Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To investigate the efficacy of sustained-release fampridine tablets (fampridine-SR) on walking impairment and fatigue on Chinese patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). METHODS: All patients (n = 12) had the baseline Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) at 4-7 and orally administered fampridine-SR at 10 mg twice per day for at least 12 weeks. All patients were assessed using EDSS, Timed 25-Foot Walk (T25FW), the 12-item Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale (MSWS-12), and Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS) at baseline, day 1, week 1, 2, 4, 8, and 12. RESULTS: The baseline EDSS score was 4.67 ± 0.36. Fampridine-SR significantly decreased the EDSS score by 0.63 ± 0.20 (p = 0.011) after 12-week treatment. T25FW was changed at day 1 and week 1 by - 12.73 ± 3.03% and - 14.20 ± 4.36% (p < 0.011), respectively. The statistically and clinically significant improvement of MSWS-12 was observed since week 1. The total, cognitive subscale, physical subscale, and psychosocial subscale of MFIS were significantly reduced in Chinese patients with MS. CONCLUSION: Fampridine-SR was a fast-acting oral potassium channel blocker on improving walking ability of MS as early as day 1. It demonstrated the positive effects on walking impairment and fatigue, including the physical, cognitive, and psychosocial subscales of MFIS, in Chinese patients with MS.