Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation and Disease Progression in Relapsing-Remitting MS

To compare nonmyeloablative hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) to standard multiple sclerosis (MS) disease-modifying therapies (DMTs), researchers conducted an open-label, randomized clinical trial at four international sites from 2005 through 2016. Participants were aged 18 to 55 and had relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), with at least two inflammatory events in the past 12 months on a standard DMT. Patients randomized to a DMT received a therapy with higher efficacy or different mechanism of action than before randomization, per the treating neurologist.

There were 110 participants (median age, 36; median disease duration, about 5 years; mild baseline disability score; taking primarily injectable therapies before randomization). Af…