High-Dose Immunosuppression and Autologous Transplantation for Multiple Sclerosis (HALT MS) Study

Event-free survival (EFS) is survival without death or disease activity from any one of the following criteria: 1) loss of neurological function, defined as a change in pretransplant Extended Disability Status Scale (EDSS) of > 0.5. 2) Relapse, defined as the development of a new neurological sign and corresponding symptom, or worsening of an existing neurological sign and symptom, localized to central nervous system white matter, resulting in neurological deficit/disability, and lasting over 48 hours. 3) New lesions on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), defined as presence of 2 or more independent multiple sclerosis brain lesions detected on MRI 1 year or more after stem cell transplant. Kaplan-Meier estimates of survival probability, with 90% confidence interval based on Greenwood's formula for standard error.

The probability that a participant did not experienced a treatment-related death estimated at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 years following transplant via the Kaplan-Meier Method. Greenwood's formula for standard error was used to calculate 90% confidence intervals. Participants that did not experience a treatment-related death were censored at the time of last follow-up. A treatment-related death was defined as death that occurred at any time after study entry and that was possibly, probably, or definitely related to the cellular product or possibly, probably, or definitely related to mobilization of autologous peripheral blood hematopoietic progenitor cells with G-CSF and prednisone or to the high-dose immunosuppressive therapy. There were no treatment-related mortality events in the study.

The probability that a participant did not experienced a death estimated at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 years following transplant via the Kaplan-Meier Method. Greenwood's formula for standard error was used to calculate 90% confidence intervals. Participants that did not die were censored at the time of last follow-up.

The probability that a participant did not experienced a MS-related death estimated at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 years following transplant via the Kaplan-Meier Method. Greenwood's formula for standard error was used to calculate 90% confidence intervals. Participants that did not experience a MS-related death were censored at the time of last follow-up. A MS-related death was defined as death that occurred at any time after study entry and that was possibly, probably, or definitely related to disease progression.

Morbidity is the occurrence of NCI Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v3.0 adverse event grade 3 or higher.

Morbidity is the occurrence of NCI Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v3.0 adverse event grade 3 or higher.

Neutrophil engraftment, or neutrophil count recovery, is defined as an Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC) > 500/ μL for 2 consecutive measurements on different days. Normal range is 1500 to 8000/μL. Reference: http://www.medicinenet.com

Platelet engraftment, or platelet count recovery, is defined as Platelets > 20,000/μL for two consecutive measurements on different days with no platelet transfusions in the preceding 7 days. Normal range is 150,000-450,000/μL. Reference: http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/heart_vascular_institute/clinical_services/centers_excellence/womens_cardiovascular_health_center/patient_information/health_topics/platelets.html.

Event-free survival (EFS) is survival without death or disease activity from any one of the following criteria: 1) loss of neurological function, defined as a change in pretransplant Extended Disability Status Scale (EDSS) of > 0.5. 2) Relapse, defined as the development of a new neurological sign and corresponding symptom, or worsening of an existing neurological sign and symptom, localized to central nervous system white matter, resulting in neurological deficit/disability, and lasting over 48 hours. 3) New lesions on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), defined as presence of 2 or more independent multiple sclerosis brain lesions detected on MRI 1 year or more after stem cell transplant. Kaplan-Meier estimates of survival probability, with 90% confidence intervals based on Greenwood's formula for standard error.

MS progression is measured as number of days from transplant to first Kurtzke's Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) increase of more than 0.5 relative to the baseline measurement. EDSS assesses disability in Multiple Sclerosis patients. Eight functional systems are evaluated: visual, brain stem, pyramidal, cerebellar, sensory, bowel and bladder, cerebral, and ambulation. The overall score ranges from 0 (normal neurological exam) to 10 (death due to MS).

Kaplan-Meier estimates of survival probability, with 90% confidence intervals based on Greenwood's formula for standard error.

MS disease activity is measured as days from transplant to first occurrence of >= 2 new MS lesions on Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) relative to baseline. Kaplan-Meier estimates of survival probability, with 90% confidence intervals based on Greenwood's formula for standard error.

MS clinical relapse is defined as the development of a new neurological sign and corresponding symptom, or worsening of an existing neurological sign and symptom, localized to central nervous system white matter, resulting in neurological deficit or disability, and lasting over 48 hours. Clinical relapse was determined by the participant's neurologist and was measured as days from transplant to new or worsening neurological symptom relative to baseline.

Kaplan-Meier estimates of survival probability, with 90% confidence interval based on Greenwood's formula for standard error.

Treatment with disease-modifying therapy was measured by the number of days from transplant to the first treatment with an additional disease-modifying therapy. Examples of therapy include interferon beta-1a, glatiramer acetate, natalizumab, alemtuzumab, other immunosuppressive medications, or experimental therapies directed against MS activity. Kaplan-Meier estimates of survival probability, with 90% confidence interval based on Greenwood's formula for standard error.

Kurtzke's Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) assesses disability in Multiple Sclerosis patients. Eight functional systems are evaluated: visual, brain stem, pyramidal, cerebellar, sensory, bowel and bladder, cerebral, and ambulation. The overall score ranges from 0 (normal neurological exam) to 10 (death due to MS). Change from baseline was computed as the value at the time point minus the baseline value. A negative value in change from baseline indicates an improvement and a positive value indicates worsening. A change of > 0.5 in EDSS was a treatment-failure criterion.

Multiple sclerosis disease-related lesions were assessed by gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Change from baseline was computed as the value at the time point minus the baseline value. A negative value in change from baseline indicates an improvement and a positive value indicates worsening.

A T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan was used to determine the number of new T2 lesions in the brain relative to Baseline. A value of 0 means that the participant didn't worsen. Values greater than 0 indicate an increase in disease activity from baseline.

A T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan was used to assess the volume of T2 lesions in the brain. Change from baseline was computed as the value at the time point minus the baseline value.

A T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan was used to assess the volume of T1 lesions in the brain. Change from baseline was computed as the value at the time point minus the baseline value.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan techniques measured ventricular volumes and grey and white matter brain volumes. Change from screening was computed as the value at the time point minus the screening value.