Back to Search
Start Over
Dalfampridine improves walking speed, walking endurance, and community participation in veterans with multiple sclerosis: a longitudinal cohort study
- Source :
- Multiple Sclerosis Journal. 20:733-738
- Publication Year :
- 2013
- Publisher :
- SAGE Publications, 2013.
-
Abstract
- Background: In short-term trials, dalfampridine extended release (ER) improves walking in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). The tolerability and effects of dalfampridine-ER in clinical practice have not been reported. Objectives: The objective of this paper is to determine the clinical tolerability and effects of dalfampridine on walking and community participation. Methods: All patients at the Portland VA Medical Center prescribed dalfampridine-ER over one year completed the Timed 25-Foot Walk (T25FW), Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale-12 (MSWS-12), Two-Minute Timed Walk (2MTW), and Community Integration Questionnaire (CIQ) at baseline and follow-up clinic visits. Ongoing use and measures over one year were analyzed. Results: A total of 39 patients (mean age 56.5 years, mean disease duration 19.5 years, 82% male, 38% relapsing–remitting MS, 62% progressive MS) were prescribed dalfampridine-ER. Twenty-four (62%) continued to take dalfampridine-ER. At initial follow-up, all measures improved significantly from baseline (T25FW: –2.7 s, p = 0.004; 2MTW: 41 feet (ft), p = 0.002; MSWS12: –11, p < 0.001; CIQ: 1.2, p = 0.003). At one year, walking endurance and self-perceived walking were still significantly improved (2MTW: 33 ft, p = 0.03; MSWS-12: 5.9, p = 0.007). Conclusions: Dalfampridine-ER was associated with short-term improvements in walking speed and community participation, and sustained improvements in walking endurance and self-perceived impact of MS on walking for one year. Our study supports the utility of this medication in late MS.
- Subjects :
- Adult
Male
medicine.medical_specialty
Multiple Sclerosis
Community participation
Walking
Community integration
Cohort Studies
Disability Evaluation
Physical medicine and rehabilitation
Potassium Channel Blockers
medicine
Humans
Longitudinal Studies
4-Aminopyridine
Longitudinal cohort
Aged
Veterans
business.industry
Multiple sclerosis
Community Participation
Mean age
Middle Aged
medicine.disease
Preferred walking speed
Neurology
Tolerability
Physical therapy
Female
Neurology (clinical)
business
Cohort study
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 14770970 and 13524585
- Volume :
- 20
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Multiple Sclerosis Journal
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....a139157ff1db7ec3f798a6c77cc636ab