Background Teriflunomide is an immunomodulatory agent with anti-inflammatory properties that inhibits the mitochondrial enzyme dehidroorotato-dehydrogenase (DHO-DH), which is required for the synthesis of pyrimidine, blocking the proliferation of activated B and T lymphocytes. It is believed that the therapeutic effect is related to the reduction in the number of lymphocytes. It is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis with the advantage of oral administration.

Purpose To analyse the use of teriflunomide in patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

Material and methods A retrospective observational study from January 2013 to May 2015. We used the SAP program to evaluate the clinical history and dispensations of patients treated with teriflunomide. The following data were recorded: sex, age, EDSS, previous treatments, control of liver enzymes, kidney function, blood pressure and pregnancy test.

Results 18 patients, 17 women and 1 man, were evaluated, with an average age of 41.11 years (range 23–79). Mean EDSS was 1.85 (1–5). All patients had recorded blood pressure, blood count, and kidney and liver function approximately every 2 weeks.

Teriflunomide was prescribed as the firstline treatment in 5 patients (27.77%), as secondline in 3 patients (16.66%), as the third treatment in 8 patients (44.44%), and as the fourth and fifth treatments, respectively, in 1 patient (5.55%). Two patients began it before marketing.

The immediately preceding treatment was glatiramer acetate in 5 patients, dimethyl fumarate in 1, interferon beta 1a 44 µg in 5 and interferon beta-1a 30 µg in 2 patients. The reasons for the change were cutaneous adverse effects on local reaction at the injection site in all cases except for dimethyl fumarate (digestive intolerance).

The average duration of treatment with teriflunomide was 3.77 months (1–20), without any abandonment of treatment by that time.

Conclusion While reports of teriflunomide therapeutic positioning is indicated at the forefront of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, only 29.41% of our patients were prescribed this as the first choice. In the future, more patients may start teriflunomide as the firstline treatment given the comfort of the route of administration and good tolerance. Due to the short time to market, a longer term review is needed to verify the response to the drug.

References and/or Acknowledgements

1. http://www.aemps.gob.es/medicamentosUsoHumano/informesPublicos/docs/IPT-teriflunomida-aubagio.pdf

References and/or AcknowledgementsNo conflict of interest.