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Abstract
Introduction: Relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) is the most common subtype of multiple sclerosis. RRMS is characterized as a chronic neuroinflammatory disease, with an etiology involving the destruction of the axonal myelin sheath, leading to a progressive decline in the quality of life of young adults. Objectives: To assess the impact of early interventions in the treatment of RRMS, focusing on outcomes such as disability progression, relapse frequency, and patients' quality of life. Methods: This study is a systematic review following PRISMA guidelines. A search was conducted in the PubMed and Cochrane databases, filtered for the last 10 years, using the MeSH terms "Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis" and "Early Intervention." Inclusion criteria encompassed clinical trials and randomized studies that supported the practice of early interventions in RRMS patients. Exclusion criteria targeted articles with methodological bias, duplicates, editorials, and reviews. Of the 61 articles identified, 11 were included for qualitative analysis. Results: Early interventions with disease-modifying therapies (DMTs), such as natalizumab, fingolimod, and dimethyl fumarate, were associated with a significant reduction in relapse frequency and preservation of patients’ brain function. Early treatments demonstrated positive outcomes in reducing cortical atrophy and progressively controlling functional disability in RRMS patients, in addition to improvements in their reported quality of life during the studies. Conclusion: The early use of DMTs can alter disease progression and preserve functionality, thereby improving the prognosis of RRMS patients.
References
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