Glatiramer acetate treatment

Kipnis J, Schwartz M (2002) Dnal action of glatiramer acetate (Cop-1) in the treatment of CNS antoimmnne and neurodegenerative disorders. Trends Mol Med 8 319-323. 

Most common adverse effects in controlled trials include injection site reactions, vasodilatation, chest pain, asthenia, infection, pain, nausea, arthralgia, anxiety, and hypertonia. About 10% of patients experience an immediate post-injection reaction (flushing, chest pain, palpitations, anxiety, dyspnea, throat constriction, and urticaria). The symptoms are transient and self-limited, and usually do not require specific treatment. Transient chest pain was noted in 21% of Copaxone patients versus 11% in the placebo group with no long-term sequelae. Unlike therapy with the IFNps, glatiramer acetate is not associated with flu-like symptoms. 

Khan OA, Tslis AC, Kamholz JA, Garbem JY, Lewis RA, Lisak RP (2001b) A prospective open-label treatment trial to compare the effect of IFN beta-la (Avonex), IFN beta-lb (Betaseron) and glatiramer acetate (Copaxone) on the relapse rate in relapsing-remit-ting multiple sclerosis Results after 18 months of therapy. Mult Scler 7 349-353. 

Treatment with interferon-/ or glatiramer acetate (Avonex, Betaseron, Copaxone, and Rebif, or ABC-R, therapy) can reduce annual relapse rate, slow progression of disability, slow cognitive decline, and slow changes seen on the brain MRIs. 

Patients suffering from MS frequently will have symptoms such as spasticity, bladder dysfunction, fatigue, pain, and depression that may require treatment. Patients must be counseled thattherapies such as interferon-/ and glatiramer acetate will not relieve these symptoms. 

Nicolau syndrome (embolia cutis medicamentosa) has been described in a 39-year-old woman with multiple sclerosis after subcutaneous treatment with glatiramer acetate for 2 years [55 ]. Continuation of treatment with glatiramer acetate at other injection sites was recommended, and further injections were well tolerated. The lesion healed within 10 weeks without any residual effects. 

Bains SN, Hsieh FH, Rensel MR, Radojicic C, Katz HT, Inamdar SR, Lang DM. Glatiramer acetate successful desensitization for treatment of multiple sclerosis. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2010 104(4) 321-5. 

---