[Pubmed] Oral Corticosteroid and Nonsteroidal Immunosuppressant Therapy Use in Patients with Myasthenia Gravis Receiving
Posté : 13 déc. 2025 12:00
Neurol Ther. 2025 Dec 13. doi: 10.1007/s40120-025-00873-0. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Oral corticosteroids (OCSs) and nonsteroidal immunosuppressant therapies (NSISTs) remain widely used for the clinical management of patients with generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG), despite well-documented risks. Newer targeted biologic therapies have demonstrated concomitant immunosuppressant therapy reduction; however, long-term comparative real-world evidence remains limited. This retrospective, observational study compared OCS and NSIST use in patients in the USA receiving one of the following US Food and Drug Administration-approved therapies for gMG treatment: ravulizumab or eculizumab (complement protein C5 inhibitor therapies [C5ITs]) or efgartigimod (neonatal Fc receptor antagonist).
METHODS: Patients were identified using the IQVIA PharMetrics® Plus claims database from January 1, 2015 to March 31, 2024. Eligible patients had ≥ 2 MG claims filed ≥ 30 days apart by a nonophthalmologic specialist. Treatment index date was the date of first ravulizumab, eculizumab, or efgartigimod claim. All patients assessed were continuously treated with ravulizumab, eculizumab, or efgartigimod during the 12-month follow-up period. Baseline OCS dose was estimated using claims data 3 months before the index date. Change from baseline in OCS average daily dose (ADD), OCS tapering, and NSIST use were assessed over 3-month intervals during the 12-month post-index follow-up period.
RESULTS: After 12 months of continuous treatment, the C5IT cohort experienced a significantly greater mean reduction from baseline in OCS ADD compared to the efgartigimod cohort (C5IT, - 11.2 mg/day; efgartigimod, - 3.6 mg/day; P = 0.034), and fewer patients were taking OCS ADD > 30 mg/day (C5IT, 7.5%; efgartigimod, 22.2%). The percentage of patients with NSIST claims decreased by 28.3% within the first 12 months in the C5IT cohort (baseline, 55.2%; month 12, 39.6%) and remained stable in the efgartigimod cohort (baseline, 48.9%; month 12, 48.9%).
CONCLUSION: These results from US clinical practice suggest greater reductions in OCS and NSIST concomitant therapy for patients treated with ravulizumab or eculizumab compared with efgartigimod.
PMID:41389129 | DOI:10.1007/s40120-025-00873-0
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/4138912 ... 22+67771e2