Does Switching from Natalizumab to Fingolimod Increase MS Rebound Risk?

An observational study suggests that patients with multiple sclerosis switching from natalizumab to fingolimod do not experience a rebound in disease activity.

Clinicians are often faced with having to switch MS patients on natalizumab at high risk for progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy to a different disease-modifying therapy (DMT). Previous reports have suggested that switching to fingolimod may result in a rebound of disease activity. In this study, researchers attempted to ascertain whether switching from natalizumab to fingolimod resulted in an early increase in disease activity.

A retrospectively identified cohort of 89 patients switched from natalizumab to fingolimod (NTZ–fingolimod), 350 patients switched from interferon-beta/glatiramer acetate to fingolimod, and 97 patients began fingolimod as their first DMT (naive-fingolimod). Investigators compared annualized relapse rates (ARRs…

Reviewing Author

Pavan Bhargava, MD

Does Switching from Natalizumab to Fingolimod Increase MS Rebound Risk?

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Reviewing Author