'Minimal symptom expression' in patients with acetylcholine receptor antibody-positive refractory generalized myasthenia gravis treated with eculizumab

J Neurol. 2020 Jul;267(7):1991-2001. doi: 10.1007/s00415-020-09770-y. Epub 2020 Mar 18.

Abstract

Background: The efficacy and tolerability of eculizumab were assessed in REGAIN, a 26-week, phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody-positive (AChR+) refractory generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG), and its open-label extension.

Methods: Attainment of 'minimal symptom expression' was evaluated using patient-reported outcome measures of gMG symptoms [MG activities of daily living scale (MG-ADL), 15-item MG quality of life questionnaire (MG-QOL15)] at the completion of REGAIN and during the open-label extension. 'Minimal symptom expression' was defined as MG-ADL total score of 0-1 or MG-QOL15 total score of 0-3.

Results: At REGAIN week 26, more eculizumab-treated patients achieved 'minimal symptom expression' versus placebo [MG-ADL: 21.4% vs 1.7%; difference 19.8%; 95% confidence interval (CI) 8.5, 31.0; p = 0.0007; MG-QOL15: 16.1% vs 1.7%; difference 14.4%; 95% CI 4.3, 24.6; p = 0.0069]. During the open-label extension, the proportion of patients in the placebo/eculizumab group who achieved 'minimal symptom expression' increased after initiating eculizumab treatment and was sustained through 130 weeks of open-label eculizumab (MG-ADL: 1.7 to 27.8%; MG-QOL15: 1.7 to 19.4%). At extension study week 130, similar proportions of patients in the eculizumab/eculizumab and placebo/eculizumab groups achieved 'minimal symptom expression' (MG-ADL: 22.9% and 27.8%, respectively, p = 0.7861; MG-QOL15: 14.3% and 19.4%, respectively, p = 0.7531). The long-term tolerability of eculizumab was consistent with previous reports.

Conclusions: Patients with AChR+ refractory gMG who receive eculizumab can achieve sustained 'minimal symptom expression' based on patient-reported outcomes. 'Minimal symptom expression' may be a useful tool in measuring therapy effectiveness in gMG.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01997229, NCT02301624.

Keywords: Acetylcholine receptor; Eculizumab; Minimal symptom expression; Myasthenia gravis; Refractory.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial, Phase III
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Activities of Daily Living*
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / administration & dosage
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / adverse effects
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / pharmacology*
  • Autoantibodies
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Factors / administration & dosage
  • Immunologic Factors / adverse effects
  • Immunologic Factors / pharmacology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Myasthenia Gravis / drug therapy*
  • Myasthenia Gravis / immunology
  • Myasthenia Gravis / physiopathology*
  • Patient Reported Outcome Measures*
  • Quality of Life*
  • Receptors, Cholinergic / immunology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Autoantibodies
  • Immunologic Factors
  • Receptors, Cholinergic
  • eculizumab

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT02301624
  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT01997229