Abstract | BACKGROUND: METHODS: A total of 17 patients with prior natalizumab treatment were switched to a DMT with cladribine because of a John Cunningham virus (JCV) antibody index above 1.5 (N = 13), ongoing disease activity (N = 6), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) disease activity (N = 4), or patients preference (N = 2). A chart review and follow up of those patients was performed. In addition to MRI and laboratory data, clinical data regarding MS relapses and disease progression or possible adverse events were analyzed. RESULTS: The median duration of cladribine treatment between February 2018 and April 2019 amounted to 9.7 months (range: 1.5-15 months). None of our 17 patients presented with a clinical relapse. Only two patients showed a new T2 lesion on brain MRI, but without any signs of PML. As expected, reduction of lymphocyte count was frequent in cladribine-treated patients, but only four patients exhibited lymphopenia grade 2 (500-800/µl). CONCLUSIONS: In our cohort the switch from natalizumab to cladribine treatment was effective and safe. So far, no serious adverse events other than lymphopenia have been observed, especially no cases of PML.
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Authors | Nora Möhn, Thomas Skripuletz, Kurt-Wolfram Sühs, Sylvia Menck, Elke Voß, Martin Stangel |
Journal | Therapeutic advances in neurological disorders
(Ther Adv Neurol Disord)
Vol. 12
Pg. 1756286419887596
( 2019)
ISSN: 1756-2856 [Print] England |
PMID | 31832100
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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Copyright | © The Author(s), 2019. |