre, Lille, France

    Vincent Tiffreau, André Thevenon & Arnaud Lacour

  4. Department of Neurology, Lille University Medical Centre, Lille, France

    Hélène Zephir, Olivier Outteryck, Arnaud Lacour & Patrick Vermersch

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  1. Etienne Allart
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  2. Anne Benoit
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  3. Anne Blanchard-Dauphin
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  4. Vincent Tiffreau
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  5. André Thevenon
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  6. Hélène Zephir
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  7. Olivier Outteryck
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  9. Patrick Vermersch
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Correspondence to Etienne Allart.

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Allart, E., Benoit, A., Blanchard-Dauphin, A. et al. Sustained-released fampridine in multiple sclerosis: effects on gait parameters, arm function, fatigue, and quality of life. J Neurol 262, 1936–1945 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-015-7797-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-015-7797-1

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