Efficacy and safety of cannabinoid oromucosal spray for multiple sclerosis spasticity

Francesco Patti, Silvia Messina, Claudio Solaro, Maria Pia Amato, Roberto Bergamaschi, Simona Bonavita, R. Bruno Bossio, Vincenzo Brescia Morra, G. F. Costantino, P. Cavalla, Diego Centonze, Giancarlo Comi, S. Cottone, M. Danni, Ada Francia, Alberto Gajofatto, C. Gasperini, A. Ghezzi, A. Iudice, G. LusGiorgia Teresa Maniscalco, M. G. Marrosu, M. Matta, Massimiliano Mirabella, Enrico Montanari, C. Pozzilli, Marco Rovaris, Edoardo Sessa, Daniele Spitaleri, Maria Trojano, Paola Valentino, Mario Zappia

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Background The approval of 9-d-tetrahydocannabinol and cannabidiol (THC:CBD) oromucosal spray (Sativex) for the management of treatment-resistant multiple sclerosis (MS) spasticity opened a new opportunity for many patients. The aim of our study was to describe Sativex effectiveness and adverse events profile in a large population of Italian patients with MS in the daily practice setting. Methods We collected data of all patients starting Sativex between January 2014 and February 2015 from the mandatory Italian medicines agency (AIFA) e-registry. Spasticity assessment by the 0-10 numerical rating scale (NRS) scale is available at baseline, after 1 month of treatment (trial period), and at 3 and 6 months. Results A total of 1615 patients were recruited from 30 MS centres across Italy. After one treatment month (trial period), we found 70.5% of patients reaching a =20% improvement (initial response, IR) and 28.2% who had already reached a =30% improvement (clinically relevant response, CRR), with a mean NRS score reduction of 22.6% (from 7.5 to 5.8). After a multivariate analysis, we found an increased probability to reach IR at the first month among patients with primary and secondary progressive MS, (n=1169, OR 1.4 95% CI 1.04 to 1.9, p=0.025) and among patients with >8 NRS score at baseline (OR 1.8 95% CI 1.3-2.4 p

Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry
DOIs
Publication statusAccepted/In press - May 9 2016

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Clinical Neurology
  • Psychiatry and Mental health
  • Surgery
  • Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)

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