Fabiana Pimazzoni
	
                                                                                                            
Italy                                    	
                                    
 Research Article
                                                                         Natalizumab to Fingolimod Switching in Multiple Sclerosis: Results from a “Real Word” Retrospective Analysis 
                                                                        
Author(s): Sarah Rasia, Cinzia Cordioli, Nicola De Rossi, Fabiana Pimazzoni, Cristina Scarpazza, Luisa Imberti and Ruggero CapraSarah Rasia, Cinzia Cordioli, Nicola De Rossi, Fabiana Pimazzoni, Cristina Scarpazza, Luisa Imberti and Ruggero Capra             
                                    
                                                                        
                             Fingolimod is an alternative for patients with multiple sclerosis who discontinue natalizumab because of leukoencephalopathy risk. However, the interruption of natalizumab might cause disease reactivation. We aimed to describe the disease course of patients switching to fingolimod after treatment with natalizumab or β-interferon, in a real-world setting, through a retrospective analysis of data in patients with multiple sclerosis that receiving fingolimod at a single centre in Italy. Ninety patients were divided into two groups: patients switching to fingolimod from natalizumab (n = 43, Group 1), and treatment naïve (n=5) plus patients switching from β-interferon (n = 42) (Group 2). In Group 1, the mean annualised relapse rate significantly increased from 0.36 at natalizumab discontinuation to 0.80 after natalizumab washout and 1.12 after the first 3 months of fingolimo.. View More»