Treatment withdrawal in relapsing−remitting multiple sclerosis: a retrospective cohort study

Background To investigate the effect of drug withdrawal on the course of relapsing−remitting multiple sclerosis (RR‐MS). Methods An observational cohort retrospective study was performed to compare the time to relapse of patients who discontinued disease‐modifying therapy (1a or 1b beta‐interferons or glatiramer acetate) with the patients who did not. One hundred and twenty‐eight RR‐MS patients were investigated using a time‐dependent approach. Results Over a median follow‐up of 108 months, 60 patients discontinued treatment and 89 relapses were observed. The time to relapse was shorter in patients who discontinued treatment compared with those who did not (P