Consistent improvement with eculizumab across muscle groups in myasthenia gravis.

Journal Article (Clinical Trial, Phase III;Journal Article)

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether eculizumab, a terminal complement inhibitor, improves patient- and physician-reported outcomes (evaluated using the myasthenia gravis activities of daily living profile and the quantitative myasthenia gravis scale, respectively) in patients with refractory anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody-positive generalized myasthenia gravis across four domains, representing ocular, bulbar, respiratory, and limb/gross motor muscle groups. METHODS: Patients with refractory anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody-positive generalized myasthenia gravis were randomized 1:1 to receive either placebo or eculizumab during the REGAIN study (NCT01997229). Patients who completed REGAIN were eligible to continue into the open-label extension trial (NCT02301624) for up to 4 years. The four domain scores of each of the myasthenia gravis activities of daily living profile and the quantitative myasthenia gravis scale recorded throughout REGAIN and through 130 weeks of the open-label extension were analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 125 patients who participated in REGAIN, 117 enrolled in the open-label extension; 61 had received placebo and 56 had received eculizumab during REGAIN. Patients experienced rapid improvements in total scores and all four domain scores of both the myasthenia gravis activities of daily living profile and the quantitative myasthenia gravis scale with eculizumab treatment. These improvements were sustained through 130 weeks of the open-label extension. INTERPRETATION: Eculizumab treatment elicits rapid and sustained improvements in muscle strength across ocular, bulbar, respiratory, and limb/gross motor muscle groups and in associated daily activities in patients with refractory anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody-positive generalized myasthenia gravis.

Full Text

Duke Authors

Cited Authors

  • Mantegazza, R; O'Brien, FL; Yountz, M; Howard, JF; REGAIN study group,

Published Date

  • August 2020

Published In

Volume / Issue

  • 7 / 8

Start / End Page

  • 1327 - 1339

PubMed ID

  • 32700461

Pubmed Central ID

  • PMC7448154

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 2328-9503

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1002/acn3.51121

Language

  • eng

Conference Location

  • United States