Adherence to treatment in multiple sclerosis: case reports of three female patients on high-efficacy therapy with ocrelizumab

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic and incurable autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS). The goals of disease-modifying therapy (DMT) are to slow down disease progression, prevent relapses, and increase the overall quality of life of the patient. Adherence refers to the degree to which a patient complies with prescribed treatment and as such is required for the treatment to be effective. Non-adherence is associated with a risk of disability progression and increased health care costs. The aim of the article is to present three case reports of female patients on high-efficacy therapy (HET). Patient 1 has been treated with HET since disease onset and has excellent adherence. The second case report presents a patient with non-adherence to interferon beta with a subsequent severe attack following treatment discontinuation. The patient is now stabilized with ocrelizumab. Patient 3 had experienced adverse effects while on oral treatment with dimethyl fumarate and was also switched to ocrelizumab. (author)